The City Council is set to vote next Tuesday on a contract with consultants to begin the process of returning passenger rail service to Chattanooga.
WSP USA was selected for phase 1 at a price of $472,426. The amount is fully funded by the Federal Rail Administration.
Chattanooga is the lead agency in a four-city consortium that also includes Atlanta, Nashville and Memphis.
Ellis Smith, of the mayor's office, said, "Trains are running between those cities right now. There's just not passenger service."
He said CSX operates most of those lines.
Mr. Smith said the initial process will include assessments of who would want to ride, what level of service is needed, and locations where side tracks need to be added.
He said the second phase would include adding the site tracks and taking additional steps toward bringing back passenger trains.
He said WSP helped get this process going and is also helping secure similar passenger service in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.
Vice Chair Jenny Hill said she would use the service, but only if it was affordable and has frequent trains.
She said, "It needs to be less expensive than it would cost me to put gas in my car."
Mr. Smith said Amtrak may operate the trains, but it possibly could be a different provider.