Light Rail in Atlanta? (Tucker, North Druid Hills: university, tax, live)

[garyv]

I heard from a friend that there is a proposed light rail route that is going to come up in Atlanta area and that it will connect places that are not served by the MARTA route. Is this true?? Anybody know about this? will it connect Decatur to downtown? It will be so much of help to the people without a car like me.

[atlantagreg30127]

Proposed but with the recession, City money "gone" and the DOT threatening part of the land it's proposed to be on, I wouldn't hold your breath about it.

Regardless, info can be found here: Atlanta BeltLine > Home

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by garyv

I heard from a friend that there is a proposed light rail route that is going to come up in Atlanta area and that it will connect places that are not served by the MARTA route. Is this true?? Anybody know about this? will it connect Decatur to downtown? It will be so much of help to the people without a car like me.

Decatur is already connected by rail to downtown.

[garyv]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Decatur is already connected by rail to downtown.

Sorry... I meant to say areas near Emory University... North Druid hills etc which are quite far from the Decatur Marta station

[J2rescue]

Thats exactly what I was thinking Lovin.

I assume you're referring to the light rail that is a part of the Concept 3 which include several light rail routes. Marta, GRTA, the ARC, the 13 ARC counties got together to establish a comprehensive transit plan which is called Concept 3 (Concept 3 map pdf (http://tpb.ga.gov/Documents/TPB/Aug08/Attachment%202%20_AgendaItem%20IV_Concept%203%20ma p.pdf - broken link)).

Metro politicians and business leaders have also been pushing for a regional tax to fund metro transportation which would require a state referendum. However the governor and others in the state legislature recently introduced a plan to fundamentally change how transportation is dealt with in the state so all of those plans are now in limbo. It remains to be seen how this new structure will work but it will at the very least delay any progress on new transit projects.

[PKCorey]

Thanks for that link, j2rescue. Nice...

i don't agree with commuter rail to Conyers tho. IMHO, it would make sense to just extend Marta from Indian Creek to Stonecrest then over to Rockdale county jail, where they have a huge P&R for the commuter busses.

Interesting map though...

[reet4587]

Originally Posted by garyv

Sorry... I meant to say areas near Emory University... North Druid hills etc which are quite far from the Decatur Marta station

I would love -- no, I would luurve to see the Emory/N Druid Hills area served by commuter rail of some kind. That is an area that could really use some alternate transportation options as the traffic can get totally screwed up, especially during the afternoon commute time.

Thanks for the link to that Concept3 map, J2rescue. That thing makes me happy and sad at the same time. What a great thing it would be for the city to gain even half of those proposed transit lines -- but having lived here all my life, I've seen too many great proposals get shot down for me to be able to work up any hope for change.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by reet4587

I would love -- no, I would luurve to see the Emory/N Druid Hills area served by commuter rail of some kind. That is an area that could really use some alternate transportation options as the traffic can get totally screwed up, especially during the afternoon commute time.

Thanks for the link to that Concept3 map, J2rescue. That thing makes me happy and sad at the same time. What a great thing it would be for the city to gain even half of those proposed transit lines -- but having lived here all my life, I've seen too many great proposals get shot down for me to be able to work up any hope for change.

I so agree...that area is so ripe for it, more so than anywhere else in town. The original MARTA plan had a spur that ran out there and deadheaded on NDH Rd.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I so agree...that area is so ripe for it, more so than anywhere else in town. The original MARTA plan had a spur that ran out there and deadheaded on NDH Rd.

and it would be so easy...with the railroad track already there...


I think it should at least be a heavy rail line or light rail line...

stretching from Lindbergh...and stations at Cheshire Bridge, Sage Hill, Emory/Druid Hills, Clairmont, North Druid Hills/Leafmore, Northlake, and Tucker.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by aries4118

and it would be so easy...with the railroad track already there...


I think it should at least be a heavy rail line or light rail line...

stretching from Lindbergh...and stations at Cheshire Bridge, Sage Hill, Emory/Druid Hills, Clairmont, North Druid Hills/Leafmore, Northlake, and Tucker.

The Athens - Atlanta Brain Train would serve many of those places.


BUILD IT NOW.


Georgia Brain Train Group - A Commuter Rail, passenger train, Atlanta rail, college connector rail