Transit Advocates Celebrate

Transit advocates are praising the Atlanta Regional Commission for approving Wednesday the most far-reaching public transit expansion plan in decades.

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) board members voted Wednesday to approve the “Concept 3” plan created by the regional Transit Planning Board.

Click here to see Concept 3

The Concept 3 plan includes heavy rail expansion, express buses, light rail, and streetcars. Popular projects include the Beltline and portions of the Macon-Atlanta-Athens “Brain Train” commuter rail route.

“If we actually build the projects in Concept 3, it will transform metro Atlanta in the 21st century just as assuredly as the railroads did in the 19th Century and the Airport and highways did in the 20th Century,” said Lee Biola, president of Citizens for Progressive Transit.

Anticipating the positive vote, transit supporters held a celebration Tuesday night. The event included a presentation by the outgoing staff director of the Transit Planning Board. Citizens for Progressive Transit volunteers gave a sneak peak at a tool that will eventually be put online to show Atlantans how new Concept 3 transit projects could improve their commute.

Wednesday’s approval brings the mass transit projects into the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Projects must get into the RTP to have any hope of federal funding.

The “Concept 3” plan is the product of a two year process guided by the Transit Planning Board, a temporary entity created by the Atlanta Regional Commission, MARTA, and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

“These infrastructure investments will not only prepare Atlanta for the next gas shortage, they will encourage walkable communities, reduce air pollution, and give people a dependable way out of traffic,” said Biola.

A Toast to "Concept 3"

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Location: Shout, 1197 Peachtree Street

Sponsored by Zipcar, Inc http://www.zipcar.com

For the first time in many years, Metro Atlanta is on the verge of expanding quality public transit.

"Concept 3" is a plan that includes commuter rail from Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, and other counties into Atlanta. It includes rail transit on all four segments of the Beltline. It includes express busways. It includes streetcars.

Click here to see Concept 3

There are many reasons to celebrate.

Come join the party. Speakers will tell us more about "Concept 3" and what we can all do to move it from "Concept" to "Concrete."

DIRECTIONS: Take MARTA to the Arts Center Rail Station (N5). Take the Woodruff Arts Center station exit and make a right on Arts Center Way. Take a left on 15th Street and a right on Peachtree Street. Shout will be on the left side of Peachtree Street as part of the Colony Square complex. 1197 Peachtree Street.

Try the A-TRAIN Trip Planner at: http://trip.atltransit.com

We at Citizens for Progressive Transit are proud to provide the results of our 2008 candidate survey. This survey - a joint project with our friends at the Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers - asked candidates their positions on key transportation issues.

Many thanks to Jim Dexter for surveying the candidates and compiling their responses. Thanks also to the candidates for participating. We hope you will find the information useful as you decide for whom you will vote.

Please click on "continued" below to see the candidates' responses.

Atlanta, GA – Transit advocates say a jump in Gwinnett County support for MARTA from 30 percent to 47 percent on Tuesday's ballot questions is consistent with polls showing that a majority of Gwinnett residents support more buses and trains.

“This is a major improvement,” said Lee Biola president of Citizens for Progressive Transit. “Transit definitely has momentum on its side.”

The numbers represent a shift from 1990, when Gwinnett voters declined to join MARTA with only 30 percent in favor. Poll numbers indicate that without the word "MARTA" on the ballot questions, a solid majority would have voted in favor of transit on Tuesday.

“Gwinnett voters may or may not want MARTA to be the agency that provides them transit,” said Biola. “But this vote, combined with previous polls, shows that Gwinnett voters want some form of expanded rail and bus service."

A poll by the regional Transit Planning Board taken in March 2008 showed that 57 percent of Gwinnett voters would approve a one cent sales tax to pay for bus and rail projects. While poll respondents were less likely to approve Gwinnett joining MARTA, the majority wanted more buses and trains.

Click Here for Transit Planning Board Survey Results

Q: WHAT’S THE FASTEST WAY TO RAIL IN GWINNETT?

A: A VOTE FOR MARTA ON JULY 15

YOUR VOTE IS NEEDED!

Gwinnett Republican Ballot*
��Would you support the extension of the MARTA rail line into Gwinnett County which would include an additional one cent sales tax?

Gwinnett Democratic Ballot*
��Would you support a 1% sales tax increase to extend MARTA into Gwinnett County?

Polls open 7am-7pm on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Find your polling place:

http://www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/polllocator


*Please note both questions are non-binding. Checking “yes” only results in an opinion about the possibility of rail transit in Gwinnett County. But a "YES" vote on the ballot questions could persuade politicians to allow a real vote later.