Federal Railroad Administration

Gulf Coast Corridor

Map Image of Gulf Coast Corridor  

Major Cities: Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Meridian, Birmingham, Atlanta 

Overview: The designated Gulf Coast Corridor would use New Orleans as its hub, with three spokes reaching (1) Houston, (2) Mobile, and (3) Birmingham and Atlanta. At Atlanta, the Gulf Coast Corridor would connect with the Southeast Corridor to Charlotte, Richmond, Washington, and Northeast Corridor points. At present, no corridor-type intercity rail service operates in this corridor, although Louisiana has been working with Amtrak and the Kansas City Southern to initiate a commuter service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The FRA has made study grants to the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission (SHSRC, formerly known as the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission), which comprises appointees of the three member states (Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama).

Status: Current activity includes a Baton Rouge to New Orleans conceptual engineering study and a New Orleans gateway rail improvement project.

Gulf Coast Corridor Contacts

Organization

Personal Contact

Topics

Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission  
c/o Regional Planning Commission
1340 Poydras Street, Suite 2100 
New Orleans, LA  701112


Tel: 504-568-6620
Fax: 504-568-6643


 Amtrak; high-speed rail.  
Louisiana DOTD
1201 Capitol Access Road - Room 211
P.O Box 94245 - Section 81
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245

Sharon Balfour
DOTD Intermodal Transportation
Administrator
Tel: 225-274-4350
Fax: 225-274-4219

sbalfour@dotd.louisiana.gov   
 Amtrak; high-speed rail; freight; grade crossings.  
Mississippi DOT
P.O. Box 1850
Jackson, MS 39215-1850


Steven Edwards
Rails Engineer

Tel: 601-359-7910
Fax: 601-359-7855

sedwards@mdot.state.ms.us  
 Amtrak; high-speed rail; freight; grade crossings.  
Alabama DOT
1100 John Overton Drive
Montgomery, AL 36110


Craig Thomas
Rail Manager

Tel: 334-353-6449
Fax: 334-353-6451

thomascg@dot.state.al.us  
 Amtrak; high-speed rail; freight; grade crossings.