<p>Brad Hubbard, a longtime member of the state Department of Transportation Board, has been selected as chairman.</p><p>Board members voted Thursday to replace Johnny Gresham, a Marietta real estate developer, with Hubbard. The former professional football player and former McDonald's restaurant owner from Lithonia will take over as chairman April 15.</p><p>Gov. Sonny Perdue helped broker a deal to put Gresham in office last summer after Perdue forced Steve Reynolds to resign as chairman.</p><p>The DOT board also directed its staff to negotiate with Norfolk Southern railroad to use its track for a commuter rail line from Lovejoy to Atlanta, despite Perdue's reluctance.</p><p>Officials were close to a deal with the company in late 2002, before Perdue's election upset over then-Gov. Roy Barnes.</p><p>Perdue has yet to endorse a proposal for the line to Lovejoy in Clayton County, saying the state doesn't have the roughly $5 million a year for operations.</p><p>Norfolk Southern owns freight rails that would be used for the 26-mile commuter line. The state would pay to upgrade the rails for passenger trains, which move faster than freight cars.</p><p>Local officials eager for a new economic development tool along the line have pledged to chip in cash to run the train.</p><p>Norfolk Southern has said it also is interested in signing a contract to operate the commuter line, which could be the first step in a long-stalled plan for Atlanta-Macon service.</p><p>___</p><p>Information from: Constitution</p>
