CONYERS — The latest update of Rockdale County’s transportation plan will include a new emphasis on preparing for rapid transit service that would connect Atlanta with Augusta.

Miguel Valentin, interim director of Rockdale County’s Department of General Services and Engineering, told the Board of Commissioners in a work session Monday that rapid rail has a viable future in metro Atlanta and Rockdale County.

He explained that one of the rapid rail plans developed by the Atlanta Regional Commission is a line to eventually serve Atlanta to Augusta. The first phase of that rapid rail line would go to Madison, through Rockdale County and the city of Conyers.

“It is an opportunity for the county to position itself and capitalize in that element of transportation which is needed,” Valentin said. “However, because of the expense, or expenditure, of infrastructure required it is off for the future a little bit, but among all of the regional concepts in rapid rail this (plan) is the second priority.”

Valentin added, “As part of our plan we aim to position the county to capitalize on that mode of transportation and make sure the other facilities are able to connect to and feed a potential future rapid rail station.”

The rail service discussed would have limited stops in order to be considered rapid transit. Valentin said the proposed commuter trains could reach speeds of 79 mph and stops would likely be limited to one per county.

Discussion on the possibility of rail service was part of the county’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan update. The plan is revised every five years and prioritizes transportation needs for the community and helps in planning.

Another component discussed was continued efforts to add a second permanent park and ride lot for the Xpress bus service provided by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, or GRTA. The Conyers lines of the Xpress bus service are among the most used in metro Atlanta. GRTA has a park-and-ride lot at Chambers Drive off Sigman Road, and leases space at The Church In The Now off Iris Drive.

High occupancy/toll lanes, or HOT lanes, were also discussed as a strong possibility for Interstate 20. Andrew Smith, a consultant with the planning firm HNTB and who assisted the county in formulating the plan’s update, said HOT lanes will be included on a stretch of Interstate 85 and have been in use for years in Washington, D.C., San Diego and Orange County, Calif.

The process of updating the transportation plan included public hearings and formation of a citizens advisory board, which met to hammer out local goals for transportation.

Better north and south movements and crossing Interstate 20 were also noted as big concerns during public hearings, Smith said.

Maintenance, fiscal responsibility, intersection improvements, accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians and capacity and operation improvements were cited as the top concerns.

The Board of Commissioners will take action on the transportation plan update next month, along with the Conyers City Council. The plan will then go to the ARC for review. The plan will come back to the local governments, at which time both the county and city will take a vote to incorporate the changes into the local transportation plan.