While not deciding between bus rapid transit, light rail and express bus, the first part of Cobb’s Alternatives Analysis study did show an inclination toward a route along Cobb Parkway, also known as U.S. Highway 41.
Nearly 80 people attended a two-hour open house on Tier I of the Northwest Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis on Tuesday evening at the county administration building in Marietta. The first part of the study, which is expected to wrap up in August, eliminated street car; monorail; commuter rail along the CSX tracks; heavy rail, like a traditional MARTA train; “urban” maglev, like what is proposed by Powder Springs-based American Maglev Technology; and higher speed “regional” maglev, like what is used in Asia.
Of the seven remaining alternatives, four would be routed along U.S. 41. The alternatives include light rail from Acworth to MARTA’s Arts Center Station in Midtown Atlanta along Interstate 75, as well a light rail line between the same destinations along U.S. 41; bus rapid transit from Acworth to Arts Center along U.S. 41; light rail from Kennesaw State University to Arts Center on U.S. 41; bus rapid transit from KSU to Arts Center along U.S. 41 and express bus, similar to what the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority runs now, possibly on planned managed toll lanes on I-75. The final option is doing nothing.
Cobb Department of Transportation Director Faye DiMassimo said the U.S. 41 corridor came out favorably because of its access to three major “activity centers” in Cobb — the Town Center Community Improvement District-KSU area; the Greentech district in Marietta, which includes the Franklin and Delk road areas, as well as WellStar Kennestone Hospital; and the Cumberland CID.
DiMassimo said that how much ridership the study determines along a route will help decide whether the transit goes to KSU or all the way to Acworth.
Though the study, 80 percent of which is being paid for with federal funds, is designed to find a “locally preferred alternative” for transit, DiMassimo said that a $695 million bus rapid transit line from Acworth to Arts Center would be built should voters in a 10-county region approved the July 31 Transportation Investment Act referendum.
“What this project does is helps to further what the transit possibilities are, in this corridor, that may be able to compete for federal support,” she said of the Alternatives Analysis.
While officials have said the TIA funding would be enough to build the bus rapid transit line, they say a light rail project, even a shorter one between Cumberland and Arts Center, would require additional federal funding.
DiMassimo said that if the Alternatives Analysis determines Cobb should have light rail, the county would use the results of the study to help see how competitive a light rail project could be for funding at the federal level.
“And then we would look at the existing transit and planned transit in that corridor and determine the best options for moving forward,” she said.
State Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) criticized the study’s elimination of rail along the state-owned rail lines that run through the middle of Smyrna, Marietta, Kennesaw and Acworth, which are currently leased to CSX.
“I don’t think a credible analysis was done of commuter rail,” Setzler said. “When you say that the state-owned (railroad) alignment doesn’t support existing activity centers, that’s just factually not true. Doesn’t support current and future land use, that’s factually not true. Existing number of freight trains — 70 trains a day don’t run that alignment, that’s factually not true. So I’m disappointed.”
Setzler also disputed the study’s conclusion that commuter trail would cost between $3 million and $125 million per mile, saying that using the existing line would cost a fraction of building a new light rail line.
“I’m saddened that it seems as if taxpayer funded studies are being done with a very noticeable thumb on the scale,” Setzler said.
Others were pleased with what is left in the running. Ron Sifen of Vinings was happy that express bus was among the options, though he disputed the study’s findings that it would only run between 20 and 40 mph, which is below the 45 mph minimum speed that the toll lanes are to be designed for.
“I believe this is the most cost-effective option, and it will do more to alleviate traffic than any of the more expensive options,” he said.
Jim Croy of Croy Engineering of Marietta, which is managing the study for the county, said the express bus service being considered in the study could also add additional buses and park and ride lots to the current GRTA service, which could soon be cut due to an end to federal funding.
Carol Brown chairwoman of Canton Road Neighbors, who is also a member of an advisory roundtable for the Alternatives Analysis, said the recommended options were in line with what has been discussed for months.
“It seems like all the alternative make sense,” she said. “My personal preference is for express bus and BRT. I look forward to when the decision is made later this year.”
Jim Stokes, executive director of the Atlanta-based Livable Communities Coalition, said he favors a light rail line up U.S. 41 because it would help develop the corridor as a “mixed use” residential and commercial area.
“To me what it does is maximizes the value of the selected alternatives,” he said.
Tier 2 of the study will look at the benefits and impacts of the alternatives, while refining station locations. It will also include coordination with the Federal Transit Administration.
DiMassimo defended the timing of the study, which started with submission of grant applications in July 2010 and had a formal kickoff in August 2011.
“It’s taken about a year-and-a-half. That’s normal for an alternatives analysis,” she said.
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Every other so-called transportation option after that is purely either developmental or experimental.
Any train that does not stop at Cumberland Mall is blackballed by the Cumberland CID's Chairman, who is also leading the transit study from ARC
Have you seen ANY money spent in south cobb for the last 30 years??
Seen any development?
How 'bout manufacturing??
Its a hidden slum.
Only the poor folks that live there, go there!
(and the police!)
Outta site outta mind!
It is not a mistake that almost all options are still "alive" -- that is intended to rope in maximum public support. But understand that light rail WILL BE the choice of the insiders and the consultants.
From there the trick is make the cost seem reasonable. This is done in two ways. One, the out-and-out fabrication of construction cost estimates. CLT voters were told in 98 that a system could be built for $1b. By 2006 -- with the tax safely passed -- that number was $9b. In order to beat back a tax repeal effort in 2007, CLT voters were told (by the usual suspects, local Chamber, insiders, consultants, govt officials, local media) that existing revenue streams could absolutely, positively fund the system. MONTHS after the repeal effort lost, transit officials admitted that dedicated taxes would have to double.
In addition to cost fudging, there is impact gamesmanship. Notice how useful ridership projections are no where to be found in this discussion. (Ridership itself being a fraudulent concept meant to deceive. If a line has ridership projection of 5000, most people think that means 5000 riders. It does not. It means RIDES, meaning 2500 round-trip riders would make up a ridership of 5000. This is important to keep in mind when we are talking about corridors with tens of thousands of car trips a day.)
In order to win federal dollars a system has to show that it is somewhat cost effective in reducing congestion. This usually done by wildly under estimating cost while pumping up ridership promises -- and then implying that subsidized redevelopment along the corridors will further make for "transit-oriented" gains.
This is done by cherry-picking the least expensive, most dense segment of plan for a camel's nose approach -- once dirt is turned and money spent there is no going back no matter the costs or lack of congestion reduction.
For that reason supporters of transit taxes ALWAYS claim that light rail reduces congestion, no matter if the facts are against them. They know they are lying but do not care. They serve a higher purpose -- increasing density in the US so that it more closely resembles European cities. Why? Because they like Europe -- or think they do.
I fully expect the tax to pass because we have yet to see the full court press which will claim that children will choke on car fumes and businesses will decamp to enlightened light rail enclaves; a very fuzzy appeal to the "future" mixed with dark hints that opposition to the tax is ignorant, backward, and crypto-racist (thanks Tim Lee for making this point for me the other day.)
In other words, Cobb will light a fuse that -- in decade or so -- will destroy mobility in the county.
That's OK. I plan to be long gone by then -- but those of you planning to stick around have your work cut out for you.
Instead, convert US Hwy 41/Cobb Parkway into a super-artery with 4-6 free local lanes and six tolled express lanes between I-285 and south of Cartersville.
How much of that figure would be right of way costs?
Do you have that figure?
How many businesses/properties along that corridor would possibly be negatively impacted by this kind of change.
With very few sections of 41 more than 1 mile from I-75, why would it make sense to convert Highway 41 into a super arterial when it is so close to a super highway?
Businesses and properties along the 41 corridor wouldn't be impacted very much as the adequate right-of-way in which to expand the road already exists in abundance along most, if not virtually all, the length of the road in Cobb and Bartow Counties.
Converting 41 to a partially-tolled super-arterial with free local lanes and tolled express lanes makes sense because doing so would help relieve I-75 of a great deal of local traffic, freeing up more road space on 75 for heavy truck and Interstate/national through traffic.
Converting 41 also will help 41 to better handle the heavy volume of traffic it already handles by helping to move traffic on that road quicker through intersections that are currently signalized.
Face it folks. If we let this theft continue, we will see $8 billion stolen from our local economy with over $1 billion of it from Cobb alone all so the connected few can get massively rich or become more powerful.
And all of these people are clamoring (especially the Queen of Federal Dollars herself, Faye D.) for winning more funds from the Feds -- that simply doesn't exist.
This is economic suicide for our region AND nothing but a further example of why our Country is bankrupt: Our politicians are miserably poor managers of our economy -- simply because they don't care...as long as they get their share of the pie FROM US.
THIS MUST STOP....and stopping TSPLOST is the best way to do this in the short run.
We are already in economic ruin because of crappy management of the economy by politicians. DO NOT GIVE THEM MORE OF OUR MONEY TO CAUSE EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. VOTE NO.
Who do you propose to run it?
How much will it cost?
What mode of transportation will it use?
What Route will you choose?
What will it cost to ride this transit system?
What kind of trip times from Town Center to Arts Center will you be able to provide?
How about to the Perimeter area?
WIll this be completely privately funded or will there be some government involvement and thereby some politicians hands in the till?
Their poster which listed various technology types and why they were eliminated from consideration was filled with incorrect information... likely on purpose.
Faye, Timmy, Matt & Jimbo just want their claws on FEDERAL matching funds as their measure of success. Doing anything that is different that what's succeeded at that goal in the past is removed from consideration, taxpayers' funds be damned! After all, when Faye gets her job at the ARC, her salary (and power) will make the fight all worth while.
CO-035 is what you are voting on. Read the text from the official project below. Half of the project description text is about a train. Maybe you are also "not informed" ?
Partial text of CO-035 Final Version
QUOTE Contingent upon additional funding, this project may also provide a fixed guideway rail service along a route generally parallel to I‐75 and US 41. Phase 1 will provide fixed guideway improvements between Cumberland/Galleria and the MARTA Arts Center Station. UNQUOTE
Better check before you propose insults.
The train is only included if the above happens and also determined by the final results of the AA study.
So to go around saying that project C)-35 is light rail from Cumberland to Arts Center is NOT correct. What is funded is enhanced tranist BRT from Arts Center to Acworth.
Here is a key portion of the "revised" project description of CO-035 taken directly from the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 Final Investment List Project Fact Sheet:
Premium transit service benefits residents of the Region by improving access between CCT and MARTA, and alleviating traffic congestion on major corridors. Contingent upon additional funding, this project may also provide a fixed guideway rail service along a route generally parallel to I‐75/US 41. Phase 1 would provide fixed guideway improvements between Cumberland/Galleria and the MARTA Arts Center Station.
and
The aforementioned light rail project is also one of the transit alternatives still being considered in the Alternatives Analysis being conducted by Cobb DOT.
This was confirmed as recently as last night (May 29) at the open house covered in the subject article.
Light rail is clearly one of the transit modes still under consideration. Not only is the light rail being considered, it seems it is being strongly considered.
It is also clear that the Arts Center to Cumberland route is still in the mix.
Please, to quote your own words, stop speaking from a place of ignorance and deceit.
"This project will implement enhanced premium transit service along the Northwest Corridor between Acworth / Kennesaw / Town Center and the MARTA Arts Center Station including express commuter service in northern Cobb County and Cherokee County. Operational improvements include Queue Jumper Lanes and Smart Corridor Implementation (signal pre‐emption) which benefit the Region by improving safety and operations of Cobb Community Transit Route 10, currently one of the busiest public transit bus routes in the Southeast. The project includes design, right of way and construction. Also included is a maintenance depot, parking facilities and the purchase of transit vehicles. Premium transit service benefits residents of the Region by improving access between CCT and MARTA, and alleviating traffic congestion on major corridors."
Somehow you forgot that part, the first part, the part that is funded under the dollars expected to be raised in the RTR.
Convenient you left that out.
BRT, which the above describes, is also part of the technology being considered in the Alternatives Analysis.
The AA study was started PRIOR to the development of the project list, so the wording to me makes perfect sense.
The first part of the project description, which you emphasize, was changed because Tim Lee and Mark Mathews were forced, by the citizens and taxpayers of Cobb County to recognize that the Arts Center to Cumberland light rail was seen for what it was and was going to sink the TIA in Cobb County.
The part that I and other posters included was particularly relevant because it allows the duplicitous transportation planners who are formulating this boondoggle to walk the light rail back into the picture.
They were simply trying to disguise it with double talk.
I find it amazing that you can't recognize this attempt at bureaucratic sleight of hand.
The premium transit service project identified in CO-035 is not what was preferred by the Cobb County citizens in place of the light rail project.
It was selected as the most acceptable second choice by Tim Lee and his handlers, because it was the project that kept the word "transit" in the project description.
The predetermined and rigged Alternatives Analysis will force the light rail project back into the plans regardless of the objections of the Cobb County taxpayers. Once they have the money the will do whatever they please.
Just imagine the congestion mitigation improvements that could be accomplished in Cobb County with $689 Million.
It is not a study.
It is not an analysis.
It is a expensive manipulated justification of a thinly veiled predetermined outcome.
Belmont Hills in Smryna would be a GREAT transit hub. Just as there is a pedestrian bridge over Spring Rd. in Smryna at Argyle school and over 41 from GAlleria to Cumberland, another Galleria style bridge over Atlanta Rd. could be built. Close off Dixie Ave. right by Windy Hill with eminent domain. The area is accessible via Reed Rd.
Or build the platform behind Jonquil Village.
Or even north of Windy Hill on Dixie Av,e there is a lot of blighted property that would probably LOVE to be aquired.
And all of this is easily accessible due to the new Windy Mac road project!
Oh but I'm sorry, that makes too much sense.
This is one of Smyrna government minions!
Just TAKE it by eminent domain!!
Goverment control!
Government strong arm!!
Wow!
Face it-- NO one is building in Smyrna (EXCEPT the Smyrna government-ie,.. school, fire station!!)
These fools can't see that their city (Smyrna) is a run down DEAD ZONE!!
Be very afraid!
I am confused?
There's actually already a rail transit proposed by the Georgia Department of Transportation to run across the top of I-285 Top End from Cumberland Mall over to Doraville through the Perimeter Center.
I wouldn't mind if once in a while there was a constructive idea form the anti bacon establishment. But all I hear is a list of what some other county did right, not what MK would do here in Smyrna if she were queen.
The "Locally Preferred Alternative" will be decided AFTER you vote on TSPLOST, and the Cobb Board of Commissioners will decide which "Alternative" is chosen.
The Alternative Analysis Consultants work for Cobb DOT, and therefore the Board of Commissioners. Their work must be approved by the BOC, or they don't get paid.
Vote for Plan B, wait two years, and then you will know what you are voting for.
Meanwhile, vote for Cobb Commissioners according to their position on TSPLOST.
I'm not sure why this project list isn't concrete. I am becoming sure that it won't pass this time around.