ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[plorenc]

The Atlanta City Council overwhelmingly approved a plan Monday to seek federal stimulus funds to run a streetcar along portions of the Peachtree Street corridor.

But the 11-3 vote to work with local business groups and MARTA on a feasibility study came only after several council members objected both to the scope of the project and the concept of bringing streetcars back to Atlanta.

Central Atlanta Progress and the Midtown Alliance have agreed to contribute up to $300,000 to study the proposal to run streetcar lines along Peachtree Street from downtown to Midtown and from the King Center to Centennial Olympic Park.

The two business groups, the city and MARTA plan to apply for up to $300 million in stimulus money to finance the project’s capital costs. Cities across the country competing for $1.5 billion in capital grants for transportation infrastructure improvements face a Sept. 15 application deadline.

The plan’s supporters said Atlanta must move quickly to take advantage of an opportunity to get the project moving without using city taxpayers’ money.

“We are looking for things that will drive our economy and make life better for us,” council President Lisa Borders said. “I want to make sure we are as visionary today as we were 30 years ago with MARTA.”

But Councilwoman Anne Fauver said the council’s stamp of approval on the streetcar project, even without a commitment of city funds, would distract officials from more pressing transportation needs. Fauver also argued that the streetcar wouldn’t reach enough of the city’s tourist destinations to make it a worthy investment.

“The line misses many of the hotels downtown and stops at the King Center, missing the zoo and Grant Park,” she said.

To alleviate concerns about the scope of the project, council members amended the ordinance to suggest extending the line along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, to Grant Park, to the downtown government district and to Ft. McPherson, if funds become available.

In other business on Monday, the council approved using Tax Allocation District bond money to repay the outstanding balance of a loan used to purchase the personal papers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader and Atlanta native.

The papers will be a major focus of the planned Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta.

[cybele]

Originally Posted by atl2phx

wondering if anyone has any insight into how GDOT plans to treat the (green shaded areas) on the 14th st/7585 connector rework? it looks like there will be a fairly significant non-traffic median running from 10th to 17th between 75 and 85, but i can't tell from the GDOT plans how it will be finished.

Nice images, atl2phx! It sure would be great if they did something to green those areas. How about a row or two of trees?

[gttx]

Originally Posted by plorenc

The Atlanta City Council overwhelmingly approved a plan Monday to seek federal stimulus funds to run a streetcar along portions of the Peachtree Street corridor.

But the 11-3 vote to work with local business groups and MARTA on a feasibility study came only after several council members objected both to the scope of the project and the concept of bringing streetcars back to Atlanta.

Central Atlanta Progress and the Midtown Alliance have agreed to contribute up to $300,000 to study the proposal to run streetcar lines along Peachtree Street from downtown to Midtown and from the King Center to Centennial Olympic Park.

The two business groups, the city and MARTA plan to apply for up to $300 million in stimulus money to finance the project’s capital costs. Cities across the country competing for $1.5 billion in capital grants for transportation infrastructure improvements face a Sept. 15 application deadline.

The plan’s supporters said Atlanta must move quickly to take advantage of an opportunity to get the project moving without using city taxpayers’ money.

“We are looking for things that will drive our economy and make life better for us,” council President Lisa Borders said. “I want to make sure we are as visionary today as we were 30 years ago with MARTA.”

But Councilwoman Anne Fauver said the council’s stamp of approval on the streetcar project, even without a commitment of city funds, would distract officials from more pressing transportation needs. Fauver also argued that the streetcar wouldn’t reach enough of the city’s tourist destinations to make it a worthy investment.

“The line misses many of the hotels downtown and stops at the King Center, missing the zoo and Grant Park,” she said.

To alleviate concerns about the scope of the project, council members amended the ordinance to suggest extending the line along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, to Grant Park, to the downtown government district and to Ft. McPherson, if funds become available.

In other business on Monday, the council approved using Tax Allocation District bond money to repay the outstanding balance of a loan used to purchase the personal papers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader and Atlanta native.

The papers will be a major focus of the planned Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta.

This is great news!

But I don't understand the objections by some council members. They don't think a streetcar is a worthy investment because it doesn't go to the zoo? Seriously? A streetcar that DOES go to the zoo is a ridiculous investment.

Good for Lisa Borders, though.

[plorenc]

Originally Posted by gttx

This is great news!

But I don't understand the objections by some council members. They don't think a streetcar is a worthy investment because it doesn't go to the zoo? Seriously? A streetcar that DOES go to the zoo is a ridiculous investment.

Good for Lisa Borders, though.

Seriously. I feel like some of the council members think that the streetcar as something used only by tourists. They do not see its potential to add to the livability and walkability to the area and steer development in a positive way.

Anyways, great news!

[STrek777]

Originally Posted by sevensixtwo

Interstate Lane Closures to Cause Heavy Traffic This Weekend

Please be aware that the Georgia Department of Transportation will be setting beams for the new 17th Street off-ramp this coming weekend, requiring the closure of several lanes of traffic. On subsequent weekends, the Georgia DOT will be resurfacing the Interstate. Both of these activities are part of the 14th Street Bridge Improvement Project. The new bridge and its adjacent roadways are expected to open ahead of schedule in early fall.

Oh this is just great freakin news. The weekend I am moving will be the weekend they start this crap. Of all weekends!! Thanks for letting me know I'll try to plan around it.

[A-town]

Originally Posted by micropundit

And therein lies Atlanta's future:if Atlanta 's leadership comprehends the value of that line of thinking as an emphasis and not an exclusion, then the city, region and state can continue to compete successfully in the global marketplace, a stage increasingly dominated by the global urban centers. The type of collaboration that this comprehension brings will attract the various federal,state and private resources that promise not only success but sustainability as well.

Well said, I could've said it better myself.

[boomtown]

Originally Posted by gttx

This is great news!

But I don't understand the objections by some council members. They don't think a streetcar is a worthy investment because it doesn't go to the zoo? Seriously? A streetcar that DOES go to the zoo is a ridiculous investment.

Good for Lisa Borders, though.

I completely agree. What the?.....who's going to take a streetcar to the zoo? Really?....how much will that cost? Who are you beholden to at the Zoo Miss Fauver.
Anyway, this is great news.

[boomtown]

Looks the 12th and Midtown office penthouse structure is underway....it's pretty tall.

[BlueSangha]

I am sorry to a drag on the street car idea, no wait I'm not. I just don't see the need for a streetcar with marta right under the street, and several bus options on it. That stimulus money could be better spent on real transportation options or fixing the rest of our efed up sewer system. Nor do I buy the arguement that it will add livability and walkability or steer development in any other way than where it is going now. It's a novelty at best and can hardly be considered visionary if your looking to the past to bring back the dead. But on the other side, the zoo? Really? What's so special about the zoo? And as for Grant Park or the King Center, take bus. You want a street car, wait till we have the economy to support one.

[tech]

The more I read about the streetcar, the more appealing it seems. Few would take Marta one stop, say from North Ave to Midtown, because the cost is simply to much for the distance, perhaps a streetcar could fill this gap with a cheaper more flexible alternative. I think the belt line should be the top priority at this point though, because it has the potential to dramatically increase the use of public transportation.

12th and Midtown is looking great, it seems like they are a bit ahead of schedule also. It will be interesting to see what the finished roof structure will really look like.

[ls1z28chris]

Originally Posted by plorenc

Seriously. I feel like some of the council members think that the streetcar as something used only by tourists. They do not see its potential to add to the livability and walkability to the area and steer development in a positive way.

Anyways, great news!

I can see the Beltline being useful, but a streetcar along Peachtree seems a little odd. What benefit would the city incur by having a street car traveling the same route as heavy rail?

I can see how the Beltline would improve things: Folks along the edge of the city would now have rail transit options for getting to the fast and cheap heavy rail of MARTA. I just don't see how light rail above the same tracks traversed by heavy rail along Peachtree would be beneficial. Perhaps someone can help me out...

[patrick84]

Originally Posted by cybele

Nice images, atl2phx! It sure would be great if they did something to green those areas. How about a row or two of trees?

I think the goal of this area is to begin to create a HOT or Truck Only Lane through the entire connector... This is obviously just the beginning; and I somehow imagine it will fall through when they try to expand anything b/w North and Grady.

[plorenc]

Originally Posted by ls1z28chris

I can see the Beltline being useful, but a streetcar along Peachtree seems a little odd. What benefit would the city incur by having a street car traveling the same route as heavy rail?

I can see how the Beltline would improve things: Folks along the edge of the city would now have rail transit options for getting to the fast and cheap heavy rail of MARTA. I just don't see how light rail above the same tracks traversed by heavy rail along Peachtree would be beneficial. Perhaps someone can help me out...

The point of the streetcar is the act as a people-mover, for increased mobility through the corridor. With the current MARTA system, there are limited stops spaced far apart from one another, so it is mainly used for medium to long distance trips. With the streetcar, smaller, more local trips are expected. If someone wants to get from Buckhead to Midtown, they will use the established heavy rail system. However, if someone wanted to get from the Fox to the High Museum, it would probably make more sense to take the streetcar.

It is true that the streetcar follows the same linear pattern of the MARTA line, but that's a quirk of Atlanta development: everything here is in a line. It is to act as a means continue to promote high density development along the Peachtree Corridor and establish a more robust transit network for both local and long distance trips.

Think of it this way: it's basically the Peach Bus on steroids. The Peach bus is currently a means to ferry yourself up and down Peachtree, albeit it's utter inconvenience. Because streetcars are much more appealing to developers and those who wouldn't normally take a bus, a high frequency streetcar network starting on Peachtree just makes sense.

[delarosa]

Originally Posted by ls1z28chris

I can see the Beltline being useful, but a streetcar along Peachtree seems a little odd. What benefit would the city incur by having a street car traveling the same route as heavy rail?

I can see how the Beltline would improve things: Folks along the edge of the city would now have rail transit options for getting to the fast and cheap heavy rail of MARTA. I just don't see how light rail above the same tracks traversed by heavy rail along Peachtree would be beneficial. Perhaps someone can help me out...

yes...spend a little extra $ on some really nice buses. then focus on projects like the beltline that facilitate non-vehicular traffic on otherwise awkward transit segments. a little beautification/traffic dampening/prostitution&drug interdiction on Ponce between midtown and Briarcliff would be a nice touch. for that matter, ever wonder what a few additional thoroughfares between sherwood forest/ansley/lindbergh and their respective counterparts directly NW opposite I85 would do for mobility on peachtree/piedmont/lindbergh? of course it'll never happen because of the homeowners in those areas, but it is interesting looking at a map and wondering about all the traffic that is otherwise diverted down peachtree, etc. heck, how about even a few bike paths to connect those areas. oh well, just a fun thought.

[cybele]

This streetcar will take up at least one if not two much needed lanes on Peachtree.

[Free]

^ That's a pipe dream for Lindbergh, at least between Peachtree and Piedmont.

As for the Streetcar and the Beltline, I'm wholeheartedly in support of both projects. But just to play devil's advocate, I've talked to people who question whether the Beltline's transportation components will alleviate any of Atlanta's traffic woes in the slightest given the Beltline's limited circumference.

Before a war erupts over this point of view, I think both projects could (and hopefully will) have a major impact on Atlanta. Personally, I view MARTA's underground line on Peachtree as a commuter oriented mode of transit. I could envision the Streetcar, however, being used not only for commuting, but for downtown workers going to lunch in Midtown or Buckhead, or vice versa. People staying in hotels along Atlanta's spine would be more inclined - in my opinion - to hop on a Streetcar than our heavy rail system (in my experience, think of how many more tourists in other big cities prefer cabs to getting lost in subways for trips to dinner or to go shopping). Just my opinion. But again, I prefer both. Probably a bit greedy, but like our poster above, pipe dreams are fun.

[BlueSangha]

Originally Posted by plorenc

However, if someone wanted to get from the Fox to the High Museum, it would probably make more sense to take the streetcar..

I think marta would get you there faster, there is a stop at the fox, and one right at the high.

[delarosa]

Originally Posted by Free

^ That's a pipe dream for Lindbergh, at least between Peachtree and Piedmont.

t'would likely never happen, as your poster noted...at least not in the next 5 or so decades. nonetheless interesting to look at the obvious clumsiness on the map...contemplating consequently necessary workarounds, impacts and externalities borne as a result is fun (and relevant) as well.

[briantech]

Would the streetcar have its own dedicated right of way all the way up its route? (And by that, I mean have its own lane, that cars can't drive on)

If not, then isn't the streetcar just another bus but with the added requirement of awful, ugly, cluttering electrical wires overhead the entire length of what is supposed to be the crowning boulevard of Atlanta?

[tech]

Originally Posted by briantech

Would the streetcar have its own dedicated right of way all the way up its route? (And by that, I mean have its own lane, that cars can't drive on)

If not, then isn't the streetcar just another bus but with the added requirement of awful, ugly, cluttering electrical wires overhead the entire length of what is supposed to be the crowning boulevard of Atlanta?

A streetcar can have a dedicated right of way or it can share one with cars. In this case I imagine they are planning a shared right of way (otherwise this would be a traffic nightmare, one lane each way on peachtree in midtown?).

I saw this site, which has some graphics that make it look fairly attractive:
http://www.peachtreecorridor.com/