On Tuesday, Fannie Mae, MARTA, ARC and Suntrust Bank announced a new initiative called "Smart Commute." Smart Commute rewards home buyers that purchase a home within one-quarter mile of a public bus stop or one-half mile of a rail station and commit to using the transit instead of a car. The benefits include adding a home buyer's anticipated transportation savings to the buyer's qualifying income - increasing the size mortgage for which they may qualify.
Unfortunately, when this program was announced, the BeltLine was left out of the discussion. Its ability to accommodate at least 100,000 new homes within a ¼ mile of a dedicated rail corridor is a compelling argument for how it can both benefit and be benefited by Smart Commute.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran an editorial on Wednesday praising the program. To keep the BeltLine fresh in the discussion about linking housing and public transportation, I encourage you to write to the AJC to express your thoughts about the value of the BeltLine. You can e-mail the editors at letters@ajc.com or fax them at (404) 526-5610. Letters should be no longer than 150 words.
- Cathy Woolard, Atlanta City Council President
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign is working to establish a bike lane network linking neighborhoods and major activity centers in Buckhead. To get involved, join the Buckhead BUG (Bicycle User Group). Contact Kevin McCauley kpmccauley@netscape.net or phone 404-531-0006 or Mike McLeod mamcleod@us.ibm.com or phone 404-842-1791 or check out the ABC Web site at www.AtlantaBike.org
Monday, January 26, 2004
U.S. Reps. Johnny Isakson and Denise Majette will kick-off Fannie Mae's Smart Commute Initiative for the Atlanta area today. This represents the first time the benefits of location-efficient mortgages have been available to Atlantans wishing to purchase houses within the pedestrian-shed of transit. This initiative is certain to stimulate more interest in transit-oriented real estate (1/2 mile of a MARTA station) Intown. Benefits of the Initiative include:
> An additional $200 per month for one wage earner, $250 per month for two wage-earners
> Down payment of only three percent of home value, or a down payment as little as $500, depending on borrower’s income eligibility
> Free MARTA transit pass for six months, a $315 value.
> The ability to reduce or eliminate the expense and upkeep of a personal vehicle.
> An additional $200 per month for one wage earner, $250 per month for two wage-earners
> Down payment of only three percent of home value, or a down payment as little as $500, depending on borrower’s income eligibility
> Free MARTA transit pass for six months, a $315 value.
> The ability to reduce or eliminate the expense and upkeep of a personal vehicle.
Saturday, January 24, 2004
The inaugural meeting of the Atlanta Streetcar Inc. board of directors, held last Tuesday, was a great success, with local media giving it extensive coverage. The official website was also launched last week. Visit them at www.atlantastreetcar.org and learn more about this project and how it will help ease traffic and spur smart growth development in Atlanta.
Friday, January 23, 2004
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
MEAN STREETS
"It's strange about the shoes. There are a lot of shoes out here, shoes without people attached. Ghost shoes: a flattened leather boot, a new black patent leather military dress shoe, a faded blue canvas sneaker. And it's always one shoe, half a pair. How do you lose one shoe?
Such are the mysteries of the lonely pedestrian. And I do mean lonely. I'm 24 miles and five days into a 50-mile hike west out of Washington, walking the commuter routes, the fastest roads from downtown to the suburbs. Except for a few people at bus stops here and there, I haven't seen a soul afoot. There's no one walking."
This article by a Washington Post reporter is a profound statement on the loss of something very precious in America: The Human Scale.
Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60034-2004Jan6.html
Archive search:
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/advancedsearch.html
Title: "A Walk on the Wild Side"
Author: Mary Battiata
"It's strange about the shoes. There are a lot of shoes out here, shoes without people attached. Ghost shoes: a flattened leather boot, a new black patent leather military dress shoe, a faded blue canvas sneaker. And it's always one shoe, half a pair. How do you lose one shoe?
Such are the mysteries of the lonely pedestrian. And I do mean lonely. I'm 24 miles and five days into a 50-mile hike west out of Washington, walking the commuter routes, the fastest roads from downtown to the suburbs. Except for a few people at bus stops here and there, I haven't seen a soul afoot. There's no one walking."
This article by a Washington Post reporter is a profound statement on the loss of something very precious in America: The Human Scale.
Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60034-2004Jan6.html
Archive search:
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/advancedsearch.html
Title: "A Walk on the Wild Side"
Author: Mary Battiata
Monday, January 19, 2004
The inaugural meeting of the Atlanta Streetcar Inc. board of directors is scheduled at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Federal Reserve Bank, 1000 Peachtree St. N.E., in Midtown. Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, former Atlanta Olympics leader Billy Payne, and Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough will be among the guest speakers. For information, call 404-577-8900.
Source: ajc.com, What's up this week
Source: ajc.com, What's up this week
Friday, January 16, 2004
RAIL ADVOCATES MUST SOUND OFF!!
Maria Saporta says the Atlanta-Lovejoy Commuter Rail is a "no-brainer." She does an excellent job of comparing the costs to rapid bus and more road development. Read her outstanding article here.
The AJC also published a portion of my Dec. 29th commentary on the Commuter Rail in the Horizon, Letters to the Editor section. Read it here.
After reading Maria's article and speaking with some GRTA officials last week, it is clear that the last hurdle to this effort is the Governor's office. It is imperative that Governor Perdue hear from rail advocates. Click here for a direct link to the Governor's Inbox.
Maria Saporta says the Atlanta-Lovejoy Commuter Rail is a "no-brainer." She does an excellent job of comparing the costs to rapid bus and more road development. Read her outstanding article here.
The AJC also published a portion of my Dec. 29th commentary on the Commuter Rail in the Horizon, Letters to the Editor section. Read it here.
After reading Maria's article and speaking with some GRTA officials last week, it is clear that the last hurdle to this effort is the Governor's office. It is imperative that Governor Perdue hear from rail advocates. Click here for a direct link to the Governor's Inbox.
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
A miniature and novel beltline of sorts is being proposed for Tuscumbia, Alabama. The concept involves a steam engine replica pulling three cars and making a loop through the downtown area, evoking the city's past while providing mobility and a tourism draw. Read more...
Source: TimesDaily.com
Source: TimesDaily.com
Friday, January 09, 2004
ARC proposes flex-trolley line connecting Cumberland-Galleria to Doraville MARTA Station
The proposed transit line is projected to attract 67,200 riders daily, including 39,962 new transit riders. Read more...
Source: ajc.com
The proposed transit line is projected to attract 67,200 riders daily, including 39,962 new transit riders. Read more...
Source: ajc.com
Thursday, January 08, 2004
CHARLOTTE TROLLEYS TRANSITION FROM TOURIST TRAFFIC TO INTOWN COMMUTER TRAVELERS
Many South End residents and trolley riders are asking for earlier hours, CATS deputy director Keith Parker said Wednesday.
Hundreds of new condos and apartments have opened along the trolley line since the late 1990s, and many residents say they moved there so they could ride the trolley or future light-rail trains into uptown.
Starting Oct. 18, the trolley hours will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. One-way fare is $1.
Read more...
Many South End residents and trolley riders are asking for earlier hours, CATS deputy director Keith Parker said Wednesday.
Hundreds of new condos and apartments have opened along the trolley line since the late 1990s, and many residents say they moved there so they could ride the trolley or future light-rail trains into uptown.
Starting Oct. 18, the trolley hours will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. One-way fare is $1.
Read more...
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Tracking the future
Want to get a vision of the transit metropolis that Atlanta can become? Check out this outstanding map by rail enthusiast Jason King. Although Jason calls it a "fantasy map", it's based on either current plans or past studies. I've posted the commentary he sent me on the map below. Keep in mind that his map does not include commuter rail or street cars...
Blue Line: This is the current North-South line extended to Windward Parkway. There would be five new stations on the northern end of this line.
Red Line: This is the current Northeast-South line extended into Gwinnett county. There are three new stations: International, Pleasentdale, and Presidential.
Other new stations on the red and blue lines:
Jackson Terminal - The new international terminal at the airport will have its own station.
Firefly & Whitehall - Both of these station are in old industrial areas ripe for redevelopment. The proximity to downtown, interstates and the main transit line would almost guarantee success. Current plans for the green line show it intersecting the red/blue lines at West End station but in reality West End is a good distance from the green line right of way. Building a new station as part of a larger mixed use development would be the reason for the Firefly station.
Yellow Line: This line would be an extension of the current Proctor Creek and East/West lines. Six new stations would be built deep into currently underserved southern DeKalb county.
Purple Line: This line would also travel along the current East/West line. At the west end would be one new station, Fulton Industrial. The east end of the line would terminate that the Avondale station. Avondale is alread slated to be transformed in a mixed use TOD. This, along with a connection to the gray line would make this station relatively busy.
Black Line: Not currently on any long range plan or study, the black line would have four new mini-stations in the rapidly densifing Midtown and Downtown areas. The new underground station platforms would be small, servicing trains with only two or three cars. The purpose of the black line would be to reduce the time between trains, making use of trains more appealing to intown residents who would like to live car free. MARTA was designed for 90 second headways. Currently the time between trains is as short at four minutes on the main line during rush hour and as long as twenty minutes on the northern sections during non-peak hours.
Green Line (light rail): This light rail line is most likely the first line to be built. It enjoys strong support from the neighborhoods along the path of the rail lines and is being championed by the president of the city council. This line would likely be built with private funds by developers along the route who see it as a way to open old industrial properties into high density mixed use.
Orange Line (light rail): When MARTA was originally conceived, a northwest line to Marietta was part of the plan. The residents of Cobb county opted to go with more roads instead of transit. Times have changed and Cobb is more open to a rail line. Besides the green line, this line has the second greatest chance of being built. The new 17th Street Bridge over the downtown connector includes a lane for the orange line.
White Line (light rail): One of the problems with the current rail system in Atlanta is that many residents of the northern suburbs have jobs that are located in another part of the gridlocked sprawl from where they live. The white line would help move riders across the northern part of the metro, connecting the various employment centers together.
Brown Line (light rail): The brown line would help connect south and west DeKalb county residents to the rest of the transit network. It would also service Turner Field.
Gray Line (light rail): There has been strong opposition to rail lines by neighborhoods along the gray line. For this reason, I've left the stations off this line since the route would have to be carefully designed to prevent opposition. Emory and the CDC have been very supportive of rail proposals and would certainly have at least one station on this line.
----------------------
The name GReAT came from my belief that the name MARTA has been tainted and will never be accepted outside of Fulton/DeKalb. I also left Atlanta out of the name for pretty much the same reason. I think people in other counties would be more accepting of a state run system. While MARTA does have its problems, I think it doesn't deserve anything approaching its current poor reputation.
Of course, it would be even better if development was built in such a way as to allow people to walk more places and not need their car or transit for most trips. Since you walk to work also, you know what a joy it is to avoid commuting.
Sometime in the near future, I'm going to try to flesh out the gray line some more. It is the one line that I haven't been able to find documents showing where stations would go (other than Emory/CDC). If you have any opinions on this one, feel free to share them.
Want to get a vision of the transit metropolis that Atlanta can become? Check out this outstanding map by rail enthusiast Jason King. Although Jason calls it a "fantasy map", it's based on either current plans or past studies. I've posted the commentary he sent me on the map below. Keep in mind that his map does not include commuter rail or street cars...
Blue Line: This is the current North-South line extended to Windward Parkway. There would be five new stations on the northern end of this line.
Red Line: This is the current Northeast-South line extended into Gwinnett county. There are three new stations: International, Pleasentdale, and Presidential.
Other new stations on the red and blue lines:
Jackson Terminal - The new international terminal at the airport will have its own station.
Firefly & Whitehall - Both of these station are in old industrial areas ripe for redevelopment. The proximity to downtown, interstates and the main transit line would almost guarantee success. Current plans for the green line show it intersecting the red/blue lines at West End station but in reality West End is a good distance from the green line right of way. Building a new station as part of a larger mixed use development would be the reason for the Firefly station.
Yellow Line: This line would be an extension of the current Proctor Creek and East/West lines. Six new stations would be built deep into currently underserved southern DeKalb county.
Purple Line: This line would also travel along the current East/West line. At the west end would be one new station, Fulton Industrial. The east end of the line would terminate that the Avondale station. Avondale is alread slated to be transformed in a mixed use TOD. This, along with a connection to the gray line would make this station relatively busy.
Black Line: Not currently on any long range plan or study, the black line would have four new mini-stations in the rapidly densifing Midtown and Downtown areas. The new underground station platforms would be small, servicing trains with only two or three cars. The purpose of the black line would be to reduce the time between trains, making use of trains more appealing to intown residents who would like to live car free. MARTA was designed for 90 second headways. Currently the time between trains is as short at four minutes on the main line during rush hour and as long as twenty minutes on the northern sections during non-peak hours.
Green Line (light rail): This light rail line is most likely the first line to be built. It enjoys strong support from the neighborhoods along the path of the rail lines and is being championed by the president of the city council. This line would likely be built with private funds by developers along the route who see it as a way to open old industrial properties into high density mixed use.
Orange Line (light rail): When MARTA was originally conceived, a northwest line to Marietta was part of the plan. The residents of Cobb county opted to go with more roads instead of transit. Times have changed and Cobb is more open to a rail line. Besides the green line, this line has the second greatest chance of being built. The new 17th Street Bridge over the downtown connector includes a lane for the orange line.
White Line (light rail): One of the problems with the current rail system in Atlanta is that many residents of the northern suburbs have jobs that are located in another part of the gridlocked sprawl from where they live. The white line would help move riders across the northern part of the metro, connecting the various employment centers together.
Brown Line (light rail): The brown line would help connect south and west DeKalb county residents to the rest of the transit network. It would also service Turner Field.
Gray Line (light rail): There has been strong opposition to rail lines by neighborhoods along the gray line. For this reason, I've left the stations off this line since the route would have to be carefully designed to prevent opposition. Emory and the CDC have been very supportive of rail proposals and would certainly have at least one station on this line.
----------------------
The name GReAT came from my belief that the name MARTA has been tainted and will never be accepted outside of Fulton/DeKalb. I also left Atlanta out of the name for pretty much the same reason. I think people in other counties would be more accepting of a state run system. While MARTA does have its problems, I think it doesn't deserve anything approaching its current poor reputation.
Of course, it would be even better if development was built in such a way as to allow people to walk more places and not need their car or transit for most trips. Since you walk to work also, you know what a joy it is to avoid commuting.
Sometime in the near future, I'm going to try to flesh out the gray line some more. It is the one line that I haven't been able to find documents showing where stations would go (other than Emory/CDC). If you have any opinions on this one, feel free to share them.
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