More transit on the Westside?

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Now BRT would take care of the right-of-way issue on I-20, ITP. But how the heck are they gonna swing the Blue line south down 285? There's really not much room east of Indian Creek to maneuver.

Like this: http://itsmarta.com/uploadedFiles/Ab...%20Map%203.pdf
The existing Indian Creek Station will have to be demolished and rebuilt. Once it makes the turn though, it basically hugs both freeways ducking under the interchanges of course.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Like this: http://itsmarta.com/uploadedFiles/Ab...%20Map%203.pdf
The existing Indian Creek Station will have to be demolished and rebuilt. Once it makes the turn though, it basically hugs both freeways ducking under the interchanges of course.

Ahh. Now that seems doable. The question then becomes whether taking out an entire station would be worth it. Of course, they could just abandon the existing station and not demo it at all, although that would quickly become an eyesore.

[MattCW]

They still have to demolish part of it to accommodate the curve of the track. They'll rebuild it, they won't be removing it.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Nope, Bankhead platform would be extended to [at least] 6 cars, the Green line would serve Bankhead, Ashby, Vine City, Dome, Five Points, Georgia state, then run express to Decatur, skip Avondale, then stop and Kensington and Indian Creek then serving all the new stations. I find it odd that they'd skip Avondale, particularly once the Clifton Corridor comes online, but I'd also have a hard time skipping Decatur. Kensington however they could probably skip.

how do they plan to run an express train? there's only two tracks on the east line. it's just not possible, unless they just went at the same speed as the current blue line and just don't open the doors when they stop. you need a third track for express trains because you can't pass trains on the current system.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

how do they plan to run an express train? there's only two tracks on the east line. it's just not possible, unless they just went at the same speed as the current blue line and just don't open the doors when they stop. you need a third track for express trains because you can't pass trains on the current system.

I believe I explained that earlier as well as providing an existing example. You time it so the express at worst, "catches up" with the last local at the end. Or turned the other way, the local leaves just after the express leaves. See the Norristown High Speed Line which also only has two tracks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norris...d_Line#Service

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

how do they plan to run an express train? there's only two tracks on the east line. it's just not possible, unless they just went at the same speed as the current blue line and just don't open the doors when they stop. you need a third track for express trains because you can't pass trains on the current system.

There is a pocket track between Edgewood-Candler Park and East Lake Stations.

[StAubin]

I'd rather see the green line split off after Avondale and follow the CSX tracks to Clarkson/ Stone Mountain. Have the Blue Line head south and go to stonecrest.

[MattCW]

Well that's not going to happen, and it's unlikely we'll ever see heavy rail along the Atlanta-Stone Mountain-Conyers-Augusta CSX line period. Even the area along the tracks near the perimeter isn't that high density. It's far better suited for a 30-40 mile commuter rail line as far as Covington which could include a stop at Clarkston and Avondale (MARTA transfer).
Even if you ran the Blue Line only to Stonecrest, you'd still need some kind of express service. It's a long route, and the stations outside I-285 would fill the trains. You might could get away with running express service only during the rush hours, like the Green Line being extended to Edgewood is, but the emphasis is on MIGHT.

[StAubin]

Clarkston has a HUGE immigrant community and would benefit from an urban heavy rail service rather than just commuter rail. You could run some blue line express trains during rush hour, however the main reason I like the idea of having the green line boosted up to a 6/8 car line and extended to Avondale(and beyond) is because it would increase train frequencies on the east side.