Cara sends along MARTA’s official response to our May 9th posting regarding the Clifton Corridor proposal which would basically bypass Decatur entirely…

MARTA Continues to Review Transit Expansion Plans for Clifton Corridor

Community Encouraged to Continue Providing Input

On May 9, 2013, a posting on Decatur Metro discussed MARTA’s ongoing work with the community to review a variety of alignment options for the Clifton Corridor expansion project. MARTA would like to clarify some of the information included in the story to ensure the public has an accurate understanding of the project as we continue to work together to implement transit service that will effectively serve this heavily congested corridor.

First and foremost, no final decisions have been made about whether or not to change the alignment approved as part of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). As we have continued to study the challenges and opportunities in the Corridor, some community concerns, environmental considerations and financial impacts have led us to propose alternative alignments to Corridor stakeholders and community members. We will continue to meet with the Clifton Corridor Committee, our elected officials and the community prior to making any final recommendations on the LPA to the public and the MARTA Board of Directors.

To clarify the May 9^th posting, the original LPA did not provide direct service to downtown Decatur. During the initial public outreach phases of the Alternatives Analysis (AA) study that ran from 2009 to 2012, the community, by in large, opposed running service into downtown Decatur due to potential impacts to the Clairmont-Great Lakes Historic District. To respond to community feedback, MARTA revised the proposal to provide direct service to DeKalb Medical Center and the area near the proposed DeKalb Farmer’s Market expansion before providing transfer opportunities at Avondale Station.

The LPA that received the strongest public support and was approved by the MARTA Board in April 2012, includes a tunnel beneath portions of Clairmont Road and portions of Scott Boulevard and a station located near the intersection of Clairmont Road and North Decatur Road. In order to ensure that this LPA will work for the community and will be competitive and eligible for federal funding grants in the future, MARTA is examining potential modifications to the LPA. These options are currently under review by the Clifton Corridor Project Steering Committee.  Any proposed modification options will be presented for review and comment by the entire community as the environmental process continues throughout the next 2 years.  The feedback we receive will shape our next steps as we move forward to propose a successful expansion plan that will best serve this community.

For more information on the Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative and to provide us with feedback visithttp://www.itsmarta.com/Clifton-Corr.aspx. You can also find us on Facebook by searching for the “Clifton Corridor.” 

Transit Initiative. Feedback can also be submitted to:

Jason Morgan, AICP
MARTA
Office of Transit System Planning
2424 Piedmont Road, NE
Atlanta, Georgia   30324-3330