Braves stadium/development to cost $1.1 billion (Atlanta, Moreland: how much, buses, bill)

[cqholt]

SunTrust Park bridge design gets OK - Atlanta Business Chronicle
I cannot believe Tim Lee is looking for state and federal help. All the citizens of Georgia will be on the hook for Cobb County's poor decision. And Lee is living in a fantasy world if he thinks this bridge will only cost $9M.

[jsvh]

Cobb Commissioners approve 'Braves Bridge' spanning I-285

Cobb County commissioners voted Tuesday night 4-0 on a preliminary design for a pedestrian and bus bridge linking the new Braves stadium with the Galleria parking decks across I-285.

...

Everyone involved wanted the pedestrian bridge for the Braves' new stadium to be ready by opening day, in April, 2017. Now we're learning it may not open until, perhaps, September, 2017. Cobb County Commission Chair Tim Lee said Tuesday night he's still hoping it will be ready in time for the first pitch that April.

...

Previous concepts suggested a double-decker bridge; the new design shows a single-decker from Circle 75 to the Galleria Mall. The previous concepts suggested multiple lanes for transit. This has one lane for one shuttle bus to go back and forth.

...

Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott said he's "not comfortable conceptually with how they've thought all the pieces out" and said the presentation Tuesday left him with unanswered questions.

...

Commissioner Bob Ott objected to having to vote on the preliminary design only hours after first seeing it.

"It is not a common practice for the board to hear something in the afternoon and vote on it that night," Ott said. "Personally, I think it should be at the next meeting, the vote."

Ultimately, Ott joined the other three -- Tim Lee, Jo Ann Birrell and Bob Weatherford -- in voting for the preliminary design, which was proposed by the Cobb Department of Transportation.

...

Lee said Tuesday the county is already seeking state and federal funding to help pay for the bridge.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by cqholt

SunTrust Park bridge design gets OK - Atlanta Business Chronicle
I cannot believe Tim Lee is looking for state and federal help. All the citizens of Georgia will be on the hook for Cobb County's poor decision. And Lee is living in a fantasy world if he thinks this bridge will only cost $9M.

Yeah, F this guy, hard. We've gone from "it was included in the original cost" to "we are discussing funding" to "we'd like some more taxpayer assistance, because nobody will say no or have the option to vote on it, so why not, right?".

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by red92s

Yeah, F this guy, hard. We've gone from "it was included in the original cost" to "we are discussing funding" to "we'd like some more taxpayer assistance, because nobody will say no or have the option to vote on it, so why not, right?".

Cobb County has the money to build this thru their SPLOST program, but they would rather fleece the state taxpayers then their own citizens this time.

[therealpattman]

At least they are keeping it as a simple bridge without adding some funky feature like a moving floor.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Cobb County has the money to build this thru their SPLOST program, but they would rather fleece the state taxpayers then their own citizens this time.

So all these massive GDOT improvements in the city of Atlanta have been fleecing the state?

[evannole]

Originally Posted by arjay57

So all these massive GDOT improvements in the city of Atlanta have been fleecing the state?

Amen, arjay.

And by the same logic, the Atlanta Streetcar is a fleecing of federal taxpayers... At many times the cost of this bridge.

Seriously, the simple fact that someone doesn't like or intend to personally use a project doesn't necessarily make it a "fleecing." And one of the biggest complaints of detractors of the stadium project is the level of walkability (or lack thereof) in the area. This will certainly help to improve it.

I daresay that if this were a pedestrian bridge over I-20 on the east side, certain detractors of the stadium would be falling all over themselves, they'd be so excited.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by arjay57

So all these massive GDOT improvements in the city of Atlanta have been fleecing the state?

Yeah, there is no difference between this and the new ramps from 85 to 400, or the new 285 interchange. Except, you know, one benefits hundreds of thousands of residents and not a billion dollar corporate enterprise based in another state. And nobody was told said private corporation would be paying for those projects, only to seek public funds when they realized they forgot to include it in previous negotiations.

Has the galleria even agreed to let them use the parking decks? Last I heard they were pushing back on that.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by evannole

I daresay that if this were a pedestrian bridge over I-20 on the east side, certain detractors of the stadium would be falling all over themselves, they'd be so excited.

If all this was happening where the current stadium is people would be doing backflips.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Cobb Commissioners approve 'Braves Bridge' spanning I-285

I'm shocked, shocked that this is happening.