Atlanta Approves Streetcar Expansion Plan

[finehoe]

The Atlanta City Council has approved a new Streetcar System Plan, which includes five crosstown routes in addition to 22 miles of streetcar service along the Beltline.

All totaled, the plan consists of a 50-plus mile streetcar system throughout the city. The document will serve as a framework for a potential Fulton County referendum in 2016 seeking approval from voters to impose an additional penny or fractional penny sales tax to fund transportation projects. Having the plan in place also enables the city to apply for large scale federal transportation funding.



http://commuting.blog.ajc.com/2015/12/09/atlanta-approves-streetcar-expansion-plan/

[finehoe]

^^I agree.

Maybe they think 'second-best' will carry the day. 

[simms3]

I believe we are confusing things.  I no longer live there, obviously, but from my recollection, and I was somewhat in tune with the happenings, the TSPLOST referendum in 2012 was very very different.

For one, Atlanta (city) and Fulton County were linked to a defined voter region that included a lot of suburban counties.  Simultaneously, other "regions" of GA were linked together for their own laundry list of transportation improvement projects.  Some regions passed theirs, and others, including Atlanta's, did not.

Atlanta's included very little, some what-ifs at best, for new MARTA lines or serious upgrades.  It did include an item for a rail line out to Emory on the Clifton corridor, but it was undecided if that would be MARTA heavy rail, light rail, or even BRT.  It DID include A LOT of $$ to build and implement a light rail/streetcar network that centered on crossing Midtown/Downtown and circling the urban core on the Beltline.

Potential reasons why it likely failed:

1a) Suburban voters were generally anti-transit and pro-road, and felt there were not enough road projects (and too many transit projects)
1b) Additionally, they thought there was an imbalance with more money allocated to Atlanta and not enough to the higher growth suburban counties

2) There was and probably still is a general distrust of management of such a slush fund, especially for transit authorities/agencies that have/had a horrible history of misappropriation and mismanagement

3)

4)

5)

There were so many reasons, many of them sound, not to vote for this.  Interestingly enough, nearly everyone in the City of Atlanta who voted that day, voted in favor.  Almost the exact opposite by the time you got out to Cherokee County and those like it.



Turn the page to today, what I believe they're talking about now are Atlanta and Fulton County specific taxes/referendums.  Atlanta voters have voted and polled, time and time again, that they are very very much in favor of being taxed more for better transit.

What they're talking about doing here is absolutely nothing new to those who would possibly be voting on it, and absolutely nothing controversial.  I expect any city-centric votes to build streetcars and/or expand MARTA to pass with super majorities.

And don't forget that MARTA is already being expanded through northern Fulton County.  They are already constructing many more miles and 3-5 new stations north of North Springs (up into Roswell/Alpharetta).

For the south, Atlanta is super progressive with transit.  Countrywide, if all of this gets going, Atlanta will be one of only a few cities adding substantial new routes to its system.  Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

[Adam White]

Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

Is that true? I obviously don't have the low-down on all the subway systems around the USA, but I'm pretty sure that DC, Chicago and Boston are all looking at expansion and upgrades.

[TimmyB]

Whatever it is, I hope they include something that will take people (LOTS of people) to the new SunTrust ballpark.  Marta doesn't come within 10-ish miles of that place, and traffic at 75 and the loop will be a nightmare.  It already is, but on game nights, ...  yikes.

[simms3]

Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

Is that true? I obviously don't have the low-down on all the subway systems around the USA, but I'm pretty sure that DC, Chicago and Boston are all looking at expansion and upgrades.

The only cities that I know of that are actively expanding their systems are DC, Bay Area, LA, and NYC.  Have not heard a peep out of Boston or Chicago.

[Adam White]

Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

Is that true? I obviously don't have the low-down on all the subway systems around the USA, but I'm pretty sure that DC, Chicago and Boston are all looking at expansion and upgrades.

The only cities that I know of that are actively expanding their systems are DC, Bay Area, LA, and NYC.  Have not heard a peep out of Boston or Chicago.

I thought Boston was upgrading the Government Center station and is expanding its commuter rail services. Here's what Wikipedia lists for the L:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%22L%22#Renovation_and_expansion_plans

[simms3]

Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

Is that true? I obviously don't have the low-down on all the subway systems around the USA, but I'm pretty sure that DC, Chicago and Boston are all looking at expansion and upgrades.

The only cities that I know of that are actively expanding their systems are DC, Bay Area, LA, and NYC.  Have not heard a peep out of Boston or Chicago.

I thought Boston was upgrading the Government Center station and is expanding its commuter rail services. Here's what Wikipedia lists for the L:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%22L%22#Renovation_and_expansion_plans

While that says plans for this and studies for that, with very little actually happening in the way of capital projects, DC just built and is extending the Silver Line, NYC just built a new line up 2nd Ave, LA is very ambitious with their projects with so much under construction now, and BART is being extended to San Jose and MUNI is wrapping up on a new central subway line (and both MUNI and BART are getting all new trains).

I believe MARTA's extension is actually under construction now, which would make it one of only a few systems *actively* expanding and not just upgrading stations or reconfiguring headways.

[Adam White]

Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

Is that true? I obviously don't have the low-down on all the subway systems around the USA, but I'm pretty sure that DC, Chicago and Boston are all looking at expansion and upgrades.

The only cities that I know of that are actively expanding their systems are DC, Bay Area, LA, and NYC.  Have not heard a peep out of Boston or Chicago.

I thought Boston was upgrading the Government Center station and is expanding its commuter rail services. Here's what Wikipedia lists for the L:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%22L%22#Renovation_and_expansion_plans

While that says plans for this and studies for that, with very little actually happening in the way of capital projects, DC just built and is extending the Silver Line, NYC just built a new line up 2nd Ave, LA is very ambitious with their projects with so much under construction now, and BART is being extended to San Jose and MUNI is wrapping up on a new central subway line (and both MUNI and BART are getting all new trains).

I believe MARTA's extension is actually under construction now, which would make it one of only a few systems *actively* expanding and not just upgrading stations or reconfiguring headways.

Oh, okay.

It just seemed like Boston, DC and Chicago were doing more than "barely maintaining" their existing systems.

[ProjectMaximus]

Most cities with existing systems are barely maintaining what they have, let alone building more.

Is that true? I obviously don't have the low-down on all the subway systems around the USA, but I'm pretty sure that DC, Chicago and Boston are all looking at expansion and upgrades.

The only cities that I know of that are actively expanding their systems are DC, Bay Area, LA, and NYC.  Have not heard a peep out of Boston or Chicago.

Also Houston, Dallas, St Louis, and Seattle. Probably others but those are the ones I can think of.

[Ocklawaha]

NOT! Here's a current list of ongoing projects.

PROJECT - CITY - MODE - RIDERSHIP PROJECTION - MILES

Baltimore Red Line   Baltimore MD   Light Rail   2,900,000,000   14.1   
Green Line Extension (College Avenue Branch)  Boston MA   Light Rail   1,300,000,000   4.3
Green Line Extension (Union Square Branch)   Boston MA   Light Rail   1,300,000,000   4.3   
Blue Line Extension   Charlotte NC   Light Rail   1,160,000,000   9.3   
CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 1   Charlotte NC   Streetcar   37,000,000   1.5   
Cincinnati Streetcar Phase 1   Cincinnati OH   Streetcar   147,810,000   1.8   
South Oak Cliff Blue Line Extension   Dallas TX   Light Rail   240,000,000   2.6   
Oak Cliff Streetcar   Dallas TX   Streetcar   101,000,000   1.9   
I-225 Rail Line   Denver CO   Light Rail   350,000,000   10.5   
M-1 Rail   Detroit MI   Streetcar   137,000,000   3.3   
Metro Line (North LRT to NAIT)   Edmonton AB   Light Rail   711,000,000   2.1   
Línea 3   Guadalajara MX   Light Rail   4,472,148,000   13   
East End Line Phase 1   Houston TX   Light Rail   390,000,000   3.3   
East End Line Phase 2   Houston TX   Light Rail         
Southeast Line   Houston TX   Light Rail   822,919,000   6.6   
Kansas City Streetcar   Kansas City MO   Streetcar   102,500,000   2   
Crenshaw Line   Los Angeles CA   Light Rail   2,058,000,000   8.5   
Expo Line Phase 2   Los Angeles CA   Light Rail   1,500,000,000   6.6   
Gold Line Foothill Extension to Azusa   Los Angeles CA   Light Rail   735,000,000   11.3   
Regional Connector   Los Angeles CA   Light Rail   1,366,000,000   1.9   
Milwaukee Streetcar   Milwaukee WI   Streetcar   123,900,000   2.3   
Línea 2   Monterrey MX   Light Rail   438,925,905   4.7   
French Quarter Streetcar   New Orleans LA   Streetcar   75,000,000   2.5   
Oklahoma City Streetcar   Oklahoma City OK   Streetcar   94,400,000   2.3   
Confederation Line   Ottawa ON   Light Rail   1,977,960,000   7.7   
Central Mesa Extension   Phoenix AZ   Light Rail   199,010,443   3.1   
Gilbert Road Extension   Phoenix AZ   Light Rail   161,700,000   1.9   
Northwest Phase 1   Phoenix AZ   Light Rail   326,591,900   3.1
Central Loop Streetcar via Tilikum Crossing   Portland   Streetcar      
Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail (Orange Line)   Portland OR   Light Rail   1,495,000,000   7.3   
Blue Line   Sacramento CA   Light Rail   270,000,000   4.3
Mid-Coast Corridor Transit   San Diego CA   Light Rail   1,984,690,000   10.9
Novotren   San Juan PR   Light Rail   550,000,000   17   
Northgate Link   Seattle WA   Light Rail   2,100,000,000   4.3   
South 200th Link Extension   Seattle WA   Light Rail   383,000,000   1.6
University Link   Seattle WA   Light Rail   1,947,682,000   3.15   
First Hill Streetcar   Seattle WA   Streetcar   134,000,000   2.5   
Loop Trolley   St. Louis MO   Streetcar   44,000,000   2.2
Eglinton Crosstown   Toronto ON   Light Rail   4,990,000,000   11.8   
Purple Line   Washington DC   Light Rail   2,450,000,000   16.2   
Anacostia Initial Line   Washington DC   Streetcar   54,000,000   1.1
H Street/Benning Road Streetcar   Washington DC   Streetcar   161,000,000   2.4   
ION Light Rail Transit Phase 1   Waterloo ON   Light Rail   770,000,000   11.8      

FUNDED:

CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2   Charlotte NC   Streetcar   2.5   
Valley Line - Stage 1   Edmonton AB   Light Rail   8.1
The Wave   Fort Lauderdale FL   Streetcar   2.7   
Downtown Streetcar   Los Angeles CA   Streetcar   
Southwest Corridor LRT   Minneapolis MN   Light Rail   16   
Nicollet-Central Modern Streetcar   Minneapolis MN   Streetcar   3.4
Capitol/I-10 West Extension   Phoenix AZ   Light Rail   11
Tempe Streetcar   Phoenix AZ   Streetcar   3   
Providence Streetcar   Providence RI   Streetcar   2.1   
Riverfront Streetcar   Sacramento CA   Streetcar   1.2   

Meanwhile Jacksonville is getting a handful of new buses and officials are asking us at MJ; "How is it that a streetcar can compare to our modern 21St Century BRT system..." REALLY!  Somebody PLEASE get these guys out of Duval for a couple of weeks, the experience could be eye opening.