As Georgia transportation officials begin billions of dollars’ worth of road and bridge projects, MARTA officials are looking to build support for at least $8 billion in commuter rail expansion.

MARTA officials want commuter rail to link Alpharetta with downtown Atlanta and the airport, extensions along Interstate 20 and new rail putting Emory University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The newspaper reported that MARTA officials plan to spend the next seven months meeting with local and state leaders, including skeptical Republicans, about the plans.