Cobb Pkwy BRT line included in Cobb County's Comprehensive Plan (Atlanta: taxes, zoning)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

At least we have one CRT line in the horizon, in Clayton County. We are many steps closer to that becoming a reality than with anything the last 20 years, which pretty never got past the proposal and studying stages. Of course we should have one in every direction for Atlanta to reach its full potential, especially to Cobb/Cherokee, North Fulton/Forsyth, Gwinett and Athens.

I have doubts that will ever generate decent ridership unless they extend it to downtown. Forcing transfers just kills ridership.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by bu2

I have doubts that will ever generate decent ridership unless they extend it to downtown. Forcing transfers just kills ridership.

Should be a MARTA HRT line using NS ROW.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Should be a MARTA HRT line using NS ROW.

Could they really do that?

They would have to build new track and then grade separate it from rail road crossings.

[SAAN]

Originally Posted by bu2

I have doubts that will ever generate decent ridership unless they extend it to downtown. Forcing transfers just kills ridership.

Most folks in NYC and DC have to transfer after they get off the commuter rail, so I dont think hopping on MARTA from Eastpoint will be a deal breaker

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by SAAN

Most folks in NYC and DC have to transfer after they get off the commuter rail, so I dont think hopping on MARTA from Eastpoint will be a deal breaker

Yeah but theres a difference between NYC and Atlanta. In NYC it is impedingly difficult to drive within Manhattan so more people will be willing to make that transfer, also how many of them are transferring to another train? In Atlanta if you start making too many transfers people will just choose to drive.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

if Im not mistaken its not even supposed to open for service for another 20 years right?

The latest I heard is best case scenario it could be running as early as 2027, but we'll see how that goes.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by bu2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_by_ridership
And most of those have very small ridership and embarrassingly small ridership per mile.

Austin 2,700/day and 84/mile
Orlando 5,600 and 114/mile

There are only 15 systems with more than 6,800 riders/day, 7 in the Boston-NY-Philly-DC corridor, 3 on the west coast, 2 in Chicago and only 3 elsewhere. Miami is 14,600 and 206/mile, SLC 19,200 and 218/mile and Denver, a little better, at 28,900 and 990/mile.

(Obviously HRT serves different purposes, but for comparison, MARTA HRT carries 206,000 at 4,324 per mile)

The point is they have the OPTION, we DONT.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Should be a MARTA HRT line using NS ROW.

If its at all rational financially. If they can't use NS rail and have to build their own rail lines, it will be expensive so HRT should be looked at. One of the weaknesses of MARTA is that with the airport endpoint, they really don't serve any of the south Metro (below 285).

That line could be the one that goes to Cobb County, either from Arts Center or a "cross-Buckhead" line.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Yeah but theres a difference between NYC and Atlanta. In NYC it is impedingly difficult to drive within Manhattan so more people will be willing to make that transfer, also how many of them are transferring to another train? In Atlanta if you start making too many transfers people will just choose to drive.

And industry data is that you lose 25-40% of ridership with each transfer.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

The point is they have the OPTION, we DONT.

Well if we spend a bunch of money on a commuter rail line parallel to a freeway with a HOT lane (which would only require capital outlays for a bus), that's millions of dollars we no longer have the OPTION to use to improve service in other ways.