MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Roswell: bike, places)

[magnetar]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I just hope they go with something at least double the length of the streetcar for the Beltline, and for the North Avenue line. Both should ideally be higher capacity, true light rail, not just a streetcar.

Anyway, the vehicle lengths (and track/ROW straightness) will factor in on how many stations and how far away they should be. The fewer the better, IMO. Should be only about 6-8 or fewer stops between KSM and Ansley Mall. If even that many.

Yeah, as a matter of fact, they can connect two Atlanta Streetcar vehicles together to form a longer "train" with 120 seats / 390 max capacity. They tested it along the downtown route last year.





source: Atlanta Beltline on Facebook

They might also buy the light rail variant of the Siemens S70 they already use for the Beltline loop, which would increase the capacity further. Let's hope that's necessary!

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by magnetar

Yeah, as a matter of fact, they can connect two Atlanta Streetcar vehicles together to form a longer "train" with 120 seats / 390 max capacity. They tested it along the downtown route last year.





They might also buy the light rail variant of the Siemens S70 they already use for the Beltline loop, which would increase the capacity further. Let's hope that's necessary!

When the built the Downtown Streetcar, they were planning for the future connection to the BeltLine and city-wide streetcar network.

[primaltech]

Whether or not they use the double-linked streetcar variant, or the true LRT variant of the S70 on the Beltline (and other possible dedicated ROW lines), I hope they give it a new livery/graphics, that doesn't say "Atlanta Streetcar", and that it isn't called "streetcar", since it's not a streetcar, since it's not running on a street.

Doesn't matter a whole lot, but sometimes people attach opinions and stigmas to names.

I'd rather the Beltline transit be described from day 1 as "a new MARTA rail line".

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Whether or not they use the double-linked streetcar variant, or the true LRT variant of the S70 on the Beltline (and other possible dedicated ROW lines), I hope they give it a new livery/graphics, that doesn't say "Atlanta Streetcar", and that it isn't called "streetcar", since it's not a streetcar, since it's not running on a street.

Doesn't matter a whole lot, but sometimes people attach opinions and stigmas to names.

I'd rather the Beltline transit be described from day 1 as "a new MARTA rail line".

It is part of the city-adopted streetcar network.
Light Rail and Streetcars - Integrated Mobility Solutions - Siemens

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by cqholt

It is part of the city-adopted streetcar network.
Light Rail and Streetcars - Integrated Mobility Solutions - Siemens

Which should be operated by and branded as part of MARTA.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Which should be operated by and branded as part of MARTA.

If the city, which owns the streetcars, enters into a contract with MARTA for O&M, then it could happen.
Similar to TriMet and Portland Streetcar

[tikigod311]

With this seemingly healthy amount of funding that will be available, they definitely need to have the Beltline ROW @ Monroe go under the street. No need for a complex tunnel, easy cut and cover no wider than the road is very doable here.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7821.../data=!3m1!1e3

Grade separated ROW is a huge feature of the Beltline and this would be a significant enhancement. This intersection is already dangerous and congested. Throw a streetcar in with increased ped activity and this will be chaos.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by magnetar

Yeah, as a matter of fact, they can connect two Atlanta Streetcar vehicles together to form a longer "train" with 120 seats / 390 max capacity. They tested it along the downtown route last year.





source: Atlanta Beltline on Facebook

They might also buy the light rail variant of the Siemens S70 they already use for the Beltline loop, which would increase the capacity further. Let's hope that's necessary!

Originally Posted by tikigod311

With this seemingly healthy amount of funding that will be available, they definitely need to have the Beltline ROW @ Monroe go under the street. No need for a complex tunnel, easy cut and cover no wider than the road is very doable here.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7821.../data=!3m1!1e3

Grade separated ROW is a huge feature of the Beltline and this would be a significant enhancement. This intersection is already dangerous and congested. Throw a streetcar in with increased ped activity and this will be chaos.

The rail definitely, definitely needs to go over or under Monroe, not across it at grade level.

[cabasse]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

So, given the good news (for the city, at least) here is a steaming-fresh map of a fanciful routing for our future streetcars and light rail. Enjoy! As always, constructive criticism is welcome and wanted.

can you post this to reddit.com/r/atlanta? it's beautiful, and you deserve much karma. lol

[arjay57]

My question is why does the Beltline need Sales tax funding on top of TAD funding and on top of general fund money?