MARTA transit plan includes 21 miles of light rail (Atlanta: cost, mall)

[sadATLsportsfan]

I think the fix to the issue of not sufficiently funding Beltline transit is easy here. There is one project on this finalized list that makes no sense and that's LRT down Campbelton Rd. BRT would suffice here, but the population density is too sparse for rail. So only build out BRT on Campbelton and scrap the rail, and instead extend the westside Beltline transit north to the Bankhead/Westside Resevoir Park area and have it reach only as far south as West End or an Adair Park infill station. Likewise, Extend the eastside Beltline transit south to Glenwood Park. I believe the total additional mileage here would roughly equal that of the Campbelton Rd. corridor. In a logical world this is what would be built out, but Bottom of course has to deliver for her special interests on that side of town.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by sadATLsportsfan

I think the fix to the issue of not sufficiently funding Beltline transit is easy here. There is one project on this finalized list that makes no sense and that's LRT down Campbelton Rd. BRT would suffice here, but the population density is too sparse for rail. So only build out BRT on Campbelton and scrap the rail, and instead extend the westside Beltline transit north to the Bankhead/Westside Resevoir Park area and have it reach only as far south as West End or an Adair Park infill station. Likewise, Extend the eastside Beltline transit south to Glenwood Park. I believe the total additional mileage here would roughly equal that of the Campbelton Rd. corridor. In a logical world this is what would be built out, but Bottom of course has to deliver for her special interests on that side of town.

I think it makes sense, but the political winds are probably not blowing in that direction...as you so correctly surmise.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Yes, I prefer the City of Atlanta spend it's own extremely finite money on projects that provide the maximum value to the City of Atlanta. 20 Years from now, expediting the Clifton Corridor at the expense of building out the Beltline will prove to be a short sighted decision.

The Clifton Corridor will be funded, they are just leveraging the city's transit funding to build it quicker.

Again, this is not a choice between building out the Beltline or building the Clifton Corridor. This is a choice between expediting the Clifton Corridor at the expense of building out the Beltline.

I'm curious as to what regional funding you're thinking will go to funding the entirety of the Clifton Corridor that the BeltLine is not qualified for?

As it is, the Clifton Corridor, as a final project, is already relying on two service areas' investment. The first from CoA's More MARTA tax, and the other from some as of yet undecided tax increase in DeKalb. Basically, the Clifton Corridor will need to be half-funded by DeKalb already.

Under the new ATL rules, no other entities could fund the project, since it's not in their jurisdiction, and there is no other funding mechanism beyond the same sales-tax increase that's funding the Clifton Corridor right now.

So what funding do you think the CC qualifies for but that the BeltLine does not? The only real option is to make DeKalb fund the whole thing, at which point you start jeopardizing other projects like the I-20 East extension which CoA's no longer helping fund.

Like others have said, likely the best way to improve light rail on the BeltLine is to not push a Campbellton Rd line for now. That would add 5 miles to the 7 already planned to be funded, for a total of 12 of the 22 miles. That would take care of the Westside, Southside, Eastside, and Northeast Side portions of the BeltLine, which are all owned by the BeltLine already, leaving the Northwest side to be filled in later as negotiations continue.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

I'm curious as to what regional funding you're thinking will go to funding the entirety of the Clifton Corridor that the BeltLine is not qualified for?

As it is, the Clifton Corridor, as a final project, is already relying on two service areas' investment. The first from CoA's More MARTA tax, and the other from some as of yet undecided tax increase in DeKalb. Basically, the Clifton Corridor will need to be half-funded by DeKalb already.

Under the new ATL rules, no other entities could fund the project, since it's not in their jurisdiction, and there is no other funding mechanism beyond the same sales-tax increase that's funding the Clifton Corridor right now.

So what funding do you think the CC qualifies for but that the BeltLine does not? The only real option is to make DeKalb fund the whole thing, at which point you start jeopardizing other projects like the I-20 East extension which CoA's no longer helping fund.

Like others have said, likely the best way to improve light rail on the BeltLine is to not push a Campbellton Rd line for now. That would add 5 miles to the 7 already planned to be funded, for a total of 12 of the 22 miles. That would take care of the Westside, Southside, Eastside, and Northeast Side portions of the BeltLine, which are all owned by the BeltLine already, leaving the Northwest side to be filled in later as negotiations continue.

He makes a good point.

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

I'm curious as to what regional funding you're thinking will go to funding the entirety of the Clifton Corridor that the BeltLine is not qualified for?

As it is, the Clifton Corridor, as a final project, is already relying on two service areas' investment. The first from CoA's More MARTA tax, and the other from some as of yet undecided tax increase in DeKalb. Basically, the Clifton Corridor will need to be half-funded by DeKalb already.

Under the new ATL rules, no other entities could fund the project, since it's not in their jurisdiction, and there is no other funding mechanism beyond the same sales-tax increase that's funding the Clifton Corridor right now.

So what funding do you think the CC qualifies for but that the BeltLine does not? The only real option is to make DeKalb fund the whole thing, at which point you start jeopardizing other projects like the I-20 East extension which CoA's no longer helping fund.

Like others have said, likely the best way to improve light rail on the BeltLine is to not push a Campbellton Rd line for now. That would add 5 miles to the 7 already planned to be funded, for a total of 12 of the 22 miles. That would take care of the Westside, Southside, Eastside, and Northeast Side portions of the BeltLine, which are all owned by the BeltLine already, leaving the Northwest side to be filled in later as negotiations continue.

This is exactly what should be done. Campbellton Rd can't support a streetcar, the density isn't there. BRT would be great for that corridor. But as has been said, politics is playing the cards more so than the use of data. Such is life, nowadays.

[sadATLsportsfan]

Originally Posted by CCATL

This is exactly what should be done. Campbellton Rd can't support a streetcar, the density isn't there. BRT would be great for that corridor. But as has been said, politics is playing the cards more so than the use of data. Such is life, nowadays.

There is supposedly supposed to be public input and debate on the project list, so hopefully people can make their voices heard. The term "boondoggle" is typically used by anti-transit types in the suburbs to describe any transport investment that isn't a 10-lane highway, but light rail down Campbelton would be a legitimate boondoggle. Connecting more neighborhoods along the Beltline to a regional transit network would be the right use of these funds.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

He makes a good point.

I think the best parts are being built. You get a half swastika shaped line that goes through downtown using the existing streetcar and connects to Lindberg in the north.

Campbellton is just one of those political lines.

[Pemgin]

I have a feeling the Campbellton project is going to get hammered in the public forums. To waste that amount of money to first do BRT, then upgrade to LRT is extremely stupid.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

I'm curious as to what regional funding you're thinking will go to funding the entirety of the Clifton Corridor that the BeltLine is not qualified for?

As it is, the Clifton Corridor, as a final project, is already relying on two service areas' investment. The first from CoA's More MARTA tax, and the other from some as of yet undecided tax increase in DeKalb. Basically, the Clifton Corridor will need to be half-funded by DeKalb already.

Under the new ATL rules, no other entities could fund the project, since it's not in their jurisdiction, and there is no other funding mechanism beyond the same sales-tax increase that's funding the Clifton Corridor right now.

So what funding do you think the CC qualifies for but that the BeltLine does not? The only real option is to make DeKalb fund the whole thing, at which point you start jeopardizing other projects like the I-20 East extension which CoA's no longer helping fund.

Like others have said, likely the best way to improve light rail on the BeltLine is to not push a Campbellton Rd line for now. That would add 5 miles to the 7 already planned to be funded, for a total of 12 of the 22 miles. That would take care of the Westside, Southside, Eastside, and Northeast Side portions of the BeltLine, which are all owned by the BeltLine already, leaving the Northwest side to be filled in later as negotiations continue.

How was the funding supposed to work out before the More MARTA tax was conceived? IIRC, MARTA was going to fund it from the capital projects fund and leverage the feds. I do not recall discussions of this being a project with no prospect for funding.

I also think the State could be a source of funding. I don't believe The ATL framework would prevent funding direct from the state. The State already directly funded MARTA project(s) last year. Out of all the potential transit project in Metro Atlanta, I believe the CC would be one of the most likely candidate for state funding. The project makes a lot of sense from a regional perspective.

All the above is really beside the point considering that less than 20% of the CC resided in Atlanta when this tax was passed and voters were explicitly told that the CC was contingent on funding from other municipalities. Now, thanks to an annexation that resulted in boundaries that look like political gerrymandering, it's now the city's burden to cover what is most likely going to be over 50% of the total local funding for the CC? Phase 1 will certainly be more expensive than Phase 2.

Again, I don't mind if some funding for the CC come from the More MARTA tax. But Atlanta should not be covering the majority of local funding. It's really absurd considering how very little of this project resided in the city of Atlanta just a few months ago.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Again, I don't mind if some funding for the CC come from the More MARTA tax. But Atlanta should not be covering the majority of local funding. It's really absurd considering how very little of this project resided in the city of Atlanta just a few months ago.

It would sure be nice to see our extremely well-heeled (and tax exempt) new congregants drop a few coins into the collection plate. Especially since they've decided to sit in the front pew.