Transit

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Decaturish/ Transit

Light Rail Could Alleviate Congestion in Clifton Corridor

The Clifton Corridor Proposal. Image via MARTA.

By Matthew Pharr, contributor

The U.S. Census says Metro Atlanta’s population is estimated to be approximately 5.9 million with thousands of new transplants arriving every day. Among the most congested areas of the city is the Clifton Corridor, an economic, educational and healthcare hub that includes Emory University, Centers for Disease Control, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, but lacks direct access to public transit or I-85. MARTA wants to fix that.

Atlanta’s main transit agency is proposing a light rail system to help alleviate some of the traffic congestion woes in this area of the city. According to a press release, the Clifton Corridor Initiative would link MARTA’s Red/Gold and Blue lines, connecting Lindbergh Station to Avondale Station, with a proposed five new stations in between, at an estimated cost of $1.8-$2.1 billion.

Additionally, the MARTA release says that Atlanta will experience “Reduced Congestion & Pollution” with “23,300 riders per day taking cars off the street in America’s 4th most congested city.”

Public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of the light rail initiative, according to a MARTA survey. When asked to select their top three [MARTA] priority projects 51.3 percent of respondents said the Clifton Corridor Light Rail should be the top priority followed by the Beltline Northeast Light Rail Transit at 50.85 percent and the Beltline Southwest Light Rail Transit polling at 37.02 percent.

MARTA last updated the status of the project on June 7, 2018. It states that they are finishing their environmental impact statement, which, if cleared, could make the initiative eligible for federal funding. MARTA is also in the process of developing phases of construction, contingent on the “potential availability of local funding sources.” MARTA’s timeline indicated that construction of the light rail system will commence in 2022, with full operation (including integrated bus service) of the system by 2026.

“Atlantans recognize that the Clifton Corridor is a priority for this city, connecting all residents to a thriving economic, educational and healthcare hub,” Betty Willis, an Emory senior associate vice president and government and community affairs official said in a statement. “Serving 40,000 employees, 15,000 students and over 2 million patient visits per year, it’s little wonder this light rail line has the highest projected ridership of any More MARTA project. Moreover, based on existing jobs in the corridor and overall readiness of the project, the Clifton Corridor is well positioned to compete against other projects nationally for federal funding, and is on track to be the first step in making Atlanta’s dream of an integrated transit network a reality.”

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Metro ATL/ Transit

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International’s New General Manager Named

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International has a new General Manager. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced yesterday John Selden will take control of the world’s busiest airport.

Selden comes from John F. Kennedy International in New York, N.Y., and brings with him years of experience managing large international Airports. J.F.K is the sixth busiest airport in the nation, and generates 1.1 billion in annual revenue, according to city materials.

A former Navy pilot, Selden served at the Pentagon and in Puerto Rico. After he left the service, he took his first management role at Republic Airport in New York. He joined the team at JFK in 2008 and was appointed to Deputy General Manager in 2014, the city shares. His appointment will become effective Oct. 1 and will require confirmation by the City Council.

“Hartsfield-Jackson is without question one of our city and state’s most valuable assets, with an annual economic impact of nearly $35 billion for metro Atlanta,” Bottoms said in a statement. “It has allowed our city to become a gateway to the world and it serves as a critical cargo hub for North America. I am excited that we have identified someone with the qualifications and passion of John Selden to lead our airport into the future.”

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Decaturish/ Transit

Gwinnett MARTA Expansion Now in Voters’ Hands

A MARTA Train. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

By Matthew Pharr, contributor 

In a unanimous vote cast Sept. 6, the Metro Atlanta Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors approved a contract to extend bus and rail service into Gwinnett County.

The proposal would extend the heavy-rail line along the I-85 corridor from the Doraville Station to Gwinnett Place Mall, as well as increasing local bus routes and bus rapid transit, a transit system that often requires widening streets for bus-only lanes, according to a media release.

Newly elected MARTA CEO, Jeffery A. Parker, tweeted the expansion announcement to his page, saying “MARTA Board of Directors unanimously approves contract to extend transit service to Gwinnett County; voters will decide in March 2019 countywide ballot referendum.” Most replies to Parker’s message has been critical.

However, officials are more optimistic. “I am excited about the vote made by the board today and what the contract between MARTA and Gwinnett County will mean to the people of Gwinnett and across the region,” Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said in a statement.

In the past, Gwinnett voters have been overwhelmingly opposed to MARTA’s expansion, however, the racial and political demographics of the county have changed significantly since the last expansion vote in 1990. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total population of Gwinnett County in 1990 was 352,910. It is now approaching 1 million residents and is far more ethnically diverse.

On March 19, 2019, these voters will be able to decide the fate of the MARTA expansion when they head to the polls. If the measure is approved, a one-percent sales tax would be collected in Gwinnett County to fund transit operations, expenses and the expansion through 2057, according to press materials. MARTA Projections show the sales tax would raise approximately $170 million per year or $5 billion during that period.

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Beltline/ Metro ATL/ Transit

More MARTA Atlanta project to canvass at rail stations for community feedback

CREDIT ALISON GUILLORY / WABE

MARTA and the city of Atlanta’s latest partnership, More MARTA Atlanta, is making a final push to hear from residents and MARTA riders regarding the proposed project.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., MARTA representatives will canvass a number of stations across the city to share program information and get feedback from riders on what they want from the program, according to a MARTA press release.

Information stations will be available at the Five Points, Midtown, Georgia State, West End, Lenox and Inman Park stations. MARTA riders will have the opportunity to review the list of 17 proposed More MARTA Atlanta projects and complete a feedback survey. 

The partnership was overwhelmingly approved by city voters in 2016. Over the next 40 years, the project will create a total transit investment of $2.5 billion and expand transit service to connect 126 communities within the city.

Public input has been central to the More MARTA Atlanta program since its inception, the press release said.

“Ongoing community engagement and input is critical in steering the More MARTA Atlanta program in the right direction,” MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker said. “As we take a comprehensive look at possible project options, it’s critical that we hear from all of our valued stakeholders and evaluate their input as we chart the course ahead for this important program. It’s good to hear what the citizens and the community believe should be the priorities.” 

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Beltline/ Transit

City of Atlanta and Beltline purchase the ‘Kudzu Line’ on Westside Corridor

A map showing the property purchased by ABI.

The Atlanta Beltline has purchased more property needed to complete the multi-use trail.

“The City of Atlanta and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) have closed on 1.8 miles of former railroad corridor on Atlanta’s resurgent Westside, a stretch of track informally known as ‘the Kudzu Line,'” Atlanta BeltLine Inc. announced. “The purchase provides land for the mainline corridor, in addition to creating points of contact for potential spur trails that would connect the neighborhoods of Bankhead, English Avenue, Knight Park, and Howell Station.”

The purchase price is $6.3 million and will be funded with sales tax money.

With this purchase, ABI and the city now control 80 percent of the property needed to complete the Beltline.

The property will also provide access to the Bankhead MARTA station, Maddox Park and a future park at Bellwood Quarry, ABI says. The property will provide a future link to the new Proctor Creek Greenway.

“With each land acquisition, the Atlanta Beltline moves closer to fulfilling its promise to connect and unify the city’s many diverse neighborhoods,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in the press release. “That ambitious goal is the very embodiment of our vision for One Atlanta, a place where every resident can share in the natural beauty and economic wealth of our City, whether it be on foot, on a bicycle, on MARTA or all of the above.”

There’s still 20 percent of the corridor left on the northwest side of the Beltline and consists of “active railroad and non-railroad properties.”

“CSX is excited to work with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. to finalize yet another property transaction that advances ABI’s vision,” CSX Regional Vice President of State Relations Craig Camuso said in the press release. “After working earlier this year to secure the sale of a critical piece of railroad corridor for the Southside Trail, CSX and ABI continue to build momentum for this project, which will enhance connectivity among Atlanta’s neighborhoods and spur sustainable economic growth.”

CSX will soon start removing the rails from the property. ABI wants to turn the property into an “interim trail.” The public cannot use it at this time because it is not safe, ABI says.

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Beltline/ Transit/ WABE

Gwinnett County will vote on joining MARTA in March

Gwinnett County Commissioners approved a referendum Wednesday morning to give voters the choice to join MARTA.
CREDIT ALISON GUILLORY / WABE

BY STEPHANNIE STOKES, WABE

Gwinnett County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to give voters the choice to join MARTA.

The board’s chair called the decision, which earned the support of all five commissioners, historic.

But some transit advocates weren’t so enthusiastic, and the reason has to do with the timing of the vote.

Most expected it to take place this November at the same time as the midterm election. A notice ahead of the commission meeting referred to a fall vote.

But when Gwinnett County Commissioners approved the referendum Wednesday morning, the date changed to March of next year.

Some in the audience pleaded with the commissioners to move the transit vote back to November.

Resident Pam Cox said she’s fed up with traffic in the country and wants solutions now.

“We need to move this forward in November, not March. I’ve waited long enough,” Cox said.

Others raised concerns that scheduling the referendum for March would reduce turnout.

“It’s a lot harder and more likely to be defeated if it’s in a special election,” said Colleen Kiernan, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters.

Board Chair Charlotte Nash said delaying the referendum was necessary to get the support of other commissioners.

She dismissed fears that the timing would affect the outcome of the vote.

“I think the same opportunity exists for every single voter in the county to register their opinion no matter what the date of the referendum is,” Nash said.

While all commissioners agreed to call for a transit referendum, that was not true for a separate measure establishing a contract with MARTA. Tommy Hunter was the lone commissioner voting against that.

Since MARTA began in the 1960s, Gwinnett County voters have rejected the transit agency twice.

This story was provided by WABE.

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Beltline/ Metro ATL/ Transit

Atlanta City Council to host series of forums about More MARTA program

CREDIT ALISON GUILLORY / WABE

Throughout August, Atlanta City Councilmembers will host a series of community forums about the More MARTA Atlanta program, according to a City Council press release.

The forums will educate residents and city stakeholders about the More MARTA program and receive feedback on the proposed project list.

More MARTA Atlanta focuses on “taking a balanced approach to delivering transit projects that will improve service, accessibility, and connectivity to communities throughout the city of Atlanta and the regional network,” the release said.

Atlanta residents passed a half-penny sales tax for the More MARTA project in 2016. The funds will generate nearly $2.5 billion for transit expansion and enhancement projects over the next 40 years, according to the release.

More MARTA Atlanta’s original project list included more than 70 projects with an estimated price tag of $11.5 billion, significantly exceeding the program’s sales-tax budget.

Since then, public feedback and performance evaluations from the city and MARTA have helped readjust the project list.

The first forum will take place on Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fort McPherson, 178 Hardee Avenue S.W. It will be co-hosted by Councilmembers Joyce M. Sheperd (District 12), Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11) and Cleta Winslow (District 4).

“We want to hear from our residents,” Sheperd said. “These forums will give the community an opportunity to join more in-depth discussions and get updates as we prepare to roll out Marta transit projects across the city. We’re asking everyone to attend.”

Atlanta’s largest transit investment in four decades, More MARTA will serve 126 neighborhoods. It’s slated to increase access to jobs by 56 percent and improve transit services to communities with large minority or low-income populations by 61 percent.

Atlanta residents unable to attend the scheduled community forums are encouraged to learn more about the program, review the project list and provide feedback online here.

These are all of the upcoming More MARTA Atlanta community forums:

Aug. 2

  • Time: 6–8 p.m.
  • Location: Fort McPherson, 1794 Walker Avenue S.W.*Navigate to 250 Sayers St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 — Enter the Lee St. gate, then follow red arrows to Redevelopment Authority. If your GPS takes you to the Tyler Perry Studios gate next to the MARTA station, DO NOT ENTER, you’ll be turned around. Continue past their entrance to Lee Street.
  • Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Joyce M. Sheperd (District 12), Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11), and Cleta Winslow (District 4)

Aug. 9

  • Time: 6–8 p.m.
  • Location: MARTA Headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road
  • Hosted by: More MARTA Atlanta

Aug. 15

  • Time: 6–8 p.m.
  • Location: To be determined
  • Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Natalyn Archibong (District 5), Carla Smith (District 1), Amir Farokhi (District 2), and Jennifer Ide (District 6)

Aug. 23

  • Time: 6–8 p.m.
  • Location: C.T. Martin Recreation Center (formerly Adamsville Recreation Center), 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive S.W.
  • Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone (District 10) and Michael Julian Bond (Post 1 At-Large)
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Beltline/ Transit/ WABE

Beltline advocates pressure MARTA to prioritize light rail transit

BeltLine transit advocates gathered at MARTA headquarters Wednesday to push for expanded light rail.
CREDIT ALISON GUILLORY / WABE

BY GRACE WALKER, WABE 

At a public meeting Wednesday, BeltLine transit advocates crowded into a room at MARTA headquarters. They had one main message to the board of directors: prioritize funding light rail transit along the full loop.

Advocates are hoping to influence the board before this fall, when MARTA will vote on how to spend $2.5 billion in TSPLOST revenue over 40 years.

MARTA’s current proposal would fund 22 miles of light rail transit and 18 miles of bus rapid transit around the city. It’s an investment known as “More MARTA.”

According to the plan, most of the light rail would be allocated to the Clifton Corridor, which leads to Emory. The 22-mile loop would receive 7 miles of light rail.

Lauren Welsh, a volunteer with BeltLine Rail Now!, said that’s not enough.

“There’s no question that there are other fantastic transportation projects on there. But this one has been a long time coming,” Welsh said. “It’s the only project that will touch all corridors of Atlanta.”

Other volunteers also said that when they voted to approve the half-penny sales tax in 2016, that Emory was not part of Atlanta. Atlanta City Council annexed Emory into the city in December 2017.

“We didn’t vote for a rail line to Emory,” said one speaker. “We voted for a self-imposed tax so that we could pay for rail on the BeltLine. That’s what we vote for. And that’s what we expect.”

Betty Willis, a president of the Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association, pushed back on that sentiment.

“The Clifton Corridor is the largest employment center in the region that has no direct access to MARTA and now we are gridlocked,” Willis said.

She also said that connecting Emory to the rest of the city has been long been discussed by Atlanta Regional Commission and MARTA.

In response, BeltLine advocates proposed that the city could pay for part of the Clifton Corridor, but not all of it, in order to fund rail along the loop.

MARTA’s board said they will be seeking public opinion on the transit plan before voting this fall.

This story was provided by WABE.

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Beltline/ Metro ATL/ Transit

One westbound lane on Ponce de Leon Avenue to close this weekend

A map showing the location of the road work. Source: Google Maps

One lane on Ponce de Leon Avenue will be closed this weekend for construction, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Weather permitting, the closure will begin on Thursday morning around 9 a.m. as contractors install a sewer manhole. The westbound lane will be closed on Ponce de Leon Avenue between Frederica Street and Barnett Street.

The lane is expected to reopen Monday, July 2 around 4 p.m.

Note that the dates may change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are advised to expect delays, exercise caution and reduce their speed while traveling through work zones.

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