I think it is a great idea, but I'm wary. I recall that Atlantic Station was originally sold with the premise of having an transit connection, either to the BeltLine or to MARTA. All the maps early on had a "potential transit station" marked in the NW area of the retail district, by the rail line.
And of course, there is that one big glitch that hasn't been solved:
However, if developers do begin to voice support for more mass-transit options, including heavy and light rail, their ambitions could face a major roadblock -- funding.I'm pretty sure Jacoby isn't talking to MARTA so he can offer to pay for the expansion. I'm about as big of a city booster as they come, but I'll believe MARTA is going to expand when I see it. I think the BeltLine has a great shot at actually happening, but I'm still pretty skeptical that they'll get the transit built.
The linked article is a good roundup of how transportation and development are intersecting. It mentions one nugget of information that I was unaware of:
MARTA expansion may also continue outside the Perimeter into the suburbs. Gwinnett voters next month will cast ballots in a non-binding referendum on whether they would support an additional penny sales tax to extend the MARTA rail line into the county.I guess I haven't been paying enough attention. Frankly, sometimes I get depressed enough about the lack of movement on transportation issues here that I write off a lot of stuff and have a hard time sinking my teeth into it.
The key to the transportation link with situations like the Ford Plant is to think beyond MARTA-style Heavy Rail with it's Stalin-esque Stations. DMU's like the Colorado Railcar [http://trailnrail.blogspot.com/search?q=dmu] could be running on the existing freight lines within two years -- without track upgrades!
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