Commuter Rail should be "Plan B" for Atlanta Transportation (employment, live in)

[StAubin]

Originally Posted by alco89

The proposal would be EVEN MORE effective if they drag a commuter line across the top end of 285 to connect with Perimeter and Cumberland. It would be next to impossible though unless it's all underground....

It would be more resonable to do a HRT or LRT line along 285 and have it connect with commuter lines in cumberland and doraville.

[Saintmarks]

I looked at the old unused railroad tracks running behind my first house in Cobb (Canton to Marietta line) back in 1989 and thought this would be perfect for a commuter rail line. I am a man ahead of my time.

[StAubin]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I looked at the old unused railroad tracks running behind my first house in Cobb (Canton to Marietta line) back in 1989 and thought this would be perfect for a commuter rail line. I am a man ahead of my time.

I thought that line was still in use?

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by StAubin

I thought that line was still in use?

Well, they would roll a few cars down for something or the other every once in a while, but it wasn't a main line like the one running thru Kennesaw. I've been away from there several years, it might have more use now.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I looked at the old unused railroad tracks running behind my first house in Cobb (Canton to Marietta line) back in 1989 and thought this would be perfect for a commuter rail line. I am a man ahead of my time.

Were you in the Kincaid, Blackwell, or Bells Ferry district? Bells Ferry if I recall correctly...

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I looked at the old unused railroad tracks running behind my first house in Cobb (Canton to Marietta line) back in 1989 and thought this would be perfect for a commuter rail line. I am a man ahead of my time.

I discussed this line, when comparing different lines around Atlanta, awhile back in another thread. In short...The huge problem doesn't appear to be those tracks, but it is what happens once the train gets to Marietta. Those tracks are extremely freight congested.

Other than that... I know the GDOT had to rehab those tracks pretty close to the year you are talking about (prior to 1996). I think the company that owns it I think formed in '87.

It is a short line and not a mainline. This means curves and crossings would likely need to be upgraded, so trains could move fast enough.

Ultimately there isn't anything to easily transfer to or walk to in Marietta.

This isn't to say it can't happen in the long run, but it will be a lower priority corridor as there are more hurdles to overcome to actually get the train to Atlanta.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Were you in the Kincaid, Blackwell, or Bells Ferry district? Bells Ferry if I recall correctly...

This was the first house, was zoned for Blackwell... Brackett Road to be exact near the ball fields and the Gritter's Mill Library. Tiny little thing. Second house was Bells Ferry Zoned, Huntington Woods off Bells Ferry, much nicer house.

[cqholt]

You can do that from your home office

But its not free. Also, as someone else posted not everyone has the ability to work from home.

It would be more resonable to do a HRT or LRT line along 285 and have it connect with commuter lines in cumberland and doraville.

Exactly, this is the best plan to connect transit on the top-end-perimeter. Its cheaper and faster speeds than conventional rail.
A commuter rail east of downtown would have to contend with little at-grade crossing since Atlanta had the foresight to separate the rail from the roads from downtown to the city limits. This will speed up the trains to Avondale, Tucker, and eastbound.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

This was the first house, was zoned for Blackwell... Brackett Road to be exact near the ball fields and the Gritter's Mill Library. Tiny little thing. Second house was Bells Ferry Zoned, Huntington Woods off Bells Ferry, much nicer house.

I like that area. I'm in that area more because my pops downsized to a "ranch condo" nearby. Very convenient and pretty peaceful.

[tikigod311]

As far as those maps representing areas of support for the TIA, the patterns will not 100% translate to a vote approving commuter rail. If Atlanta's voters were presented with a plan with an actual strategy to improve commutes in Atlanta, they would be much more willing to vote on it. Metro Atlanta rejected the TIA because it was a giant project wishlist. An actual solution would be much more appealing, IMO.

If lines were to built via additional sales tax, the taxing districts would have to be much smaller at first. It would be an enormous mistake to attempt to create another grand 10 county region.

If the idea was formulated and presented well, I think Gwinnett would be a great place to start. Run the lines up to Buford and towards Athens. So many people would be benefit from those lines. I don't think it should be a top priority, but if they could build out the line to Athens, it would create a whole generation of people that would appreciate the service and solidify future support for expansion.

I would like to see Cobb and Gwinnett come on board for commuter rail. Even if that fails, we could still build out lines to South DeKalb, South Fulton (almost to Newnan), and Clayton. I don't necessarily love South Fulton and Clayton because I doubt those lines will see a lot of commuters. But hopefully people will see the convenience they bring.

If this is to be successful, it HAS to be sold correctly. It has to clearly be separated from MARTA and explained that in most cases it will not be full time rail. Rush hours only, in most cases. It has to have the potential to go faster than cars. Wow factor could be huge in its marketing. Not talking about bullet trains, but a train blowing by at 80 mph is still impressive.

To sum it up -
Commuter rail is the logical choice for Atlanta and I think eventually most of the region will come on board. But to start, we have think smaller.