MARTA Expansion into Clayton = Long awaited Commuter Rail? (Atlanta, Gainesville: cul-de-sac, neighborhoods)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

Now that I see your source....

I just wanted to spot out the specifics....

That BRT estimate was directly for that corridor... you'll notice it accounted for several miles of bridges and more in earth moving or retained dirt. It is shown right there on page 13.

That is where the heavy expense is. It is to make a separated guide-way.

You'll notice the HRT/BRT hybrid option lists much less aerial structures and less dirt moving/retained. This has much to do with using the HOV/Future HOT lanes.

The HRT option has more land/room to work with so the train can run at ground level more often and removing the need for an aerial structure for most of the route, so it costs less per mile.

The BRT only option has more, because in the tier 2 alternative analysis report it has exclusive guide-ways in parts of downtown and runs in an aerial structure in the median of I-20, whereas the hyrbid option uses HOV/HOT lanes..... so less engineering required and less building.

I was only talking about that corridor and the comment that most of the $1.9 billion was HRT. $81 million/mile seems really high for a BRT project.

[LynnHarris]

Clayton to get half-penny MARTA referendum | www.ajc.com

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by LynnHarris

Clayton to get half-penny MARTA referendum | www.ajc.com

This ajc article is bad, they mentioned rail expansion, but failed to say it was going to be commuter rail.

[Gulch]

Breaking: MARTA Board Rejects Clayton Bus-Only Transit Proposal | WABE 90.1 FM

MARTA also approved a contract for full-penny tax, Clayton County Commission has until Sunday to concur.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Breaking: MARTA Board Rejects Clayton Bus-Only Transit Proposal | WABE 90.1 FM

MARTA also approved a contract for full-penny tax, Clayton County Commission has until Sunday to concur.

Good move MARTA, force their hand. The majority of the residents present at the vote last night wanted a full 1%.

[bu2]

Think "half-members" is not a good idea.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by bu2

I was only talking about that corridor and the comment that most of the $1.9 billion was HRT. $81 million/mile seems really high for a BRT project.

It is... I was merely trying to point out the evidence listed that brought the high cost.

It is the fully grade separated aerial structures for it they were going to build that are expensive. These are the things that typically make the rail projects expensive too.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by bu2

Think "half-members" is not a good idea.

Agreed. It should be all or nothing.

These guys (Clayton officials) aren't thinking of the future if they think they can get by with a half penny tax. It might suffice for the present, but it just won't cut it for the future.

This was purely political on their part. Sad.

[magnetar]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Breaking: MARTA Board Rejects Clayton Bus-Only Transit Proposal | WABE 90.1 FM

MARTA also approved a contract for full-penny tax, Clayton County Commission has until Sunday to concur.

Glad to see this — I haven't seen anyone in Clayton county arguing for a half-cent tax except for 3 of the members of the county commission.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by magnetar

Glad to see this — I haven't seen anyone in Clayton county arguing for a half-cent tax except for 3 of the members of the county commission.

And these were the same three commissioners that voted to shut down C-Tran back in 2010.