FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2022
MARTA BOARD
COMMITTEE UPDATES HIGH-CAPACITY TRANSIT ALTERNATIVE FOR CLAYTON COUNTY; COUNTY
LEADERSHIP UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS BUS RAPID TRANSIT OVER COMMUTER RAIL
ATLANTA – With the unanimous support of the Clayton County Board
of Commissioners, the City Councils of Jonesboro, Forest Park, Lovejoy,
Riverdale, and Lake City, and the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce, the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors
Planning and Capital Programs Committee today updated the Locally Preferred
Alternative (LPA) for State Route 54 in Clayton County from commuter rail to
bus rapid transit (BRT).
In 2018, the MARTA Board adopted a two-pronged LPA that had
commuter rail along the Norfolk Southern Corridor and BRT in the western part
of the county connecting College Park Station to Southlake Mall. Last December,
the Board adopted a standalone LPA for Southlake BRT. Earlier this year,
Clayton Southlake BRT advanced to the Project Development phase of the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA)’s Capital Investment Grant Program as a Small Starts
Project.
The
commuter rail option encountered a variety of obstacles with right-of-way
acquisition, environmental and historical resource concerns, along with a
ballooning cost estimate. In the years of customer and stakeholder engagement
conducted in Clayton County, all-day, frequent transit service was preferred,
which is inconsistent with commuter rail service that offers only one-way
service during peak commute times. In consultation with key stakeholders, BRT
emerged as the preferred high-capacity transit option for State Route 54.
“We appreciate the flexibility and support of Clayton County
leaders to pivot to best meet the transit needs of the people of Clayton,” said
MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “We recently traveled to
Indianapolis with the Clayton delegation and saw first-hand the benefits of BRT
and how it makes more sense for this transit corridor and will provide faster,
more frequent service at a much lower cost.”
BRT on State Route 54 will run for approximately 22 miles, have 17
proposed stops, and connect East Point rail station to Mountain View, Forest
Park, Clayton State University, Jonesboro, the Clayton County Justice Center,
and Lovejoy in Clayton and East Point and Hapeville in Fulton County. The plan
is for State Route 54 BRT to complement Southlake BRT to provide a seamless
transit connection for people in Clayton, while ushering in economic
development.
At the November meeting of the MARTA Board of Directors, Clayton
County leadership offered their full-throated support of BRT along State Route
54.
“All the board members and I agree that BRT is going to be a
vital, quality project that is going to uplift and enhance what we are doing in
Clayton County,” said Clayton County Chairman Jeff Turner.
“This is about the economic development, the workforce it will
help usher in, and the overall mobility that we all seek as a municipality,”
said Angelyne Butler, Mayor of Forest Park.
Said Ricky L. Clark, Jonesboro City Manager, “When we took this
before our board, our councilmembers unanimously approved changing the
direction from commuter rail to BRT because we recognize that economic
development, workforce development, it’s synonymous with transit.”
“We are absolutely in favor of this opportunity to create access,
connectivity, economic growth, and most importantly upward mobility,” said
Valencia Williamson, President & CEO, Clayton County Chamber of Commerce.
State Route 54 BRT is estimated to cost $572 million (in 2022
dollars) to build, requiring less right-of-way access, and reducing
construction impacts to residents and businesses. It can be built in half the
time as that of commuter rail and once completed operates at a higher
frequency, providing service all day rather than just during peak commute
times.
The full MARTA Board of Directors will vote on the LPA at its
monthly meeting on Dec. 8.
To see BRT in action visit Clayton County BRT tour in
Indianapolis - YouTube.
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