North Fulton transportation projects aim to ease commutes, give alternatives (Atlanta: employment, costs)

[LynnHarris1]

Throughout North Fulton, new roads, improvements to existing infrastructure and innovative transit options are making commutes easier and faster, according to local officials

One of the biggest transportation initiatives is the Georgia Department of Transportation’s $1.8 billion Express Lanes project for Ga. 400. It plans to add new express lanes extending from the North Springs MARTA Station to McFarland Parkway. The project is part of Georgia DOT’s Major Mobility Investment Program, which includes an initial 11 large-scale projects.

“When you go and look at the demographics and the growth in the region that surrounds Georgia 400, it’s upward and you know they’re expecting millions more people to move (there) in the next 10 to 15 years and they can’t all get on Georgia 400,” said MARTA Board Chair Freda Hardage…"

FULL STORY: https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...m-to-ease.html

SOURCE: Atlanta Business Chronicle

[bu2]

Originally Posted by LynnHarris1

Throughout North Fulton, new roads, improvements to existing infrastructure and innovative transit options are making commutes easier and faster, according to local officials

One of the biggest transportation initiatives is the Georgia Department of Transportation’s $1.8 billion Express Lanes project for Ga. 400. It plans to add new express lanes extending from the North Springs MARTA Station to McFarland Parkway. The project is part of Georgia DOT’s Major Mobility Investment Program, which includes an initial 11 large-scale projects.

“When you go and look at the demographics and the growth in the region that surrounds Georgia 400, it’s upward and you know they’re expecting millions more people to move (there) in the next 10 to 15 years and they can’t all get on Georgia 400,” said MARTA Board Chair Freda Hardage…"

FULL STORY: https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...m-to-ease.html

SOURCE: Atlanta Business Chronicle

Pretty thin list of improvements.

[ATLTJL]

All while campaigning against expansion of the heavy rail residents already pay into...Lol!

[Need4Camaro]

My personal opinion is its not a good idea to focus that much money and infrastructural improvement on only one major artery (GA-400) when they're expecting millions more to move into the area. They can widen it and double deck it all they like but that doesnt change the core issue that its the only feasible way to get to N.Fulton. Transportation & Transit diversity is a MUST for N.Fulton for the kind of development, employment and demographics they are attracting.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

My personal opinion is its not a good idea to focus that much money and infrastructural improvement on only one major artery (GA-400) when they're expecting millions more to move into the area. They can widen it and double deck it all they like but that doesnt change the core issue that its the only feasible way to get to N.Fulton. Transportation & Transit diversity is a MUST for N.Fulton for the kind of development, employment and demographics they are attracting.

Not everyone needs to commute to/from ATL on a daily basis. Many commute to Alpharetta from the surrounding area and I see this trend continuing.

But MARTA should extend rail north to Alpharetta. That will then provide an additional option.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by markjames68

Not everyone needs to commute to/from ATL on a daily basis. Many commute to Alpharetta from the surrounding area and I see this trend continuing.

But MARTA should extend rail north to Alpharetta. That will then provide an additional option.

I definitely agree with the notion that most of the metro inhabitants probably do NOT commute downtown for work - its just - even with that GA-400 can still only be one highway and can only service a limited amount of commuters even when expanded. E/W connectors are direly needed in N.Fulton but since that isn't realistic to expect at this point, the only other option is transit diversity as to provide commuters a way to skip sitting in traffic. Even a light rail between N.Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett could help alittle - although I prefer heavy rail.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

My personal opinion is its not a good idea to focus that much money and infrastructural improvement on only one major artery (GA-400) when they're expecting millions more to move into the area. They can widen it and double deck it all they like but that doesnt change the core issue that its the only feasible way to get to N.Fulton. Transportation & Transit diversity is a MUST for N.Fulton for the kind of development, employment and demographics they are attracting.

Millions more won't be moving into the area if no real improvements are done with the infrastructure. It hasn't come up to them yet completely but it will in the next couple of decades if GA 400 is the only real improvement in that area.

[brown_dog_us]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

My personal opinion is its not a good idea to focus that much money and infrastructural improvement on only one major artery (GA-400) when they're expecting millions more to move into the area. They can widen it and double deck it all they like but that doesnt change the core issue that its the only feasible way to get to N.Fulton. Transportation & Transit diversity is a MUST for N.Fulton for the kind of development, employment and demographics they are attracting.

From midtown to Windward is where the jobs are, and the State has to start improving access to the area or growth will come to a halt. Mass transit sounds great but it won't serve that area without a massive influx of money that doesn't exist. Also, mass transit ridership numbers are in a free fall.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by brown_dog_us

From midtown to Windward is where the jobs are, and the State has to start improving access to the area or growth will come to a halt. Mass transit sounds great but it won't serve that area without a massive influx of money that doesn't exist. Also, mass transit ridership numbers are in a free fall.

Yeah but will the toll lanes really do any better? I'm looking at a grand scope beyond just this decade. Sure it will solve a 'now' problem. But after a decade what are they going to do when that area is fully maxed out, MARTA rail blocked out and no where to increase road capacity?

If that area wasn't so developed and more roads could be implemented (and it isnt just the need for more roads but more importantly better designs in the aspect of thru arteries rather than roads that end every 4 blocks) .. thing is they are already nearly at a point where that will be impossible. So even if they widen 400 what's going to happen after that? That wont be enough. Transit in America in general has to be artificially stimulated to succeed. That means providing those routes then promoting ridership over arteries that are filled to capacity by making it more viable and attractive than driving such as busses that have right of way over signalized intersections, ect. Atlantas infrastructure cannot handle the road capacity of a metro wanting to go 7 - 8 + million without a sophisticated transit system. That's asking for a disaster even if they threw every dime they had at the roads...the very core of which they are designed makes that impractical. They NEED rail service too.

[brown_dog_us]

Most people commute by car and if you force them onto mass transit the jobs will move to where they can commute. Adding lanes isn't great, but it's the only real world solution they have. The great solutions needed to happen 20+ years ago, but the state didn't widen/redesign the highways and metro Atlanta didn't build rail to Windward. We're stuck.

MARTA rail expansion isn't going to happen outside of the City of Atlanta, bus ridership is falling dramatically, and the costs for new bus only lanes is equal to the cost of toll lanes. At least the toll lanes will generate money to payback the costs.