MARTA Expansion into Clayton = Long awaited Commuter Rail? (Atlanta, Forest Park: university, income)

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by bu2

Have you heard of any plans to connect the international terminal to that Hapeville line? Or even to the rest of the airport other than by bus?

Unfortunately, at this point, I have not really heard of any firm plans to connect the International Terminal to the Hapeville line which itself remains but a distant dream in light of a continued severe misunderstanding around these parts of how to truly fund and operate transit.

Disappointing, I know.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by bu2

Have you heard of any plans to connect the international terminal to that Hapeville line? Or even to the rest of the airport other than by bus?

I've heard the Forest Park city council talk about creating a tram connecting the International Terminal to the Farmers Market and Main St. Don't believe it but I could see BRT working.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by tarnishaluvsdontae

Why would we need MARTA to go to Clayton? There's nothing to do down there. I can't imagine a lot of people are going to visit.

Nothing to do? Have you ever heard of the Farmers Market, Clayton State, Spivey Hall, Atlanta Beach, Southlake Mall, Lake Spivey, and most importantly THE AIRPORT.

[tarnishaluvsdontae]

Originally Posted by demonta4

Nothing to do? Have you ever heard of the Farmers Market, Clayton State, Spivey Hall, Atlanta Beach, Southlake Mall, Lake Spivey, and most importantly THE AIRPORT.

It already goes to the airport!

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

I haven't heard anything. What I will note is all of the long-term updates have been working off of the 1999 Master Plan for the airport.

The next Master Plan (for 2030) is expected to come out later this year. It is suppose to be the conceptual plan to guide the airport for growth expected by 2030.

Any new major changes to the existing set up not apart of the 1999 plan, will likely come out in that plan.

Personally I don't see a great way for MARTA to get to the international terminal with a Hapeville line. I also don't see why that heavy costs should fall on MARTA and not the airport.

I'm starting to think the best case scenario might be an extension of the unsecured side peoplemover that goes to the renal car facilities over the existing concourses at a sufficient height. Then the international terminal would be directly linked to ground transportation/MARTA and the rental car facility. I just haven't the slightest clue what that might costs and how much in long-term operational costs it might save.

The airport will also have more frequent service to the city and limit transfers if both the north and northeast line can continue to serve the main station. It is the difference between 5 minutes and 10 minute headway at peak hours.

Reducing train headway at the domestic terminal would indeed be a downside of building the Hapeville extension, but IMO a small one. Probably most of the passengers to the Airport station are choice riders anyway.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Reducing train headway at the domestic terminal would indeed be a downside of building the Hapeville extension, but IMO a small one. Probably most of the passengers to the Airport station are choice riders anyway.

That also do not respect the rules and place luggage in the seats, forcing paying customers to stand.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Reducing train headway at the domestic terminal would indeed be a downside of building the Hapeville extension, but IMO a small one. Probably most of the passengers to the Airport station are choice riders anyway.

That has always been my question about that Hapeville line.

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by cqholt

That also do not respect the rules and place luggage in the seats, forcing paying customers to stand.

I see this daily, as if they don't know that most luggage items can fit underneath their seat. I also, think MARTA should add this along with the MARTA APP to their ad campaign.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Reducing train headway at the domestic terminal would indeed be a downside of building the Hapeville extension, but IMO a small one.

This is an excellent point.

If MARTA was better funded (and operated), reduced headways at the domestic terminal would not be a concern if an extension to Hapeville and beyond was built (...which if MARTA had been properly funded and operated from its inception, an extension to Hapeville and beyond likely would have (and should have) already been built by now).

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Probably most of the passengers to the Airport station are choice riders anyway.

That's a good observation that many people who ride MARTA to and from the Airport are likely choice riders.

But with the Atlanta Airport also being the largest center of employment in the state of Georgia (with over 58,000 people being employed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), not all people who use MARTA to and from the Atlanta Airport can necessarily be considered to be choice riders.

In fact, the dependency of non-choice riders on public transit to get to and from jobs at the Atlanta Airport has been a major reason why the lack of transit service has been has been so negatively-impactful on Clayton County...because Clayton County is a place where many lower-income airport employees live, lower-income employees who are much more likely to be without dependable personal transportation.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Reducing train headway at the domestic terminal would indeed be a downside of building the Hapeville extension, but IMO a small one. Probably most of the passengers to the Airport station are choice riders anyway.

From my experience I'd say over half the people who use the airport station work at the airport. About half of those park at the college park station and are using it for cheaper parking.


The big reason I wouldn't reduce headway is if you ride the route when a major convention or company meeting comes into town that route really picks up a heavy load of visitors, especially the first morning of the event.