ATLANTA — The agency overseeing Atlanta-area transit is preparing to approve the region’s first commuter rail line, a 22-mile route into the city’s south suburbs, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority could approve the line, which would connect an existing MARTA rail line to communities in Clayton County, next month. The route would use existing Norfolk Southern tracks. The agency would still need to negotiate an agreement with Norfolk Southern and perform an environmental review to qualify for federal funding. Construction could begin in 2023 with service beginning in 2027.
Jeff Turner, chairman of the Clayton County Commission, told the Journal-Constitution, ““Having rail in the county would be a game changer. Most companies want to see that in any master plan you have for development.” Some businesses have previously steered clear of the area because of the lack of transit opetions, he said.
The complete Journal-Constitution report is available here.
So what would this commuter line be called?
ACRA (Atlanta Commuter Rail Agency)
ARR (Atlanta Regional Rail)
GRACS (Georgia Regional Commuter Service)
GMR (Georgia Metropolitan Rail)
MARS (Metropolitan Atlanta Rail Service)
Just some ideas I have, either way the city needs to either get on the ball once and for all or put their effort into another solution, read that commuter rail was first proposed in 2003 and scheduled to start in 2006!
and here ya go geogia the perfect sale from amtrak(artcle in this mag). they are selling off old equipment engines, cars what have you. just need to be refurbished for use. an easy way for GDOT to get started on service some where.
They would rather spend the money on a trolley that goes nowhere rather than a rail line to get folks into and out of the city. all talk no action again.why doesnt the state spend the money on a train from atlanta to Savannah or even better Orlando. sure would be a hit.down in the morning back at night. guess that would be to logical to make some money. they would rather use the FEDS money to build HOV lanes that nobody uses or can afford to use at rush hour.
John, the commuter train could terminate at Five Points downtown. From there, commuters would transfer to MARTA rail to take them to Midtown, Lindbergh and Buckhead. These are major business centers. Georgia Tech is in Midtown, Georgia State University is downtown and midtown.
Of course Mercedes Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena are walking distance from Five Points. And Buckhead is a major business and retail center.
This commuter rail line is not a new idea. $100 million was set aside back in the 2000s to get it started, but politics and the Great Recession stopped all momentum.
Lots of differences between Georgia and NC. Georgia has one major city; NC has a major city and lots of medium sized cities. There would be no support for service between Atlanta and anywhere within 3-4 hours, as there is in NC. And, as noted earlier, commuter rail in Atlanta makes sense only in the context of getting people to the airport. And, all the rail lines radiate from near-to-downtown, which is not the major employment center there.
railine south of atlanta?? hows about east, west, north?? the state needs to get on the ball. there are raillines leaving atlanta in all directions. really if north carolina can have a rail link and they dont have the tax structure that geogia has, something is wrong with this picture.
I assume that this would be the old CofG line through Jonesboro? And, where would the trains go? I can’t imagine any reasonable destination other than the airport. Do people really want to go downtown?
I take your point. But, my sense is that much of the area population is north (northeast, northwest, whatever) of the city, and they wouldn’t go downtown to get to (e.g.) Buckhead. Clearly, there is a need. I just think Atlanta is a tough nut, as it is so spread out.
To your other point, they haven’t been able to expand MARTA from the original system, other than the northern extension up 400 (I think).
Existing NS line, ok which construction are they talking about?
The Griffin (Macon) proposal again. Well, good. Nine year out? Yeesh.