Beltline route plan released (Atlanta, Lenox: 2015, construction, cost of)

[tikigod311]

I'll try to remember to get a picture up when I get home.

This is the CONCEPT of how the system will operate. It is not final, but the direction they are going in.


https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2X9...RmWkgwd2c/edit

[skbl17]

I think the Peachtree Line will need to be reconfigured, as the line as is acts as a duplication of MARTA's Red and Gold lines between Lakewood/Ft. McPherson and Arts Center.

- skbl17

[tikigod311]

The original document with a line by line breakdown that starts on page 11.

http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-c...nversation.pdf

[jsvh]

I was at this meeting. I didn't really have high expectations, but this meeting was underwhelming. Some minor tweaks to the previous plan. Mostly that they took out the phasing and the cost details of the last plan. My guess is this meeting and all these updates are political. I think they updated this plan to avoid controversy and be in a position to get federal funding for any route that may come available.

I suppose playing the politics and going through the motions to get federal funding is wise. But the only real information that was useful from this meeting was updates on the east and west trails. They are wrapping up the environmental review in the next couple month and will have details on those routes then. Construction is underway on the westside trail, despite the rain it is still on schedule. The Eastside extension was reworked and is now finalizing some easements. Construction should start in July / August.

[tikigod311]

I think the addition of that west side to southeast side line was pretty interesting. I don't believe that was in any of the other prior planning meetings.

I wasn't aware that the of the $4 billion cost of the belt line buildout, $1 billion of it was in interest payments. Apparently that is a big area where the public-private partnerships will come into play to save the entire build out a ton of money.

The routes are interesting. While they are absolutely tentative right now, it's great to see how the system is going to end up probably operating.

Were you at tonight's meeting jsvh, or the prior one?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

I think the addition of that west side to southeast side line was pretty interesting. I don't believe that was in any of the other prior planning meetings.

They were in the previous plan: http://beltline.org/wp-content/uploa...ort-022514.pdf



The differences are pretty minor like extending it from Grant Park to Boulevard Crossing.

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Were you at tonight's meeting jsvh, or the prior one?

Tonight's.

[tikigod311]

I guess you are right, I guess I never pictured it as a point to point route as it is. But the idea of how the lines operate is much different than the proposed corridors.

I understand that you don't get a whole lot of new super concrete news in a process like this. Obviously things will change and a lot of this is conceptual. But it is cool seeing the general idea of the direction of the routes.

I enjoyed trying to get a read on the staff on their feelings towards P3 funding. For some reason, I think there may be a sort of resistance to the idea. Before the question was asked, they did discuss funding, but it was ONLY discussing federal funds. I was kind of surprised there was no mention of it as this is one of the more important developments over the past few months. I know that isn't what these meetings are about, but that and the new mini TSPLOST legislation are potential major boosts to the timeline.

But yeah, more details coming in the next couple months. Hey, real transit is actually being planned here... in Atlanta!!!

[tikigod311]

Pics of the tentative routes:

[tikigod311]

Central Loop (obvious):



Crosstown Inner Loop:



Crosstown Outer Loop:




Crosstown Peachtree Line:



Crosstown Midtown Line:



Crosstown Crescent Line:

[MattCW]

I'm not really clear on how the two "crosstown loop" lines will operate. Since the info says unidirectional on the loop and bidirectional in the core, does that mean essentially two half-loops, or will the trains run a figure-8? Or some other exotic plan?

Originally Posted by skbl17

I think the Peachtree Line will need to be reconfigured, as the line as is acts as a duplication of MARTA's Red and Gold lines between Lakewood/Ft. McPherson and Arts Center.

- skbl17

It doesn't exactly duplicate service so much as provide the last-mile reach and provide high-capacity street-level service. A good example is Tech Square. Someone coming from Arts Center has to go all the way into the station, then wait for the train, then make their way up to the surface at Midtown, then wait on the Tech Trolley, then have it meander all the way down to 5th street (ok, it doesn't meander much, but it makes several turns). The streetcar allows someone to just hop on at Arts Center, then off at Tech Square. It will also provide service to Piedmont Hospital and along Peachtree Rd without being an isolated system as a line just up from Arts Center would be. Though I question it seeming to terminate at Buckhead station instead of Lenox station as 110 does.