MARTA Seeks Public Input As Red Line Expansion Moves Forward (Atlanta: sales, 2014)

[LynnHarris]

MARTA will hold three public meetings in April for Connect 400, a major transit expansion project that is advancing to the next phase of planning under the federal environmental review process.

Once open, this high-capacity transit expansion will help relieve traffic congestion and reduce travel times in one of the fastest growing and most congested corridors in metro Atlanta. The proposed line would continue north from North Springs station, crossing to the west side of Ga. 400 south of Spalding Drive and crossing back to the east side of Ga. 400 north of the Chattahoochee River, terminating at Windward Parkway.

MARTA has held over 40 meetings, received more than 300 written and verbal comments and conducted two public opinion surveys to identify an alignment that is preferred by the community..."

Full Details: MARTA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

[robertjhajek]

I think a stop at Encore Pkwy would be the best stop in Alpharetta for that area. Top golf, Mansell restaurants, northpoint, and the ampitheatre are all within walking distance.

[WanderingImport]

Where will the money come from when it gets to the point of construction?

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

Where will the money come from when it gets to the point of construction?

If the voters of MARTA counties approve the increase in sales tax to 1.5%, it'll help leverage federal funds.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by cqholt

If the voters of MARTA counties approve the increase in sales tax to 1.5%, it'll help leverage federal funds.

Agreed, but will it be enough?

[MattCW]

I'm really not liking all the crossing over. There is no real reason not to just run it up the east side except people "don't want it to." They won't be negatively affected by MARTA's trains at all.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

Agreed, but will it be enough?

According to MARTA's 2014 Financial Report, $349,413,000 were raised from sales taxes. So:

1% tax = 1*$345,413,000 = $345,413,000
1.5% tax = 1.5*$345,413,000 = $524,119,500

therefore there's a sudden surplus of $345,413,000 - $524,119,500 = $174,706,500 per year

This assumes no increase (or decrease) in state sales taxes in the future. They will probably grow from increasing population of the region.

The GA 400 Transit Initiative Environmental Review Presentation for Connect 400 quoted the the capital costs as $2.157 - $2.243 Billion. That means that, given only the extra revenue from sales taxes, they could fully fund the high estimate of Connect 400 in 13 years.

There are plenty of ways to get construction done before that time, but that's the kind of scale you're looking at. Now, if you put a limit on the tax increase for, say, 30 years, you could fund Connect 400, I-20 East, and maybe even the Clifton Corridor fully. Then the tax can be brought down, or kept depending on the county.

Connect 400: $2.243 Billion
I-20 East: $2.071 Billion
Clifton Corridor: $1.3 Billion

Total: 5.614 Billion -> 32.5 Years with extrapolated, increased sales tax.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by MattCW

I'm really not liking all the crossing over. There is no real reason not to just run it up the east side except people "don't want it to." They won't be negatively affected by MARTA's trains at all.

Rich people complained.

[iwas99x]

If only the line would expand south and east and west.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by iwas99x

If only the line would expand south and east and west.

Red Line or MARTA HRT in general?