MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Moreland: fence, estimate)

[Pemgin]

Originally Posted by skbl17

Because someone here requested it, here are the "No" votes:

- Rich Golick (R-Smyrna)
- Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville)
- Brett Harrell (R-Snellville)
- Regina Quick (R-Athens)

- skbl17

shocking

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

MARTA should take over the streetcar completely, if only for one reason: it then itself becomes MARTA light rail.

The official rail map shouldn't just show which heavy rail stations connect with the streetcar. It should show the entire Phase 1 plan (at least), as rail lines and rail stations. (Thinner lines, smaller dots and fonts than heavy rail.) So people can see it all at a glimpse and make quick sense of where they can go on MARTA.

But, admittedly, that goes hand in hand with making the streetcar a quality rail service. Need much better headway, sped up everything, signal priority, the works.

Actually it shows the Streetcar icon at Peachtree Center, similar to restroom, ride store, etc. icons.

Rail maps must be easy to read at a quick glance, too much clutter makes it difficult for new riders to understand the information. Each station offers a much more detailed system map with bus routes, etc.

[fieldm]

Mayor Kasim Reed expands on Atlanta’s new transit plans | Spinning our Wheels

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Mayor Kasim Reed expands on Atlanta’s new transit plans | Spinning our Wheels

Q: Do you know what that transit expansion might look like. What MARTA might do within the city limits?

A: No. But the good news is we have a very nice runway to structure the project list and to have a very robust public discussion about what that should look like. What I do know is that it’s going to have a much larger light rail component and it’s going to have a good amount of activity along the Atlanta Beltline Corridor. It is a real opportunity to make real progress around rail construction around the Beltline which many folks said would never happen.

So, it sounds like Reed is going for MARTA to run the BeltLine Light rail. I'm curious why he didn't mention streetcars, but that may just be a preemptive thing to keep the anti-streetcar people out of the discussion for now. I really wish he was more specific, but I'll look forward to the discussions that start up once the possibility of funding is established.

Then again, he may have MARTA build out the BeltLine Light Rail while the city picks up the streetcars with the other possible .5%? Dunno...

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

So, it sounds like Reed is going for MARTA to run the BeltLine Light rail. I'm curious why he didn't mention streetcars, but that may just be a preemptive thing to keep the anti-streetcar people out of the discussion for now. I really wish he was more specific, but I'll look forward to the discussions that start up once the possibility of funding is established.

Then again, he may have MARTA build out the BeltLine Light Rail while the city picks up the streetcars with the other possible .5%? Dunno...

It is all the same rolling stock, just some have grade separation/dedicated lanes, while others run in mixed traffic. It is a reason why Atlanta spent millions more on new Siemens S70s instead of refurbished railcars.

[primaltech]

I keep saying this, and cqholt hates the idea, but they just need to do a Krog St HRT infill station. As cheaply as possible.

Then they can perfectly do a MARTA-branded elevated light rail in its own dedicated corridor, with the same length/capacity as the Charlotte Lynx, from Lindbergh Station to a Krog St/Cabbagetown Station. As Phase 1, of an eventual Beltline full loop light rail. And with the new Lindbergh LRT platform being shared use with the potential future Emory corridor light rail.

The new stations would all be basic canopy covered platforms. New, useful, high-ridership, high-ROI potential MARTA light rail stations at Armour, Piedmont Avenue/Ansley Mall, Piedmont Park/Amsterdam, Virginia Avenue/Midtown Promenade, North Avenue/Ponce City Market, Highland Avenue/Krog St Market.

It's simply the perfect corridor for a meaningful transit. Not the streetcar. Especially since A) the streetcar has a bad rep, and B) it's not even a street, anyway. It's a separate rail right of way.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I keep saying this, and cqholt hates the idea, but they just need to do a Krog St HRT infill station. As cheaply as possible.

Then they can perfectly do a MARTA-branded elevated light rail in its own dedicated corridor, with the same length/capacity as the Charlotte Lynx, from Lindbergh Station to a Krog St/Cabbagetown Station. As Phase 1, of an eventual Beltline full loop light rail. And with the new Lindbergh LRT platform being shared use with the potential future Emory corridor light rail.

The new stations would all be basic canopy covered platforms. New, useful, high-ridership, high-ROI potential MARTA light rail stations at Armour, Piedmont Avenue/Ansley Mall, Piedmont Park/Amsterdam, Virginia Avenue/Midtown Promenade, North Avenue/Ponce City Market, Highland Avenue/Krog St Market.

It's simply the perfect corridor for a meaningful transit. Not the streetcar. Especially since A) the streetcar has a bad rep, and B) it's not even a street, anyway. It's a separate rail right of way.

1) Krog Street Tunnel is too small for a S70 railcar it fit inside. It would require lowering the floor of the tunnel and there is a massive water main under the pavement.
2) The elevator system would be very expensive.
3) CSX would restrict when work could be done as the Blue/Green Line is elevated over an active rail yard. This would dramatically increase costs.
LRT/Streetcar allows efficient use of minimal transportation funds to connect the BeltLine transit, downtown streetcar, and MARTA at King Memorial and use the Grant St Tunnel to pass under the tracks.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

So, it sounds like Reed is going for MARTA to run the BeltLine Light rail. I'm curious why he didn't mention streetcars, but that may just be a preemptive thing to keep the anti-streetcar people out of the discussion for now. I really wish he was more specific, but I'll look forward to the discussions that start up once the possibility of funding is established.

Then again, he may have MARTA build out the BeltLine Light Rail while the city picks up the streetcars with the other possible .5%? Dunno...

Light Rail and Streetcars are the same vehicle. There is no way they build Beltline LRT without connecting to the existing streetcar.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Light Rail and Streetcars are the same vehicle. There is no way they build Beltline LRT without connecting to the existing streetcar.

And the existing VMF.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cqholt

1) Krog Street Tunnel is too small for a S70 railcar it fit inside. It would require lowering the floor of the tunnel and there is a massive water main under the pavement.

But I'm talking about terminating the line (for now) just northwest of the tunnel. And above it.

DeKalb Ave would be moved about 100 ft north, just between Airline and Krog, to accomodate the heavy rail platform structure. The light rail platform would be perpendicular to that, and built in as part of the covered station, at the same grade as the heavy rail, north of it. So the entire station would be in a T shape.

Eventually, someday Hulsey will close/sell, so they could build an eventual Phase 2 extension over the area.

2) The elevator system would be very expensive.

Inevitably yes, but still necessary for ADA compliance.

3) CSX would restrict when work could be done as the Blue/Green Line is elevated over an active rail yard. This would dramatically increase costs.

Not if you do everything north of the CSX line.

LRT/Streetcar allows efficient use of minimal transportation funds to connect the BeltLine transit, downtown streetcar, and MARTA at King Memorial and use the Grant St Tunnel to pass under the tracks.

AKA, it will be a useless joke. Needs its own ROW, and King Memorial station is way out of the way.