Quote:
Originally Posted by testarossa50
Here's what I'd do:
Build the Beltline up from O4W and along the Eastside Trail. At Ansley Park, there is a full wye with the NS that goes under I-85. The Beltline plans to use the northbound side of the wye and go to Lindbergh. I think we should also make use of the southbound side of the wye, which heads to the current Amtrak Station. Make the Amtrak station into a LRT stop, then use the old bridge over I-75 to access Atlantic Station with another LRT stop, then have the line terminate at IKEA and the new Amtrak/Greyhound Station. Tie this all together with a new MARTA infill station at Armour Yd to transfer between the two lines. Allow the Armour Yard area to be redeveloped into TOD. Let's just call MARTA to Sweetwater a happy side effect in all of this. 
There's also likely sufficient width to have a walking trail extend from the current Amtrak Station over to Atlantic Station, which is something we should do regardless. Using that bridge, the Amtrak Station and Atlantic Station are <.5 mi apart, but it's well over a mile to walk on any currently recognized route. This would be a major win for walkability in that part of the city. |
This is an excellent idea. I think in addition, having a streetcar line run down 10th (an at grade transition from the beltline to streetcar would be awesome), and loop up Hemphill, up Northside, left on 17th (hitting the Amtrak station) and left onto Howell Mill to head downtown on Marietta would be great. The Atlantic Station Amtrak would turn into a proper transit hub with the confluence of a streetcar line and the beltline. In addition you'd have convenient MARTA access to the Midtown station while an Armour infill station is built.