Cobb Parkway light rail is a concept that has merit. But do we have a real implementable plan that can be funded? I'm not saying that we do, or that we don't. I just want to be sure that we are moving this concept toward becoming a funded project.
We need an effective form of transit in the Northwest Corridor that connects efficiently to a regional transit network, and that effectively meets the needs of suburban commuters.
I like light rail if it can be worked out. I am not committed to a light-rail-or-nothing perspective. I like light rail, but I don't want to wind up with nothing.
Recently, Cobb County brought in a Washington consultant, Jeffrey Boothe, to tell us what we need to do to get this project (and other projects) funded. I hope that Cobb is doing what he told us we had to do. So, I have several questions.
* Boothe told us that in order to qualify for consideration for funding, this project would have to connect to a regional transit network. Right now, Cobb has a 1998 plan to connect Town Center to Cumberland. Is Cobb going to immediately re-conceptualize this project and begin a new study that will include a clearly defined, viable connection to MARTA? Or, do we plan to move forward with the 1998 study, combined with an emphatic assurance that we definitely intend to eventually connect?
* Boothe told us that projects that rely on data that is more than five years old are considered to be obsolete and will not qualify to even be considered for funding. Because of this and the connectivity issue, I wonder if the best first step isn't to initiate a completely new study and come up with a range of viable alternatives that would include connectivity, and that would meet all the federal criteria to achieve funding?
* Boothe told us that funding is not going anywhere until we have a project with up-to-date data, including acceptable ridership projections that use correct formulas. Do we have up-to-date data, including ridership projections, that have been calculated based on the formulas that the feds consider to be the correct formulas?
* $2 billion. Is that the number just to connect Town Center to Cumberland? How much will the circulators cost? The circulators are an integral part of this project. If we don't have the circulators, many people won't be able to get to their final destination. Without the circulators, we lose all of the circulator ridership, and a large portion of the main line ridership. And how much will it cost to connect to a regional transit network? Are we going to wind up with a price tag that is just too expensive, and can't get funded?
* I was delighted to hear Cobb Transportation Director, Faye DiMassimo comment that higher taxes on future redeveloped property could help pay for operating and maintenance costs. Should we go further? If this project does get approved, funded and built, should commissioners take steps to dedicate most, if not all, of the future increased taxes on these redeveloped properties to funding Cobb's future transit costs? These are taxes that would not have occurred without the transit. Dedicating these same taxes to supporting transit would remove this burden from other taxpayers.
The Northwest Connectivity Study began with this same 1998 study. The NWCS started with the presumption that we would wind up with light rail. The Georgia Rail Transit Authority reluctantly settled on BRT (bus rapid transit, which is different than regular buses) because it could not work out a viable, desirable, efficient connection for light rail. So the connectivity issue has a history that should not be ignored. Perhaps we may find new solutions that GRTA did not find. But, if we are committed to connectivity (and I don't think we can get funding without an identified connection), the history of this concept suggests that we need to put a top priority on solving this issue now, rather than a promise to try to do so in the future.
Cobb County and the Atlanta Region cannot solve our long-term transportation challenges without a regional transit network that meets the needs of suburban commuters. I hope we are moving toward a viable, fundable project.
Ron Sifen of Vinings is former president of the Vinings Homeowners Association and former president of the Cobb Civic Coalition.
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A light rail is a necessity. Yes we should link up to the MARTA System. We should develope a North to South system and follow it up by a East to West system. The County must establish a tax to which ALL the funds go into its development. Maybe a tax on fuels or dining out or hotels, even a combination of those. This tax included with Federal fund will make it work.
Then we must adopt incentives to get people out of the autos and into the system. The media must help support this effort and sell it to the community.
We as a community must work together and accept a transit system in our neighborhoods.
Example:: lookto Europe and their developing transit systems.
Thank You
Sound familiar? It will be found in any Democratic platform. But wait. Mr. Sifen is a recently converted Republican, right?
Guess since that "conversion" failed to get him elected to public office there's no need to continue the charade. "Activist Republican"; now there's a new hybrid for the political scene!
I have spent time recently in areas surrounding Ashford Park neighborhood in Dekalb. The difference in areas that are productive, vibrant areas is they don't just TALK, they DO!!
Along Peachtree Rd. is the MARTA . Runs right through there!! The Dresden Rd. & Chamblee MARTA station neighborhoods are BOOMING! The neighborhood home values triple or quadruple any are around Cobb. The little village areas like the Village on Dresden is full of shoppes, resturants, walking paths, beautiful gardens , townhomes, lofts, live/work buildings,... etc.And Chamblee ,... WOW! So many living options! There's a new seniors living building steps from the beautifully landscapped train entrance. Next to that are lofts & new apartments. Then you have your older neighborhoods full of young proffesionals pushing baby strollers to neighborhood parks.For work,you're just minutes from Perimeter Center & Buckhead! The older , warehouse style remodeled business park is geougeous. The old town of Chamblee has the hip, stylish City Hall building, with artwork, trellises & benches surrounded by antique shoppes & cafes. Then, if you still need (big box) the coolest Wal-Mart & Lowes are all w/in walking distance.
You can catch the train to Lenox or the airport!
THEY PLANNED IT THAT WAY! ITs QUALITY of LIFE & Cobb has been left out!
Federal funding will happen up 400 & out to Gwinnett.
Who can't see that?