MARTA wants voters to OK $5.5 billion for rail projects (Atlanta: lease, promotional)

[fourthwarden]

MARTA has added their 'More MARTA' campaign and ongoing outreach materials to the 'Projects' tab on their website.

Edit: The FAQ sheet is helpful in some regards, though a bit familiar in its answers:

Q HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE RAISED WITH AN ADDITIONAL HALF PENNY?

A Assuming the maximum rate of ½ percent is leveraged for the life of the current MARTA sales tax, the City of Atlanta could generate approximately $2.5 to $3.5 Billion, not including possible federal matching dollars. The Georgia Department of Revenue and Georgia State University Fiscal Research Center are reviewing exemptions and refining projections.

Q IS MARTA PLANNING ON OPERATING ALL OF THE STREETCARS AND LIGHT RAIL BUILT USING FUNDING FROM THE PASSED TAX? WHAT ROLE WILL MARTA BE TAKING
ON WITH CONCERNS TO THE ATLANTA STREETCAR?

A Per the legislation (S.B. 369) that passed which authorized the referendum approved by voters in November, MARTA must own and operate any high capacity transit options built with the new tax money. Currently, MARTA serves in a support capacity to the Atlanta Streetcar for a limited time per agreement with the City. When that arrangement ends, the City will be solely responsible for the Streetcar. We do not own or operate the Streetcar. There are currently no plans to do so.

[MattCW]

So basically, MARTA will operate every streetcar route except the initial 1.3 mile segment...wonderful.

[primaltech]

That's ridiculous.

I wish that stupid streetcar had never been born.

[therealpattman]

The only thing I would love to see is a special MARTA tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area so Suntrust Park can have HRT access.

[Atlanta Scientist]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

The only thing I would love to see is a special MARTA tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area so Suntrust Park can have HRT access.

Would the MARTA act need to be amended?

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Columbia Scientist

Would the MARTA act need to be amended?

Not sure. I'm sure anything is possible if the County, Cumberland CID and MARTA agreed only that area would fund the extension.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

MARTA has added their 'More MARTA' campaign and ongoing outreach materials to the 'Projects' tab on their website.

Edit: The FAQ sheet is helpful in some regards, though a bit familiar in its answers:

Typical. Tried to click on the Clifton Corridor maps and they weren't there.

MARTA has typically had really bad access to their planning documents. They are hard to find and often removed.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

The only thing I would love to see is a special MARTA tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area so Suntrust Park can have HRT access.

I also would like to see some type of special tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area to fund high-capacity rail transit access for SunTrust Park.

Though, in addition to some kind of special tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area, I would also like to see a financial partnership between a public transit agency like MARTA or GRTA (or even CCT/CobbLinc if necessary), the businesses and property owners of the area, and real estate developers to redevelop the existing retail properties in the Cumberland area (existing retail properties like Cumberland Mall, Akers Mill Square, Heritage Pavilion, etc) into large-scale high-density mixed-use TOD (Transit-Oriented Developments) that generate maximized amounts of additional revenues and ridership for a high-capacity rail transit line through the area.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

I also would like to see some type of special tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area to fund high-capacity rail transit access for SunTrust Park.

Though, in addition to some kind of special tax district for the Cumberland/Galleria area, I would also like to see a financial partnership between a public transit agency like MARTA or GRTA (or even CCT/CobbLinc if necessary), the businesses and property owners of the area, and real estate developers to redevelop the existing retail properties in the Cumberland area (existing retail properties like Cumberland Mall, Akers Mill Square, Heritage Pavilion, etc) into large-scale high-density mixed-use TOD (Transit-Oriented Developments) that generate maximized amounts of additional revenues and ridership for a high-capacity rail transit line through the area.

Can you imagine HRT from Midtown to Cumberland? The area would probably surpass Perimeter Center in terms of size and importance especially being home to Suntrust Park something Perimeter just can't compete with.

[primaltech]

Another possibility is to have Atlanta annex the Atlanta 30339 zip code in Cobb. Which is basically Cumberland and Vinings.

Since City of Atlanta is its own MARTA member/jurisdiction, I believe that would mean the area would get MARTA service, and would actually pay a 1.5% sales tax for it, which definitely would be enough to fund the heavy rail, and probably quickly.

Also, that would bring the Braves back to Atlanta.