MARTA Expansion could be on 2017 Fulton Ballot (Atlanta, Douglas: sales tax, statistics)

[lemon85]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

One of my older maps with the South Fulton line in place along with Gwinnett.

Most believable map I've seen so far....Cobb needs it I work at the suntrust park complex and 2018 it's gonna be crazy and a traffic nightmare

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

One of my older maps with the South Fulton line in place along with Gwinnett.

Are you going to include any of the new infill stations?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Are you going to include any of the new infill stations?

I need to remake these maps to display the CoA extensions as well, so yeah, eventually.

[cqholt]

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves says there could be a vote as early as next year for more transit projects which would cover the parts of Fulton that aren’t in the City of Atlanta. He said he sees the makings of a “true regional transit” system.

“We’re poised to take the baton of what the city has done by taking rail, MARTA transit expansion further throughout the county,” said Eaves, also speaking at the UPS announcement last week. That could include rail out to Fulton Industrial Boulevard in the west, and other expansions leading to Gwinnett and Cobb counties.

After Atlanta votes for more MARTA, neighbors may follow

[tikigod311]

I like your correction at the end of the article

Exciting times for transit in Atlanta and hopefully the metro. Here's hoping that Trump continues to back down from his bombastic statements and moderates to support transit. I get the feeling the Rs are going to start feeling the pressure from the bidness community to stop blocking transit at every turn. But I'm an optimist...

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

After Atlanta votes for more MARTA, neighbors may follow

“We’re poised to take the baton of what the city has done by taking rail, MARTA transit expansion further throughout the county,” said Eaves, also speaking at the UPS announcement last week. That could include rail out to Fulton Industrial Boulevard in the west, and other expansions leading to Gwinnett and Cobb counties.

It’s a bit early for details on what mix of buses, light rail or heavy rail might show up on a Fulton ballot. But among the mayors of Fulton County cities north and south, Eaves said, “there’s general consensus of the need of something.”

Of course, that's Maggie Lee's interpretation, but it's something.

Let's see some of the options coming off the top of my head...

• Connect 400 Red Line Extension Heavy Rail - 9 miles @ $2.2 Billion
  Blue Line Extension to Fulton Industrial Blvd. Heavy Rail - 3 miles @ $0.900 Billion
  Arts Center to Cumberland New Heavy Rail - 9 miles @ $2.5 Billion
  East Point to Palmetto Commuter rail - 18.5 miles @ $0.463 Billion

These are some rather big ticket items, and I don't know how much Fulton can afford on its own without Atlanta.

[cqholt]

It appears Robbie Ashe is a busy man since the Atlanta MARTA sales tax.

Prior to Thurmond’s remarks, Robert L. Ashe III, Chairman of the MARTA Board of Directors, teed up the issue of future transit expansion in DeKalb County. MARTA is proposing two major projects in DeKalb: A high-capacity corridor along I-20 East from downtown Atlanta to Stonecrest Mall and a light-rail line connecting the Lindbergh Center MARTA station to the Emory/CDC area and Avondale station in Decatur.
Atlanta voters last week overwhelmingly approved a ballot referendum to increase sales taxes to expand MARTA within the city limits, which is expected to raise about $2.5 billion over the next 40 years. Although the DeKalb County Commission had earlier decided against seeking additional MARTA funding for the 2016 election cycle, Ashe said it’s not the end of the line.
“My intention and my hope is to come back to DeKalb County and ask for a half-penny referendum for MARTA,” Ashe told the crowd. “We remain committed to expanding MARTA in DeKalb.”

CEO-Elect Michael Thurmond offers "new vision" for DeKalb County - SaportaReport

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

It appears Robbie Ashe is a busy man since the Atlanta MARTA sales tax.

CEO-Elect Michael Thurmond offers "new vision" for DeKalb County - SaportaReport

Thurmond didn’t respond directly to Ashe’s comments about additional sales taxes for MARTA’s expansion. Thurmond, however, praised DeKalb’s leaders and voters for their prescient decision to invest in mass transit more than 40 years ago while, in the same breath, chided them for not doing more to expand MARTA’s footprint over the last two decades.

“How much (MARTA) expansion has occurred in the last 20 years?” Thurmond asked rhetorically. “Not one inch. During that time period I submit to you that we could have built out both lines at half the cost.”

There's positioning taking place, and I think it's very likely we could see both Fulton and DeKalb votes pushed come the 2017 legislative season.

[primaltech]

I thought that we didn't want it on the non-election year (not even a mid-term year) ballot, because the only people that bother to vote are old crotchety types.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I thought that we didn't want it on the non-election year (not even a mid-term year) ballot, because the only people that bother to vote are old crotchety types.

Yeah, I thought timing the vote like this was a bad idea. I'd rather wait a year and make it happen, especially considering what the turnout will likely be for midterms.