Augusta, GA
Stop on the proposed 17,000-mile maglev network. Next stop: Columbia, SC (66.9 mi).
About Augusta
Augusta is a city on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia and the county seat of Richmond County. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina, at the head of its navigable portion. Augusta, the third-most-populous city in Georgia, is situated in the Fall Line region of the state.
Source: Wikipedia summary (full article). Population and facts as published there.
Cost breakdown (proposal-scale estimates — see math)
| Item | Basis | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal construction | Mid-size city — metro tier (range $1–2B) | $1.5B |
| Land acquisition | Regional factor 1.0× on $200M base | $200M |
| Track: Augusta → Columbia | 66.9 mi × $500M/mi | $33.5B |
| Annual operations (share) | Staffing, power, maintenance | $30M/yr |
| Stop total (excl. annual ops) | $35.2B |
Best terminal location (proposed)
The downtown riverfront district near the Augusta Canal. The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area anchors a downtown riverfront with redevelopable industrial land near existing rail. Beyond the Masters Tournament's annual surge, the terminal would serve the Savannah River Site workforce and the medical district, with I-20 access toward Columbia.
Before / after
Aerial mock-up (illustrative, not an engineering rendering). Left: the proposed site today. Right: with the maglev terminal.
- North Augusta, SC — riverfront suburb across the Savannah River.
- Aiken, SC — equestrian and research community on US-1.
- Lexington, SC — fast-growing suburb west of Columbia.