Comments on: If You Can’t Build Rail, Build the Station

By: MJK

MJK — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:41:13 +0000

Some of earmark was specifically intended for the MMPT so it fits right in with the purposes anyway. And, I’ll agree that this does not represent “getting you act together”. But it does represent a step in the right direction. Small victories: build the station, get regional transportation sales tax (and allocate money to build commuter rail), get state of georgia to start supporting transit… It’s got to start somewhere. We can’t just plop down a fully developed commuter rail system out of the sky.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:21:56 +0000

Yeah, but it will be the wrong decision. The Feds will say “the earmark sat there for 10 years and you did nothing, now you want to use it for other than its intended purpose – good luck getting more”. It doesn’t match my idea of “getting your act together” per Secretary LaHood.

By: MJK

MJK — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:41:45 +0000

That’s an eminantly valid point, Steve. And in a closer to perfect world the right thing to do would be to spend the money on the train line itself. Unfortunately, under the use-it-or-lose-it cricumstances the earmark is in, it may be easier to expedite the station. After all, the underlying problem is not necessarily the the state match – it’s who will pay the opperating costs. And there won’t be any operating costs on the station until the line gets up and running. At the very least it would show the feds that Atlanta/Georgia can make a decision and do something with the money.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:07:34 +0000

So, if they spend the money on the station, where’s the money coming from for the train? The first line (Lovejoy/Griffin) can have a much simpler terminal in the same place until the other lines get operating sometime in the next century.

BTW, a study done some years ago projected that a statewide passenger rail system could be done for less than the cost of the 5th runway at Hartsfield.

By: MJK

MJK — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:41:57 +0000

Steve,

Don’t forget that the Lovejoy line is but one part of an entire commuter rail system that is envisioned for the Atlanta region that would actually tie into a statewide intercity rail system. A long way off, yes, but still part of a system that would need central station to accomdate the trains and provide a connection to the MARTA rail system. It’s not a bad way to spend the earmark considering that it needs to be spent in the next 12-18 months to avoid losing it.