Georgia is entering a new era of transportation feats. The Georgia Department of Transportation is moving forward with multi-hundred-million-dollar projects to widen State Route 20 through Cherokee and Forsyth counties, Governor Kemp just proposed an investment of $1.8 billion to relieve one of Atlanta’s most critical freight bottlenecks, and construction on the Blue Ridge Connector is now 95 percent complete, not to mention other major interchange projects across the state. These strategic investments all point to the same reality – Georgia is preparing for the future.
My expertise and passion for this is why I was appointed as a member of the Georgia Senate Transportation Committee, and I witnessed it for more than 30 years working in the long-haul trucking and logistics industry. With this focus on infrastructure investments in Georgia, there is also a nationwide opportunity that affects our state, the proposed Union Pacific (UP) – Norfolk Southern (NS) railroad merger.
Any deal of this magnitude needs to account for the entangled realities of freight transportation, as this is a complex and ever-changing industry. As I studied the facts and considered the needs of the communities I represent, my stance on the merger became clear. This union is about strengthening the backbone of America’s supply chain and building a freight network that matches the scale and speed of today’s economy. For these reasons, I feel confident this merger is a strategic win for Georgia and the broader nation.
A rail network operating as a single line and serving nearly 100 ports coast-to-coast creates a competitive advantage for our country. It would ensure American manufacturers can compete, that Georgia businesses can reach distant markets, and that our local economies remain resilient in a world that is constantly innovating.
In my district, Cherokee County and North Fulton County are some of the fastest-growing regions in Georgia. With this growth comes more pressure on our roads, rising costs of congestion, and the need for smart and efficient freight transportation. A merged UP-NS network could help us meet this need and position us for future growth. By delivering more goods with greater reliability, manufacturers in these counties can access the West Coast directly without delays that slow down production.
Georgia businesses know all too well how transportation costs eventually fall on them and, eventually, their consumers. A more seamless and connected rail system further strengthens our supply chains and helps keep consumer prices in check. This is especially true as companies across the nation seek to produce more on US soil and reduce reliance on offshore sites and overseas shipping.
It’s also worth noting both companies’ strong commitment to the communities they serve. Over the past five years, they have collectively invested $300 million in philanthropic initiatives supporting workforce development, safety programs, and community spaces where people want to live and work. As someone who prioritizes nonprofit work and believes in giving back, I think it’s important to recognize and commend companies that strive to be good neighbors.
Georgia understands the importance of investing in transportation, and the Surface Transportation Board – the federal agency overseeing this merger – should take the same long view for the nation as a whole. Smart leaders treat transportation as central strategy because that is exactly what it is: national security strategy, economic strategy, and industrial strategy. The ability to move goods efficiently and reliably is the ability to compete and is infinitely important to Georgia’s economy and the nation’s economy. That is why I support the Norfolk Southern–Union Pacific merger; it’s an important opportunity to help strengthen our transportation system for the realities of today’s economy.
State Senator Jason Dickerson is a Republican who represents Georgia’s 21st District, spanning parts of Cherokee and Fulton counties.
