The ATL: new regional transit system (Atlanta, Savannah: moving, public transportation, racist)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Wow. More crazy huge news. And sounds like a lot more info coming shortly.

Bill could mean transit expansions in Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb



Heck yeah on allowing CCID to vote on our own transit destiny.

Sounds great and all, but why do we need to continue treating Cobb Co special?
*not meant to be a bash-cobb post

[Atlanta Scientist]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Sounds great and all, but why do we need to continue treating Cobb Co special?
*not meant to be a bash-cobb post

Cumberland stands apart from the rest of Cobb. I'm on board with better connectivity to Atlanta's job centers.

[primaltech]

Cumberland is markedly different than the rest of Cobb:

-Atlanta’s 5th largest business district

-Atlanta major league sports stadium

-Skyscrapers, urban-style apartments, higher density

-ITP location (mostly anyway), Atlanta address

-No SFH residential areas with correlated conservative voters

-Younger, more diverse, more potentially pro-transit voters

-Pro-MARTA business community

-Key geographic location metro/regionally

[tikigod311]

So once MARTA is nearby, where will the Braves relocate to? Might be time to start another surreptitious relocation effort, Liberty Media!

[primaltech]

If there was mass transit to the stadium, that would be the first time in franchise history. Unless the old Boston Braves had something.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

If there was mass transit to the stadium, that would be the first time in franchise history. Unless the old Boston Braves had something.

Turner Field was served by 3 bus routes, as well as game day shuttles. Transit station is 1 mile away.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Turner Field was served by 3 bus routes, as well as game day shuttles. Transit station is 1 mile away.

Ok, then by that (very low) standard, STP is already transit-connected then. Since it's also got bus routes, and the transfer station is 1 mile away.

I'm talking about rail right to the stadium, hopefully. Like Wrigley Field.

Or at least to the Galleria, connected by ped bridge to Battery.

[primaltech]

The House bill does have similar ATL commission/ presumably involves re-branding, but I haven't read the bill yet:

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...l-transit.html

Georgia House leaders introduced their version of regional transit legislation Tuesday, a bill that shares some provisions of a bill before the state Senate but also some important differences.

The legislation, sponsored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Kevin Tanner, would create a new authority to develop a regional transit plan for metro Atlanta.

Metro counties within the 13-county Georgia Regional Transportation Authority service area interested in adding or expanding transit would put together project lists subject to the approval of the Transit Link Authority (abbreviated "ATL"). Local voters then would be asked to approve a transportation sales tax to pay for the projects.

Forming a regional transit system and paying to expand bus and rail service in Atlanta is critical to both quality of life and economic development across the metro region, House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, told reporters during a news conference at the Capitol.

"Investing in transit is necessary if we want to mitigate traffic congestion, improve freight logistics and attract new business," he said.

In a departure from the Senate bill, the House version identifies specific sources of state funding that would augment what counties raise through sales taxes. The House bill would create a 1-cent tax on concessions sales at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the airport in Savannah, and impose a fee of 50 cents per ride on taxis or ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

The bill was crafted by Tanner, R-Dawsonville, based on meetings held last year by a commission of Georgia lawmakers, local elected officials and transit agency executives formed by the House. Its mission was a timely one, said Tanner, who chaired the House Commission on Transit Governance & Funding.

"We can't continue to grow as a region when we have companies telling us they will not locate in any area that doesn't offer mobility services for their employees," he said.

Under the House bill, MARTA would keep its current operating and funding autonomy. While the agency would serve as sole provider for heavy rail service in the region, the ATL could work with interested counties to deliver other forms of transit if their areas.

While the House and Senate bills provide different visions of regional transit, Tanner said he's optimistic about getting the legislation through this year because there is widespread agreement on the need for regional transit.

"Once we get on the same page with where we're going, which we are, I think we can get there," he said.

Sounds like it's actually going to happen. Amazing.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Wow. More crazy huge news. And sounds like a lot more info coming shortly.

Bill could mean transit expansions in Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb



Heck yeah on allowing CCID to vote on our own transit destiny.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Ok, then by that (very low) standard, STP is already transit-connected then. Since it's also got bus routes, and the transfer station is 1 mile away.

I'm talking about rail right to the stadium, hopefully. Like Wrigley Field.

Or at least to the Galleria, connected by ped bridge to Battery.

How much money do you expect Cumberland to generate on it's own; to build a rail line?