MARTA Transit/Ga. 400 Project Likely to Remain a Hot Topic

Brooke Levin saw a ray of hope for her daily commute during MARTA’s public input meeting, on Thursday.

“I am so put off by the traffic,” she said. “I lose two hours a day in traffic. We spend so much time ruining our environment in our cars that it would be worth it to build something; a tunnel, anything. I would pay $8 a day [on a MARTA train]  and get rid of my car.”

The meeting was held at Sandy Springs’ North Fulton Annex. The MARTA project could include bus and light or heavy rail through a corridor that stretches from Ga. 400 and I-285 to McGinnis Ferry Road.

Levin, 26, lives in Forsyth, just over the Alpharetta line, and commutes to her real estate job in Sandy Springs. Because of traffic congestion, she and many motorists heading south on Ga. 400 exit at Haynes Bridge Road and re-enter the highway at Mansell Road.

MARTA has a transit study under way that includes analysis of the communities where the transportation system might be constructed, and public feedback. Community resources, historic sites, and natural resources would be taken into consideration if a transit system is developed.

“You want to locate a station where someone is getting off and getting to work…not in the middle of a [residential] neighborhood,” said Adelee Marie Le Grand, project manager from AECOM consulting firm.

Levin’s frustration echoes points made by Le Grand to the crowd of about 25 people. Studies show that traffic congestion will worsen as the population grows in communities along the corridor, Le Grand said.

Projected employment in the pockets of communities along the corridor is expected to increase up to 90 percent by 2040, according to studies.

“We want to look at moving people, not cars. It doesn’t always have to be a road solution,” Le Grand said.

A transit project would include Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Milton, Mountain Park and Johns Creek; and could take 6 to 12 years to develop depending on funding. If the one-penny sales tax referendum is passed in July, funds would be available for preliminary designs and engineering.

Following an overview of MARTA’s analysis to date, attendees wrote comments on current challenges and recommendations on easel pads.

Here's a sampling of comments:

“Lack of interconnection between transit systems.”

“…A popular reason not to take transit is the amount of time spent waiting to change from rail to bus.”

“…Look at traffic on Highway 92, 120 and Rucker Road.”

“Streetcars could potential solve east/west transportation [problems].”

“Might cost a lot of money.”

“MARTA has less than 5 percent ridership. It does nothing to relieve congestion and cost $22 per passenger.”

MARTA plans to hold additional meetings in other North Fulton cities during the spring and later this year.