Thursday, July 8, 2010
Transit Atlanta tries again for streetcar while Charlotte pops the champagne
Posted by Thomas Wheatley on Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Time for your daily dose of transit happenings: Atlanta on Tuesday decided to once again compete for federal funding that could the help build an east-west streetcar line connecting Auburn and Edgewood avenues to Centennial Olympic Park. Some councilmembers are unsure about the project's chances, especially when they consider the area's poor track record of attracting commercial investment.
And House Speaker David Ralston today appointed four state lawmakers to the Transit Governance Study Commission, which is "charged with examining the feasibility of combining all regional public transportation entities into one integrated transit body." Nifty.
Meanwhile, here's what's on the homepage of the Charlotte Observer:
More than 70 years after streetcars last ran in Charlotte, the city learned Thursday it won a $25 million federal grant that will bring them back.The Federal Transit Administration grant will help build the first leg of the city's streetcar line, which will connect Presbyterian Hospital with the main transit station near Time Warner Cable Arena. Ebullient city officials said the streetcar could be carrying passengers by 2014.
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, who pushed to build the streetcar during the mayoral campaign in 2009, said the project will be a "catalyst" for new infrastructure and will provide "sorely needed jobs for Charlotte."
We're on the move.©
Showing 1-2 of 2
You mean there's a chance the state gov't could one day actually give a flying turd about its own capital??
Do NOT let the state take over MARTA, Do not let the Region take over MARTA. The State and even the region has a very poor track record at running transit. They will prioritize lowering costs over increasing transit use. They will prioritize serving new sprawl development over serving redevelopment and those who have been paying into the system for years.
I'm sorry but if the State had any sort of positive track record I might be excited.
As it stands now I'm frightened.
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
If the rumors are true, Paste magazine is no more
The Decatur-based music mag goes under
-
Women outearn men, especially in Atlanta 2
-
Photo of the Day: Fashion Cares
Strutting for a good cause
- More »
Author Archives
-
Rasmussen: Barnes 'headed toward easy win' in primary 2
Barnes leads Baker 59-16
-
Sarah Palin stumps for Karen Handel, charms suburbanites with such clever phrases as "Hotlanta" 12
Politician turned celebrity rallies for guv candidate where style trumps substance... Buckhead
- More »
Comments (2) RSS