ATLANTA TRANSIT (Marta, Beltline, Peachtree Streetcar, LovJoy Commuter, etc...)

[alco89]

Originally Posted by Martinman

This honestly seems like such a completely random topic.

This is in Salt Lake in a similar setup to the Beltline.

And there are several more examples, especially from Europe. But I don't have the patience to argue with them...

It's not like we're talking about running freight trains down the BeltLine.

[Libertarian]

Most of this won't happen anyway. Brace for massive cost overruns.

[smArTaLlone]

Starting at the end of October, MARTA will be working to enhance your experience by renovating both the North and South pedestrian bridges at the Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station.


https://www.itsmarta.com/Inman-Park.aspx

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Starting at the end of October, MARTA will be working to enhance your experience by renovating both the North and South pedestrian bridges at the Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station.

https://www.itsmarta.com/Inman-Park.aspx

In all seriousness, what enhancements are they adding other than the southern pedestrian access?? Cosmetic enhancements? Is the TSPLOST funding this?? At least it doesn’t seem they’ll close off access on either side at any point. Not trying to shoot the messenger, just learn more info.

IMO Inman Park needs TOD, not lipstick on a pig. It’s embarrassing our second stop outside of towntown is a park and ride station. To that, Carl Holt noted rumors/potential sale of Hulsey Yards may be far along and it may occur much quicker than many anticipate. That could trigger a series of TOD and potentially an infill station (or at least tunneling the beltline transit under the railroad and back up this way)

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

In all seriousness, what enhancements are they adding other than the southern pedestrian access?? Cosmetic enhancements? Is the TSPLOST funding this?? At least it doesn’t seem they’ll close off access on either side at any point. Not trying to shoot the messenger, just learn more info.

IMO Inman Park needs TOD, not lipstick on a pig. It’s embarrassing our second stop outside of towntown is a park and ride station. To that, Carl Holt noted rumors/potential sale of Hulsey Yards may be far along and it may occur much quicker than many anticipate. That could trigger a series of TOD and potentially an infill station (or at least tunneling the beltline transit under the railroad and back up this way)

Mindboggling with the massive amount of development/density on the Beltline near Krog that they aren't attempting an infill station there. There's a lot of people who would love to get off at Krog and be instantly at the Beltline. I rode Lime scooter from the Edgewood bridge area to Inman Park Station...they're crazy if they think folks would walk that distance. It would be at least a 20 minute walk.

Edgewood-Candler Park to Inman Station is the same distance as Krog Street is to both MLK station and Inman Station. In dense city environments, stations can be anymore than a mile away between each other

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Mindboggling with the massive amount of development/density on the Beltline near Krog that they aren't attempting an infill station there. There's a lot of people who would love to get off at Krog and be instantly at the Beltline. I rode Lime scooter from the Edgewood bridge area to Inman Park Station...they're crazy if they think folks would walk that distance. It would be at least a 20 minute walk.

Edgewood-Candler Park to Inman Station is the same distance as Krog Street is to both MLK station and Inman Station. In dense city environments, stations can be anymore than a mile away between each other

Agreed...there's no question that a stop at Krog would get a ton of use.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.itsmarta.com/uploadedFil...-18_final2.pdf

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s (MARTA) Board of Directors made history today by unanimously approving the More MARTA Atlanta program which represents the region’s largest transit investment in more than four decades.

“In Atlanta in the 21st century, transit is the lifeblood of opportunity,” said Board chairman Robert L. Ashe. “It is how millions of Atlantans access jobs, school, health care, and move throughout their communities. Today, we together took an important step in building the Atlanta we want for decades to come.”

The More MARTA Atlanta program will be partially funded by approximately $2.7 billion generated by a half-penny sales tax approved by city voters in 2016. Additional public and private funding will be sought to advance and expand key aspects of the program.

“Think of this as a major and transformational down payment on our future commitment to the city and to the region,” said MARTA General Manager & CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This is an important milestone, but it’s not the finish line.”

A two-year examination of technical data, performance measurements, and community surveys, led to a 17-project program that calls for 22 miles of light-rail transit (LRT), 14 miles of bus rapid transit (BRT), 26 miles of arterial rapid transit (ART), two new transit centers, additional fixed-route bus service, and upgrades to existing rail stations. Residents were most supportive of transit investments along the BeltLine, in the Clifton Corridor, and on Campbellton Road.

“As Atlanta’s population grows, so must our investment in equitable and accessible transportation options," said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms." With development plans spanning from Greenbriar in Southwest Atlanta to Emory University, today's MARTA vote helps move us closer towards becoming One Atlanta."

Next steps include developing costs and schedules associated with individual projects and beginning the process of securing additional funding. MARTA will also work to educate riders on various programs in the months ahead. More easily implemented projects, such as expanded bus service, have already begun.

[smArTaLlone]

This needs to happen!

https://saportareport.com/marta-to-s...car-expansion/

In a car-loving city, MARTA planners are looking to get light rail its own lane as much as possible, as they plan a system across the city.

“One of the things that I think everybody probably agrees with, is, to the extent possible, let’s build it in its own dedicated right-of-way,” said MARTA Board of Directors Chairman Robbie Ashe, on Thursday, speaking just after the authority board approved a major expansion that includes the light rail system.

One idea Downtown, he said, is to work with the city of Atlanta to see about maybe turning Auburn and Edgewood avenues into one-way streets, which would make it easier to give the streetcar its own dedicated lane.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

This needs to happen!

https://saportareport.com/marta-to-s...car-expansion/

[cabasse]

^nice to see them trying to make the best of things.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt-...YEvczM9UFdkbJ/

MARTA is close to approving a passenger rail line through Clayton County that supporters hope will transform commuting and economic development south of Atlanta.

The 22-mile line would connect MARTA’s East Point station to Jonesboro and Lovejoy along the existing Norfolk Southern railroad right of way. The diesel-powered trains could be bigger and faster than MARTA’s existing electric rail vehicles and comparable to commuter railroads found in cities like Chicago, Boston, New York and Seattle.

The diesel-powered commuter trains would differ from MARTA’s existing “heavy rail” electric trains. Commuter trains can seat up to 1,000 passengers, compared to 500 for MARTA’s existing trains. Commuter trains average 35 to 45 mph, vs. 30 to 35 mph for the existing ones.

The new line would parallel the Norfolk Southern tracks, using the same right of way. Parker said that would reduce construction costs, which have not been determined.

MARTA must still negotiate an agreement with Norfolk Southern to use the right of way - the railroad did not immediately respond to a request for comment. And the project must go through an environmental review before it can qualify for crucial federal funding.

But if all goes well, construction could begin in 2023, with the first passengers boarding in 2027.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt-...YEvczM9UFdkbJ/

This is great news! I really want another HRT or commuter rail to originate in the city, though. Like the tracks that cut through Pittsburgh, looping up by Atlantic Station and connecting to the northeast and branching off to northwest atlanta. Cannot hurt to dream.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

This is great news! I really want another HRT or commuter rail to originate in the city, though. Like the tracks that cut through Pittsburgh, looping up by Atlantic Station and connecting to the northeast and branching off to northwest atlanta. Cannot hurt to dream.

I think now that NS is planning to move their headquarters to Atlanta, they are going to be a good corporate citizen to Atlanta and work to make commuter rail feasible in certain places. If I recall correctly, that line to Lovejoy is not heavily used by freight trains, so it would be an ideal candidate for sharing right of way with commuter trains. The line up to Gwinnett is a different story- that is a congested line, however, the line to Cobb is a state owned asset which they negotiated with CSX to allow for possible commuter rail starting in 2019- however, nothing has been funded or planned on that front yet. Now we just need some room at the Gultch to build some platforms, and we are fully cooking!

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

This is great news! I really want another HRT or commuter rail to originate in the city, though. Like the tracks that cut through Pittsburgh, looping up by Atlantic Station and connecting to the northeast and branching off to northwest atlanta. Cannot hurt to dream.

Absolutely! I'm actually agree with you. That's great news! I was hoping they can have commuter rail. Same as Tri-Rail, Sunrail and etc.

Don't we have a proposal map? Name of station?

[daharris80]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Don't we have a proposal map? Name of station?

Here was the route that came out of the Marta/Clayton study in 2015. Don't think there's been any change since this was released. Also, this has been the most studied commuter rail line in Atlanta history. This was the 2006 GDOT effort - http://www.garprail.org/documents/lo...6factsheet.pdf. Essentially the same route from Eastpoint to Lovejoy. That 2006 study was a second effort of something that began in the late 90s early 2000s. After the 2006 study there was a subsequent "high speed corridor" study to Macon (including this route). Now its commuter rail by Marta, not the State, but its the same concept that's been around for 20 years.

If this line is an example of how long it takes to go from design to construction (maybe) then Gwinnett and Cobb have no hope of commuter rail while anyone alive now is still living.

The good news now is that with the Marta tax in Clayton there's now funding. But still no agreement for the use of the rail lines. That was an obstacle 10 years ago. Perhaps there is reason to be optimistic now...but I would not be surprised if they cannot reach an agreement.

[Street Advocate]

Emory to contribute $60mil to Clifton Corridor, including 10 acres of ROW and (additional $ ???) for expanded operation including another station, pedestrian, and bike paths.

"Emory University could contribute almost $60 million in land and operational investment for the long-sought-after expansion of light rail along the Clifton Corridor.

The donations could include 10 acres of rights-of-way valued at $25.5 million for the recently approved transit line along Clifton Road in the heart of Emory University’s campus. Another $33.9 million could support expanded operations such as a new station, along with bike and pedestrian paths." "

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...r-clifton.html

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

Emory to contribute $60mil to Clifton Corridor, including 10 acres of ROW and (additional $ ???) for expanded operation including another station, pedestrian, and bike paths.

"Emory University could contribute almost $60 million in land and operational investment for the long-sought-after expansion of light rail along the Clifton Corridor.

The donations could include 10 acres of rights-of-way valued at $25.5 million for the recently approved transit line along Clifton Road in the heart of Emory University’s campus. Another $33.9 million could support expanded operations such as a new station, along with bike and pedestrian paths." "

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...r-clifton.html

I was just about to post this. Sounds like more great news!

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

I was just about to post this. Sounds like more great news!

Agreed! With More MARTA's partial funding, there was $100 million outstanding. Seems like there's still a gap, but potentially this could have made up everything or really closed the gap to get it off the ground. I still find it really strange Lindbergh is becoming the pivotal transfer station, but it's certainly better than not having the connection! I still think there needs to be a crosstown connection to Emory that directly links it to Midtown and the westside.

[tinyslam]

This is great, but in my opinion Emory should get out the check book and do more then donate some land and a few million for a station. They will be a big benefactor of this light rail line, and they need to fill the funding gap to get it off the ground. The CDC and other employers of the area should chip in too.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by tinyslam

This is great, but in my opinion Emory should get out the check book and do more then donate some land and a few million for a station. They will be a big benefactor of this light rail line, and they need to fill the funding gap to get it off the ground. The CDC and other employers of the area should chip in too.

CDC funding: