MARTA eyeing major expansion up Georgia 400 corridor (Atlanta, Alpharetta: 2013, transfer)

[LynnHarris]

"MARTA is planning to extend transit service along the Georgia 400 corridor in North Fulton County, with up to six new stations.

The agency is focusing on an alignment that would run heavy rail, light rail or bus rapid transit within existing right-of-way for 11.9 miles from the North Springs MARTA station in Dunwoody, Ga., north to Windward Parkway in Alpharetta, Ga., according to a public notice of the project filed by the Federal Transit Administration..."



Full Story: MARTA eyeing major expansion up Georgia 400 corridor - Atlanta Business Chronicle

[ATLTJL]

Wow, how in the world are they doing this without the help of a T-SPLOST?

I thought THERE WAS NO PLAN B.

Plan B sure is starting to look a lot better than Plan A.

[kferq]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Wow, how in the world are they doing this without the help of a T-SPLOST?

I thought THERE WAS NO PLAN B.

Plan B sure is starting to look a lot better than Plan A.

There still is no plan B, but MARTA is preparing for a plan B. They will need local funding (which was in the TSPLOST, the Georgia 400 transit expansion study funds) just to advance to the point where they can apply for federal funding. They now are trying to make noise so that they can get some local funds (from the county or cities in North Fulton) to move ahead with the environmental impact studies. For example on the Clifton line, Emory and Dekalb County (among others) contributed toward the studies, along with Marta's money. For the Beltline streetcar, the Beltline is putting up funds, while the City of Atlanta delayed the process by being slow to appropriate funds for studying the connecting segment. For the downtown streetcar the Downtown CID put up funds.

In other words, had the TSPLOST passed this process would be farther along as funds for the study would already be available. With that said, I do believe that the GA 400 corridor is a higher priority under the new MARTA management and they mus believe that they can get the study funds from somewhere.

[gtcorndog]

Seems like a story like this has been published every 3 months for about 10 years.

Still... nothing.

[jsvh]

Yea, sounds like this is even further behind than the I-20 East initiative. That at least has the LPA ready.

[arjay57]

Well, like the song says, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna make a dream come true?

[cqholt]

HRT extension is the best option. That will attract more demand riders by not having them transfer at North Springs.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by cqholt

HRT extension is the best option. That will attract more demand riders by not having them transfer at North Springs.

Not to mention actual equipment compatability with the existing Red Line HRT rail.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

HRT extension is the best option. That will attract more demand riders by not having them transfer at North Springs.

I still think system expansion and lowered fares will be the key to MARTA's survival. You've got to create a system that people want to ride.

[wado729]

Originally Posted by gtcorndog

Seems like a story like this has been published every 3 months for about 10 years.

Still... nothing.

This