Atlanta needs commuter rail as an investment in its future. Our population simply cannot continue to grow as it has without offering rail as an alternative. Look at all the great cities of the world; this Atlanta native just returned from a visit to Boston, which has a rail network that can virtually take you anywhere on its multi line subways and radiating commuter routes.The Lovejoy (Macon) line is an unprecedented opportunity because if the state doesn't buy it- the line will eventually be abandoned and sold in pieces, never to be reassembled. It is a duplicate line to Macon that Norfolk Southern no longer needs. We cannot afford to lose this corridor in a metro area exceeding 4 million people and growing daily. Think beyond 2009- think 2019,2029 and beyond. Planners in Boston from 100 years ago knew this.

As to the cost- people complain when passenger rail is not self supporting- neither are our federally paid for roads and highways- and the amount our state and the nation spend on rail is a tiny, tiny fraction of what is spent on highways. Poor Amtrack begs for crumbs under the table of highway spending.

Gov Purdue exemplifies the state's short sightedness in his support for GRTA's $ 20 billion bus-only proposal.When I go to Boston and New York and Chicago- trains are what are packed, not buses. Rail is needed for the future of this city and this metro area.

Wendell Burks, Alpharetta

Source: ajc.com, Forum, in response to the question: "Should the state spend millions on commuter rail?"