Proposed Clifton Corridor Light Rail Line Tunnels Under Clairemont, Runs at Street Level on Scott
Decatur Metro | October 27, 2011
Jack sends along a link to a MARTA PDF that details the light rail plans for the Clifton Corridor transit line inside the Decatur city limits. (You can click the screen-grab above to enlarge it a bit, but your best bet is probably viewing the entire PDF for yourself)
As Jack points out, the train looks like it would exit the “Clairemont tunnel” around the Woodlands and then there’s an above ground station at Scott and Superior. It travels above ground on Scott until it almost gets to Medlock Rd. Then it goes underground again, along North Decatur Road, north of DeKalb Medical, before resurfacing again. The alternative line looks like it would run under Suburban Plaza and then come above-ground beyond Church Street and travel along the south edge of DeKalb Medical’s property and the north-edge of Decatur Heights properties on Pineview Drive.
Here’s that portion of the map, along with the legend. Let me know if you read it differently.
Alternative #1 then runs down N. Decatur to DeKalb Industrial Way before ending at Avondale Station. The alternative route would continue along the northern edge of Decatur Heights, cross Winn Way and met up with Irvin Way to connect with DeKalb Industrial. You can view that separate PDF HERE.
For all detailed maps for the Clifton Corridor line, CLICK HERE.
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I wish the heavy rail would just run strait to downtown Decatur! Or light rail…seems like Decatur was just bypassed completely. Too bad.
I notice the transit stop plan at North Decatur and Clairemont completely blows out everything on the McDonalds side. I sure hope they are not using eminent domain to do this! I can see that area becoming redeveloped as a mixed use area though…Decatur needs to see if they can annex this area. Property values are going to blow up!
Enough Clairemont residents made it clear they didn’t want rail in the historic corridor that MARTA decided it wasn’t worth the fight. The original concept was to take the rail line down Clairemont to Decatur Station. I wonder how much more expensive this alternative is as a result.
What do you know. The Clairemont opposition website is back up!
http://notrolley.org/
Here are their stated items of concern:
The current MARTA and Cliff Busses are mostly empty except during rush hour.
The population that will be served isn’t from the City of Decatur – but connecting through Decatur.
The Proposed light rail – isn’t very light – the specifications show that these trains can weigh upwards of 102,000 lbs – EMPTY and carry up to 200 passengers. Stopping distances even at low speeds can take hundreds of feet.
This type of train does not go on streets with single family homes in most cities contacted.
No environmental studies have been conducted. The potential for the destruction of the trees and habitat on Clairemont Avenue is great.
Potential destruction of the Clairemont Avenue historic district.
This would take away the possibility of bike lanes since two lanes would be dedicated to the trolley.
No cost benefit analysis has been done. Are there any benefits for the City of Decatur residents – given the cost, time involved, disruption of daily activities?
First, an environmental impact study would have to be done if federal money is involved. It may not have been done yet, but it can’t be skipped.
Second, if the Clairemont corridor were a designated Nation Register of Historic Places area, which I don’t think it is, another study would have to be done evaluating the historic impact. Absent a National Register listing, the historic value would not come into play.
If north-line-connected HRT reaches Emory/VA, even a single-tracked, median LRT link (by transfer) to Decatur could have a lot of appeal.
GM,
The Avondale Marta station is in Decatur, so we weren’t bypassed completely.
I love the light rail proposal.
I suppose technically it is…I just think downtown is a missed opportunity. Its where the businesses are, density etc.
And I live closer to that stop
It’s where the businesses are now. But would a transit hub help make East Decatur Station and environs more attractive and viable to street level businesses after this was built?
That’s not rhetorical. I’m really wondering.
I think there’s a hope it will get the Avondale LCI moving again. http://www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=155
I hope so. I’m a resident of Talley Street lofts. We are across the street from the Pubic Works near East Decatur Station. We would love to see more development in the area. It’s been a very slow process since I’ve lived here. And yes, light rail would come to Decatur. We are still part of City of Decatur.
When you consider all of the apartment complexes along DeKalb Industrial and even at the end of Hillcrest Avenue, there might be more residential density near the Avondale Station than there is Downtown.
That alternative would also would better serve the hospital and nearby offices.
Am I reading the elevation correctly? Does the plan show Scott Blvd being reduced to 2 lanes between Clairemont and North Decatur? It backs up there now with 4 lanes.
And yes, MARTA will use eminent domain if they can’t negotiate a deal with the property owners.
MARTA does not have the power of eminent domain. (Apologies to readers that perceive this as splitting hairs.)
Good to know…I hate eminant domain! Govt stealing.
When used well, it helps clear logjams whereby the (vast) majority can benefit while an extremely small minority are asked to suffer. When abused, it can cause great pain for questionable benefit (gain) in return.
Without eminent domain, it’s doubtful you’d have the salary you have or enjoy the lifestyle you enjoy. No airport, highways, or most roads for that matter, would have been built.
Is it a form of Socialism ? Yes. However, Socialism != U.S.S.R. and “Free Market Economics” != paradise. The highest per-capita GDP nations in the world are far more socialistic than the U.S.. Likewise, some of the poorest countries in the world have nearly pure free market economies.
At neither extreme lies paradise.
Very well said.
What are you basing that statement on? Marta has certainly exercised eminent domain in the past. The public policy professor I had would say otherwise.
I’m guessing they just have the state/municipality handle that for them. Same effect despite the those troublesome ‘split ends’ mentioned above.
It’s covered in the MARTA Act, section 12.
Then how does MARTA acquire property without paying a fortune?
This is almost as dumb as the HOT lanes idea…but at least i get to vote (NO) on this one…trying to shoehorn a rail system into this heavily populated area to link businesses that are already served well by underused buses. Run smaller buses, more frequently, advertise that…new MARTA or light rail lines need to be focused on circling 285, until that happens, any other transit thinks are a jokey jobs bill.
Is the ministation on Scott @ Superior the closest to downtown? That seems and odd placement and unsafe, given speeds on that road.
Besides, you know how mass transit is — I don’t want those “bad elements” from Emory (you know, doctors, lawyers and MBAs) riding into my neighborhood to rob, rape and plunder.
Straw poll — if you live near the intersection of Scott/Superior, do you sell now or do you try and buy up all you can and sell later?
You wait and see if this thing is ever going to actually happen.
OK, assume we wait…
The real question is will property values in say a 1/4 mi radius of the station go up or down. They can go up on a ‘relief rally’ or ‘station is awesome’ rally or they go down on a ‘lots of bad folks and station noise’ drop. What is the prevailing wisdom fellow Decaturites?
Property values will go up, as getting to/from some/most places will no longer require a car or long walk. In other cities, property values tend to rise sharply the closer they are to mass transit stops.
Every additional detail on this LRT/streetcar, interlined branch (of a branch) concept suggests to me that it’s ever more ridiculous than I previously believed.
Yessir, Bobby!
A station at either the Wade Ford or the Regal Buick (or the Southern Lincoln-Mercury), heck ANY of the abandonded car dealerships on Church or 78 would be better locations for a station…that would help to extend transit to the Northeast side eventually
I wonder what this option would mean for sleepy old Suburban Plaza since it looks like it would get a station? Wonder if Selig had a clue about all this when they made their current plans?
Very interesting. Wonder how many years for all this to happen.
Below is MARTA’s response to the timeline question at a recent community meeting. Short answer is it will take years before they break ground, and I can only imagine that a project of this scope will take years to complete.
“If funding is successful, then next year we can move into preliminary engineering.
Then it would be two or more years before construction could begin. If we
choose to tunnel for part of the alignment, that would take longer. If we are
relying on the federal process to get funding, we are not sure how long that
would take.”
An above ground station at the corner of Superior and Scott???!!! Seriously??!
Isn’t there a better more fitting spot than the end of a nice residential street that is already plaqued with being in close proximity to Scott, crazy speeding and cut through traffic?
There are no current empty lots there currently, so you know what that means…why not move down 2-3 blocks either direction (towards Clairemont) or towards N/ Decatur) for a better location…
Someone was asking before about who will end up paying for Walmart’s underground parking. I have a feeling that underground station at suburban or N. Decatur will be moved back a bit, and then bingo, the “Walmart Supercenter – Always Low Prices” station.
I agree that there may be a better location nearby, but theoretically they could put a “station” in the middle of Scott, without taking up to much room. Think the green line MBTA west of Copley in Boston.
Those stops are more like slightly larger bus stops with a little cover. All you really need ia a place to wait and a place to access the train. Seems like MARTA doesn’t get this though. What I would hate to see there is a giant MARTA palace.
I agree that there may be a better location nearby, but theoretically they could put a “station” in the middle of Scott, without taking up to much room. Think the green line MBTA west of Copley in Boston.
Those stops are more like slightly larger bus stops with a little cover. All you really need ia a place to wait and a place to access the train. Seems like MARTA doesn’t get this though. What I would not want to see there is a giant MARTA palace.
The document includes a conceptual cross-section that positions the transit in a median.
A public open house was held on 10-25 to get public input on this project. All the information presented is – or soon will be – available on line. You can review maps and provide input on your preferred technology. Here’s a link to the maps and to the preference survey
http://www.itsmarta.com/clifton-corr-maps.aspx
http://www.itsmarta.com/clifton-corridor-comment2.aspx
Too bad a light rail line down a narrowed Clairemont to DD isnt in the cards, it would be cheaper and more logical. However, serving so many “Potential redevelopment” sites and the hospital are bonus. Can you imagine the freak out while they build the tunnel at Scott and Clairemont and narrow Scott Blvd. into a transit friendly street? Yikes. But a game changer. People arriving from the Airport and ending up at Emory or CDC will lead to a lot more activity.
This would be GREAT for Decatur Heights, as long as it runs down DeKalb Industrial. Running it down Winn Way could be problematic for some of the homeowners for the eminent domain issues that could ensue. I don’t like the revised concept with the LR running across the back of DeKalb Medical and agains the property lines of the folks on Pineview.
I’m guessing Selig wants the station to run literally through Suburban as opposed to bordering on the complex on N. DeKalb. The initial concept had it running down N. Decatur Rd, down to DeKalb Industrial and then to Avondale. I haven’t seen how the revised run through Suburban and across the back of the hospital will change that from a big picture view. I’m assuming it would run down Winn Way and that would be a disservice to the entire concept of the LR project. It would also be more impacting on homeowners.
I agree – I’m always a fan of light rail, but we currently have DeKalb Medical as a (literal) backyard neighbor, and the idea of having light rail in our backyard makes me feel a little nervous. :/
Dear Decatur Heights Dad,
I totally agree with you, but do our Pineview and Woodhaven Drive neighbors know about this alternative proposal – the line running between the Pineview homes and the hospital? I’m afraid we must get this word out very quickly. Any suggestions? A neighborhood meeting?
Our quiet neighborhood would be negatively impacted, and I imagine we would see “for sale” signs in most homes.
Also, when was this “alternative proposal” made public.
Hi Anne and others — yes, we on Pineview have been (recently) made aware of the plans proposed by MARTA. (Thanks to the very active MEDLOCK PARK neighborhood association). Personally, I think I would welcome the rail line to ease traffic congestion and improve travel across town (currently a “you can’t get there from here in under 45 min” situation). I don’t think that light rail would be any noisier than the current buses, firetrucks, etc. that travel in our neighborhoods. Nightowl’s comments re: using the MBTA (Boston) as a model for ‘stops’ make sense… as long as it’s not a giant Park & Ride situation at the stops, a stop can work almost anywhere. I’m curious to see if this will actually pan out – Atlanta has such a bad record on following through with useful transit options.
If MARTA is so adamant on making this Clifton Corridor happen, why don’t they choose to take everything underground or at least choose industrial streets, rather than backyards and neighborhoods. I personally think all of this is a terrible idea and a terrible (albeit typical) waste of government funds. If they choose to build a LRT South of the hospital, rather than down DeKalb Industrial, I know the entire half of Pineview would put their houses up for sale. But good luck getting it sold though.
It looks like the alternative goes through my house. Naturally, I don’t want to move or have the neighborhoon destroyed. Hope they can avoid my neighborhood.
I hate it! I don’t think it will benefit your neighborhood. Our neighborhood seems to be always under “attacK’ from either developers or others to “improve” traffic. Why are we paying the price for those that live outside of the city. My taxes are high and the city does nothing to protect my neighborhood. We lost our elementary school and now this!