MARTA Expansion into Clayton = Long awaited Commuter Rail? (Atlanta, Nashville: tax, live)

[Caltovegas]

If money could be found for the Olympics at the minimum funding can be found for at least bus service for Clayton county.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Caltovegas

If money could be found for the Olympics at the minimum funding can be found for at least bus service for Clayton county.

This is a good point.

Though it should be noted that most (but not all) of the funding for the Olympics came from ticket sales and from the private sector in the form of commercial sponsorships, resulting in a profit of $10 million....The $10 million profit, which while modest, particularly by today's standards, is notable because the 1996 Summer Olympics were only one of six summer Olympics ever to make a profit.

Just as most of the money for the Olympics was found in the private sector, most of the money to re-implement, improve, upgrade and expand both bus and rail transit service in Clayton County and throughout most of the Atlanta region will also be found in private sector in the form of revenues from transit-oriented real estate development on transit-owned property along transit lines and the aggressive sale of major sponsorships to corporations and individuals.

Revenues from 1% countywide sales taxes alone just simply are not enough to operate the high-level of transit service that is needed in the fast-growing and road infrastructure-limited Atlanta region.

[mattee01]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

This is a good point.

Though it should be noted that most (but not all) of the funding for the Olympics came from ticket sales and from the private sector in the form of commercial sponsorships, resulting in a profit of $10 million....The $10 million profit, which while modest, particularly by today's standards, is notable because the 1996 Summer Olympics were only one of six summer Olympics ever to make a profit.

Just as most of the money for the Olympics was found in the private sector, most of the money to re-implement, improve, upgrade and expand both bus and rail transit service in Clayton County and throughout most of the Atlanta region will also be found in private sector in the form of revenues from transit-oriented real estate development on transit-owned property along transit lines and the aggressive sale of major sponsorships to corporations and individuals.

Revenues from 1% countywide sales taxes alone just simply are not enough to operate the high-level of transit service that is needed in the fast-growing and road infrastructure-limited Atlanta region.

So what MARTA needs to state is a plan to implement more heavy rail transit in Clayton (and South Fulton) by means of ToD where the private sector is paying rent on MARTA owned property.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by demonta4

New study shows that Clayton County could be ready to opt back into MARTA | Clayton News Daily

Crossing my fingers...come on, Clayton, make this happen...

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by mattee01

So what MARTA needs to state is a plan to implement more heavy rail transit in Clayton (and South Fulton) by means of ToD where the private sector is paying rent on MARTA owned property.

You got it.

In fact, that plan is already in motion as MARTA CEO Keith Parker has already stated a plan to bring in much more revenue to the transit agency by developing the property its owns at and around and even above stations.

Here is an example of part of the plan to eventually maximize revenues from MARTA's property holdings by leasing-out the air rights above MARTA stations for the reconstruction of MARTA stations into revenue-generating high-density, high-rise mixed-use transit-oriented real estate development:
MARTA looks to invite developers to build on top of its urban rail stations | SaportaReport

From the article in the link:

The transit-oriented developments could increase ridership, bring MARTA additional revenues, lure more real estate investment to the city and spark community-focused residential and retail projects around transit stations.

In addition to using TOD revenue to implement more transit service, MARTA also most likely needs to initiate a plan where it will transition over the long-term from receiving revenues from a countywide 1% sales tax to receiving revenues from Value Capture taxing districts targeted only to commercial properties along transit lines and high-capacity transit corridors...

...That's because Value Capture taxing districts (Tax Allocation Districts, Tax Increment Financing and self-taxing Community Improvement Districts, area development corporations, etc) can provide much more tax revenue than the current 1% countywide sales tax setup....Because Value Capture taxing districts can provide revenues from BOTH sales and property taxes as opposed to the current tax funding setup which receives revenue only from a 1% sales tax.

Value Capture taxing districts also do not need to be approved by countywide voter referendums as is currently the case with the county-by-county 1% sales tax funding setup.

Transit agencies like MARTA can also increase revenues with the aggressive sales of large and small major sponsorships to both corporations and individuals.

Transitioning away from the current $2.50 flat-rate fare to a distance-based fare structure in which fares are charged by the mile (roughly between $0.10-0.45 per-mile in 2014 dollars depending on the situation or level-of-service) would likely also help to generate more revenue over the long-term.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

You got it.

In fact, that plan is already in motion as MARTA CEO Keith Parker has already stated a plan to bring in much more revenue to the transit agency by developing the property its owns at and around and even above stations.

Good! I've never understood why the Arts Center, Midtown, and North Avenue stations have no developments on top of them. Can you imagine the selling point that a business or residency directly above those stations would have? "You can access MARTA rail without having to walk out our front door." Wow!

[cqholt]

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Good! I've never understood why the Arts Center, Midtown, and North Avenue stations have no developments on top of them. Can you imagine the selling point that a business or residency directly above those stations would have? "You can access MARTA rail without having to walk out our front door." Wow!

Probably because it's a lot easier to build on vacant land around the station entrances rather than disrupt them by building directly on top. Land values/avaliablility in Midtown have not yet gotten to the point where it would be a necessity.

In any case, those stations have helped spur plenty of development in the immediate areas since they opened in 1981-82. For North Avenue, the AT&T Center was built at the same time and is directly integrated with the station, and you have BOA Plaza and One Georgia Center/GDOT's headquarters nearby on the south end. For Midtown, you have the Federal Reserve, Plaza Midtown, the AGL Resources Building, and the soon to be built 33 Peachtree Place which is going in that huge parking lot across the street from the station entrance. Arts Center has the Woodruff Arts Center/High Museum plus a few other office/residential towers nearby.

[jsvh]

Clayton County’s transit tax vote could be set at special-call meeting Monday, on ballot in November


Clayton 2025 Plan assuming 1% Sales tax:



Clayton Plan with 0.5% Sales tax:

[PKCorey]

Commuter rail only, no heavy rail?