The ATL: new regional transit system (Atlanta, Roswell: food, equity, towers)

[primaltech]

I just figured it out, finally. Under the ATL bill, Cobb and Gwinnett are allowed to have MARTA heavy rail extensions without joining MARTA; other counties are not (but can have MARTA whatever else, including potentially other types of rail).

http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20172018/178943.pdf

There's a subtle difference in the wording:

2116 (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of the MARTA Act, any county, municipality, special
2117 tax or community improvement district, political subdivision of this state within the
2118 metropolitan area, or any combination thereof may execute a transportation services
2119 contract with the authority to provide public transportation services, facilities, or both, for,
2120 to, or within such county, municipality, district, subdivision, or combination thereof. A
2121 transportation services contract executed pursuant to this subsection:
2122 (1) Shall not be a rapid transit contract subject to the conditions established therefor in
2123 Code Sections 32-9-20 and 32-9-22 or Section 24 of the MARTA Act;
2124 (2) May not utilize a method of financing those public transportation services or facilities
2125 provided under the contract which involves:
2126 (A) The issuance of bonds under subsection (c) of Section 24 of the MARTA Act;
2127 (B) The levy of the special retail sales and use tax described and authorized in
2128 Section 25 of the MARTA Act; or
2129 (C) Both methods described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph;
2130 (3) Shall require that the costs of any transportation services and facilities contracted for,
2131 as determined by the board on the basis of reasonable estimates, allocations of costs and
2132 capital, and projections, shall be borne by one or more of the following:
2133 (A) Fares;
2134 (B) Other revenues generated by such services or facilities;
2135 (C) Any subsidy provided, directly or indirectly, by or on behalf of the public entity
2136 with which the authority contracted for the services and facilities; or
2137 (D) A special retail sales and use tax described and authorized in Article 5B of
2138 Chapter 8 of Title 48; and
2139 (4) Shall be for services on the regional transit plan and approved by the Atlanta-regional
2140 Transit Link 'ATL' Authority.
2141 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of the MARTA Act, any county, municipality, special
2142 tax or community improvement district, political subdivision of this state outside the
2143 metropolitan area, or any combination thereof may execute a transportation services
2144 contract with the authority to provide public transportation services, facilities, or both, for,
2145 to, or within such county, municipality, district, subdivision, or combination thereof.
2146 Under a transportation services contract executed pursuant to this subsection:
2147 (1) The services and facilities shall be provided pursuant to a transportation services
2148 contract meeting the requirements therefor under subsection (a) of this Code section; and
2149 (2) The contract shall not authorize the construction of any extension of or addition to
2150 the authority's existing rapid rail system.

1824 (5) 'Metropolitan area' means the counties of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and
1825 Gwinnett and the City.

So that settles that.

Gwinnett can do this extension of MARTA rail to Jimmy Carter via this contract clause, even if they don't join MARTA.

Likewise in Cobb.

But other counties can not legally have MARTA heavy rail. But that's fine, since we're a long, long way from that mattering.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Wow, so the Gold line is going to be extended and the Red line isn't, after all these years and detailed Connect 400 MARTA plans about extending the Red line. That's pretty crazy.

I think this will be the tipping point. Once Gwinnett makes it official everyone else will probably jump onboard (400 and Cobb)

[fieldm]

What do y'all think of building a pedestrian bridge from the MMPT site to 5 points? It would be easier for commuter rail to connect to 5 points

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by fieldm

What do y'all think of building a pedestrian bridge from the MMPT site to 5 points? It would be easier for commuter rail to connect to 5 points

No need for a pedestrian bridge. Those streets are already walkable and their are plans for them to connect below street level already. Five Points MARTA already has below-street-level connections into Underground and the Federal Center. Having to go up and down two additional levels and build additional vertical structure does not make sense to cross 40 ft of street.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by jsvh

No need for a pedestrian bridge. Those streets are already walkable and their are plans for them to connect below street level already. Five Points MARTA already has below-street-level connections into Underground and the Federal Center. Having to go up and down two additional levels and build additional vertical structure does not make sense to cross 40 ft of street.

Thanks

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by fieldm

I think this will be the tipping point. Once Gwinnett makes it official everyone else will probably jump onboard (400 and Cobb)

Here's to hoping.

Although I'd be totally cool with commuter rail, too. Or light rail. Or even a good BRT connection, as long as it's useful for me to access Arts Center, so I can visit Midtown, go on dates, or go to the airport that way.

Even the current bus transit solution, from Cumberland transfer center to Arts Center via the 75 HOV and Northside HOV exit and bus-only lanes on 17th St, would almost be useful, IF it had a park & ride deck.

But yeah, whatever. I'm down for some transit, and down for taxes to pay for it, even if I rarely use it.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by fieldm

I think this will be the tipping point. Once Gwinnett makes it official everyone else will probably jump onboard (400 and Cobb)

I think they've written into law a ban on expanding up 400. UGH

But you're right, this is a significant event. I know we've been talking about rail transit in Gwinnett for a long time, but it's almost hard to believe its looking like a reality. Wow.

[autolycus25]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

I think they've written into law a ban on expanding up 400. UGH

What they did was stupid and inexcusable, frankly. But... it doesn't completely ban expanding HRT up 400. It just prohibits the most likely funding source--the additional .2c in Fulton County--from being used for it. Again, dumb, but not a total ban.

[autolycus25]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I just figured it out, finally. Under the ATL bill, Cobb and Gwinnett are allowed to have MARTA heavy rail extensions without joining MARTA; other counties are not (but can have MARTA whatever else, including potentially other types of rail).

http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20172018/178943.pdf

There's a subtle difference in the wording:

[/b]



So that settles that.

Gwinnett can do this extension of MARTA rail to Jimmy Carter via this contract clause, even if they don't join MARTA.

Likewise in Cobb.

But other counties can not legally have MARTA heavy rail. But that's fine, since we're a long, long way from that mattering.

Ahh... good catch on that. MARTA is still the only entity that can operate heavy rail though.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by autolycus25

What they did was stupid and inexcusable, frankly. But... it doesn't completely ban expanding HRT up 400. It just prohibits the most likely funding source--the additional .2c in Fulton County--from being used for it. Again, dumb, but not a total ban.

Considering sales taxes are the only legally allowed transit funding system in place, it's a function total ban.