The western portions of Fulton County near Interstate 20 are home to several industrial parks which provide jobs to thousands of metro Atlantans, thus making the area a natural site for the extension of high capacity transit services. In fact, this area has always been a part of MARTA expansion plans as far back as the original MARTA Referendum Plan. However, the current proposed West Line Corridor extends from the existing Hamilton E. Holmes rail station to Fulton Industrial Boulevard and includes the Adamsville, Delmar-Westhaven, and Fairburn Heights Communities as well as the Fulton Industrial Boulevard Business District. The original proposed extension ended at Brownlee.
Although the original Referendum Plan included rail service all the way to Fulton Industrial Boulevard, a combined Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) report revealed that a multi-modal alternative would best serve the various transit needs within the Corridor.
To that end, the MARTA Board adopted a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), which features a heavy rail extension to the interchange of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and I-285 and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) segment along I-20 to Fulton Industrial Boulevard. The DEIS was submitted to the FTA for review in March 2005. Currently, MARTA is working with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to incorporate the BRT segment into the HOV lane additions planned for I-20 west. Three transit stations are included as part of the alternative (two BRT stations and one heavy rail station).
The next steps include developing a phasing strategy for the BRT and heavy rail segments. This will involve working with Georgia Department of Transportation to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The previous DEIS work completed by MARTA will be incorporated into this effort as necessary.
Station Area Planning
During the DEIS phase of the project, the study team defined the LPA further so that impacts could be identified more accurately. Station sites represent the most potential for impact to the community because the station limits, called footprints, include all of the support infrastructure that facilitates access for the riding public. Station sites have also been located where there is the greatest opportunity for development and the possibility to create a new community character, while increasing potential ridership. MARTA planners have met with community leaders and Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) members on a number of occasions to discuss what the station should look like and how the areas around the station should be developed or in some cases redeveloped. See images below.
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Report
The LPA Report provides detailed information on how each alternative was evaluated with the help of the community. In addition, the Report identifies the preferred technology and alignment for which environmental impacts will be assessed. The document is presented by chapters for your convenience.
Click on the individual chapters to view them:
For additional information, please e-mail
Donald Williams at drwilliams@itsmarta.com
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