Georgia DOT eyes tunnel, double-deck for Downtown Connector (Atlanta, Dallas: how much, budget)

[Tryska]

Seriously though - which costs more - building a more robust rail network? or building a double-decker highway through the middle of town?

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by Tryska

Seriously though - which costs more - building a more robust rail network? or building a double-decker highway through the middle of town?

It depends on how you break it down. Building a double-decker highway is basically an all or nothing proposition while building a [more] robust rail network can be done in phases and to varying degrees. In other words, we can build a full line out to Acworth first, but it can be run with second-hand diesels and coaches with minimal infrastructure upgrades, or we can go the full monty using newly-built electric multiple units with a lot of infrastructure upgrades. Then we can build other lines to varying degrees as well. Maybe we build to Lawrenceville with electrification rather than going all the way to Athens, or while the <40mile lines are electrified, the longer lines (Gainesville, Athens, Macon) are done with diesels. You don't have any options with a second layer of road.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Tryska

Seriously though - which costs more - building a more robust rail network? or building a double-decker highway through the middle of town?

And most double deckers have been torn down or planned to get torn down. Eg: Alaskan viaduct

[Tryska]

Originally Posted by MattCW

It depends on how you break it down. Building a double-decker highway is basically an all or nothing proposition while building a [more] robust rail network can be done in phases and to varying degrees. In other words, we can build a full line out to Acworth first, but it can be run with second-hand diesels and coaches with minimal infrastructure upgrades, or we can go the full monty using newly-built electric multiple units with a lot of infrastructure upgrades. Then we can build other lines to varying degrees as well. Maybe we build to Lawrenceville with electrification rather than going all the way to Athens, or while the <40mile lines are electrified, the longer lines (Gainesville, Athens, Macon) are done with diesels. You don't have any options with a second layer of road.

Originally Posted by cqholt

And most double deckers have been torn down or planned to get torn down. Eg: Alaskan viaduct

Exactly. So again, in 20 years we try to figure out how to get a 3rd decker on there. Where as with the rail system, it's a matter of increasing capacity as needed.

[jsvh]

Making the connector double-decker is a true 1970's traffic solution and would look utterly terrible.

And as pointed out, will only put the problem off for a few more years instead of solving it.

[afdinatl]

If it was up to me and if we had the space 75/85 would be 15 lanes in each direction

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

If it was up to me and if we had the space 75/85 would be 15 lanes in each direction

A. We don't have the space.
B. That wouldn't solve anything, just delay congestion for a few years at the expense of demolishing most of downtown and midtown.

[pollen]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

If it was up to me and if we had the space 75/85 would be 15 lanes in each direction

Good thing it's not up to you.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by cqholt

And most double deckers have been torn down or planned to get torn down. Eg: Alaskan viaduct

Thanks for the reference to the Alaskan viaduct. I read up on it - interesting!

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Thanks for the reference to the Alaskan viaduct. I read up on it - interesting!

Check out the double-decker interstate through downtown Boston that was removed in favor of the "Big Dig" too: Central Artery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia