As leaders compile transportation lists, signs emerge of cohesiveness, concerns (Atlanta: sales, sales tax)

[tonygeorgia]

As leaders compile transportation lists, signs emerge of cohesiveness, concerns *| ajc.com

Clayton Transportation and Development Director Jeff Metarko told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that some two dozen projects have been discussed. The transit issue, controversial in Clayton because residents want it but the county has been resistant to provide it, is up in the air.
“We have discussed bringing commuter rail to Clayton,” Metarko said. “It’s not like MARTA. It’s the commuter rail that’s been discussed for years.”


The wish lists: A sneak peek
A sampling of what some counties and cities have on their wish lists of transportation projects to be submitted to Todd Long, the planning director for the Georgia Department of Transportation Planning Director Todd Long, with estimated costs:

Cobb County

• Creating a high-capacity transit system, likely light rail, in the U.S. 41/I-75 Northwest Corridor from Acworth to MARTA's Arts Center Station: $2 billion

• Widening Cobb Parkway/U.S. 41/Ga. 3 to six lanes from Paces Mill Road to North Marietta Parkway: $230.3 million

Fayette County

• Making roadway and intersection improvements to the East Fayetteville Bypass, from Ga. 85 to South Jeff Davis Drive: $39.4 million

• Making efficiency, connectivity and safety improvements to Hood Avenue Connector, from Ga. 92 to North Jeff Davis Drive: $9.6 million

Fulton County

• Widening Cascade-Palmetto Highway from Campbellton Road to Campbellton-Fairburn Road: $36.8 million

• Improving the interchange at I-285 and Cascade Road: $20 million

Gwinnett County

• Creating four light-rail sections -- from the Doraville MARTA station to Norcross, from there to the Indian Trial Park-and-Ride lot, from there to Gwinnett Place, and from there to Gwinnett Arena: $954.75 million

• Rebuild three grade separations (height variations at junctions) on Ga. 316 at High Hope Road/Cedars Road, U.S. 29/Ga. 8 and Harbins Road: $142.6 million

• Widening Ga. 20, from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to the Chattahoochee River bridge: $47.6 million

Alpharetta

• Adding operational improvements (landscaped median, bike lanes, sidewalks) to Rucker Road from Hardscrabble Road to Wills Road: $19 million

• Extending the Big Creek Greenway from Marconi Drive to Forsyth County: $11 million

Sandy Springs

• Widening Hammond Drive between Roswell Road and Ga. 400: $40 million

• Adding sorting lanes on Ga. 400 north of I-285: $140 million

The road to the referendum

The 10-county Atlanta region is facing a referendum in 2012 to vote on a list of transportation projects, and a 1 percent sales tax to fund them. Regional officials say the tax, likely to raise $8 billion over 10 years, could represent the region’s biggest single infusion of infrastructure funding since the MARTA tax and the gas tax were raised 40 years ago. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is following the story as the local elected officials put together the project list, and business and civic groups mount a campaign to sell it.

[AnsleyPark]

Would the Arts Center station be capable of handling a light rail connection from Cobb???