The AJC reported this morning that the Georgia Department of Transportation is finally seeking a developer to create the long-discussed downtown passenger terminal in downtown Atlanta.

How do we plan to pay for this massive Gulch Development Project (GDP!)?

It is hoped income from real estate developments built above or around the ambitious project would help pay the terminal’s costs. The developer, working with transportation agencies, would determine how much public money is required, recommend the type of development and decide in what phases to complete it, said Crystal Paulk-Buchanan, DOT spokeswoman. The state is hoping that federal grants will supplement the project.

The central hub would operate as the meeting point of all public transportation modes: from rail to buses to taxis to horse-drive trolleys.  (OK, not the last one.)

Oh and I can guarantee you, this station won’t look anything like Atlanta’s old Terminal Station pictured in the upper right hand corner of this post.