GA 316 slowly but surely being upgraded to a limited-access highway

[Big L]

Originally Posted by atlking

316? You guys are hicks.

Err, okay. I actually don't even live directly off of 316, but carry on.

[Big L]

Originally Posted by cqholt

An intercity train between Atlanta-Lawrenceville-Athens would do more to ease congestion and DUIs than widening or upgrading to freeway.

Two questions:


1. Would that include stops in Winder, Bethlehem, Watkinsville, or other spots in between Lawrenceville and Athens? If not, then it would still miss a lot of ridership if it were to skip some of these small, but growing areas.


2. Considering that there is no rapid transit in Barrow or Oconee and Gwinnett's transit is limited, would proposals for bus and/or rail for those areas also be included? The average joe could still get a DUI on his drive to or from a train stop along the Lawrenceville-Athens rail line. Congestion and DUIs would only truly be reduced if the person in question could take either a bus or another train to the propsed train line.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Big L

Two questions:


1. Would that include stops in Winder, Bethlehem, Watkinsville, or other spots in between Lawrenceville and Athens? If not, then it would still miss a lot of ridership if it were to skip some of these small, but growing areas.


2. Considering that there is no rapid transit in Barrow or Oconee and Gwinnett's transit is limited, would proposals for bus and/or rail for those areas also be included? The average joe could still get a DUI on his drive to or from a train stop along the Lawrenceville-Athens rail line. Congestion and DUIs would only truly be reduced if the person in question could take either a bus or another train to the propsed train line.

Generally, yes to both questions.

Specifically, it depends.


For example, if Gwinnett joined MARTA, we could see MARTA set up commuter rail from Downtown Atlanta to Dacula, with local bus routes serving the county as needed.

Beyond Gwinnett, though, commuter rail would be up to GRTA or GDoT. They could run buses, but more likely would be for local towns to do it.