Georgia Mayors want rail transit connections to Atlanta

[Big_Dave_Jones]

Originally Posted by DirkMcGirt

Paying $2 billion to connect to the economic powerhouse of Columbus, GA is insane. What is that place known for? Military surplus stores, tattoo parlors and payday lenders. That $2 billion would better spent fixing Atlanta's problems. Heck... this plan makes the Clifton Corridor look like a great deal (which it still isn't).

Sorry about Columbus posters bringing their delusions over to the Atlanta forum. From the main Georgia forum, we're used to their inflated sense of importance. They also believe they are the 2nd city of Georgia, over Savannah, and that things like Char-Broil warrant rail service. Considering their only connection to the insterstate system is a spur, they probably should worry about getting better interstate access before worrying about a rail.

[fourthwarden]

Tax Allocation District among options for Macon-Atlanta railroad funding

"Passenger rail service between Macon and Atlanta can become a spine or backbone that could then branch out and connect to other areas of the state and bring us all together," explained Mayor Reichert.

Mayor Reichert is taking Atlanta's MARTA extension into consideration while developing the plan.

"As far south as Jonesboro, we understand. So you've got a commuter rail that's going to be coming in and out. How can we link that with an inner city passenger rail and extend it down so that it makes sense in more than one way," said Mayor Reichert.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by Big_Dave_Jones

Sorry about Columbus posters bringing their delusions over to the Atlanta forum. From the main Georgia forum, we're used to their inflated sense of importance. They also believe they are the 2nd city of Georgia, over Savannah, and that things like Char-Broil warrant rail service. Considering their only connection to the insterstate system is a spur, they probably should worry about getting better interstate access before worrying about a rail.

A good rail connection between GA cities would probably include Columbus, but I don't really see it happening anytime soon. Columbus is actually more than Fort Benning...the big corporate headquarters, a nice downtown on the Chattahoochee. and some beautiful historic districts are nothing to sneeze at, but you're right about it not being GA's second city.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Tax Allocation District among options for Macon-Atlanta railroad funding

I could get behind TADs becoming a source of developing regional rail.

[primaltech]

Once MARTA sets up the tracks/right of way, and the platforms/stations for suburban commuter rail, then GRTA or whoever can come in and take advantage of that infrastructure, for regional rail. My guess is MARTA will run trains for all the stops in Clayton, but the regional rail will skip all of them and just run between East Point and Macon, with only a couple stops between.