Saturday, August 21, 2010
Transit Beltline will yield to downtown streetcar, sit out upcoming federal funding round
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Sat, Aug 21, 2010 at 4:45 PM
When applications for a sought-after pot of federal cash start flooding the U.S. Department of Transportation's mailbox on Monday, the Beltline won't be among them.
In a move that could give the downtown streetcar project a better chance at becoming a reality, project officials say the proposed 22-mile loop of parks, trails and (one day) transit won't compete for an upcoming round of federal funding. (UPDATE: Here's the official statement released yesterday by Atlanta Beltline Inc., the nonprofit entity tasked with planning and developing the $2.8 billion project.)
The feds plan to dole out as much as $600 million to transit projects later this year. The program, known as TIGER II, is designed to help build transportation projects that will help create jobs, improve walkability and spur development during the down economy. Applications are due Monday, Aug. 23.
Beltline officials considered asking for $13 million to beef up the project's trails and nearby streetscapes. Among the proposed fixes: extending the West End Trail from I-20 to Washington Park and from Lawton Street to University Avenue. They also wanted to use the funds to stretch the Eastside trail from DeKalb Avenue to Glenwood Avenue. Streetscapes and connections along the Beltline's eastern segment would've been improved as well. A petition drive to show federal officials the high level of local support for the project garnered more than 4,000 signatures.
But officials say they've decided not to submit the application — in part to give the downtown streetcar a better chance to secure much-needed federal cash.
The City of Atlanta will apply for up to $52 million to build a scaled-back first phase of the streetcar project that would link Centennial Olympic Park to Auburn and Edgewood avenues. (An earlier application for nearly $300 million that included the Peachtree Street line was unsuccessful, partly because city officials offered no matching funds and part of the route would've mirrored an existing MARTA train route.)
In a move that was met with some pushback from some residents and members of the Atlanta City Council, the city has agreed to put up as much as $10 million in bond funds if its streetcar application is approved. Downtown civic group Central Atlanta Progress will also pitch in $10 million.
"[The streetcar] is a really critical project for the city and for the Atlanta Beltline," a project official told CL. "It complements the Atlanta Beltline and will ultimately connect to it. And they have a much bigger ask this time. We are fully supportive of the streetcar and its application. And we're going to be pursuing other opportunities that will be available to us in the short and long term."
Beltline honchos are working with Georgia's congressional delegation during the appropriation process and other federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Those efforts are in addition to federal grant opportunities currently under consideration.
Note: This post has been updated to point readers to the Beltline officials' statement about the decision.
Comments (22)
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Isn't the BeltLine suddenly and surprisingly playing second fiddle to the Streetcar? Isn't the BeltLine promoted as Atlanta's most transformative project, ever? Isn't transit at the core of the BeltLine (even though the trails are neat)? Why was BeltLine transit prioritized lower than Streetcar transit, and how and when was that decision made (and by whom)?
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How do they know the streetcar will win a grant? How do they know that both wouldn't win? The beltline is further along and might have had a stronger case. I'll bet in a few months that we'll hear the streetcar lost out to a project somewhere else. Something smells bad.
Wow, a streetcar linking Centennial Park to Edgewood Avenue!
What a complete waste of money. Can't you walk that in, oh I dunno, 10 minutes? No wonder everyone is so damn overweight down here.
The entire streetcar idea is a entire waste of money in it's own right, it does not solve any of the fucking traffic issues around here, intown or out.
I agree with Matt, how far down edgewood are they talking about going? Because if its really just Downtown to the start of edgewood, thats a pretty puny streetcar...
The streetcar will link the main tourist area of Centennial Park with the historic King District allowing visitors to get a dose of human history along with their photos of beluga whales.
The walk to the King Distric isn't a particularly pleasant one now and takes you through some gack -- like the underside of the interstate overpass. A streetcar will do some good here and will be particularly important for linking the civil rights museum with the birthplace and resting place of Dr King.
"A sought after pot of federal cash." That money should have remained in your pockets and mine. This stuff all sounds great but this is the road Greece was on. We don't have the money! Don't ya'll get it? This money is a loan from your grandchildren. The pork from Washington must stop or you'll be taking the streetcar to the breadline.
oydave, it's the creative loafing. Of course they don't "get it". It's Keynesian policies 101.
I doubt you can find a single soul who writes for the loafing that could tell you the basic differences between Keynesian economics, Chicago school economics, and Austrian economics.
I would also point out that in today's world it is somewhat understandable that one can be rather confused about the different principles. In my opinion, this being because the Chicago school of thought is and has become Keynesian economics.
O: Are all government expenditures bad? What if the expenditure is for a long-lasting infrastructure project our grandchildren will benefit from? For example, investments in highways, or bridges, or the National Parks?
oydave: Sorry, but investment in infrastructure is not the road that lead greece to its problems.
it's politics alright, but not one requiring a change in the current form of govt. it's about bang/buck. the beltline will address more needs with less resources than a downtown boondoggle/ripoff.
This is ridiculous. I am one of the bigger proponents of transit that you will meet but this project has nothing but hokie tourist value. It will connect two areas of town already connected by transit. It will still be faster to take MARTA from the Edgewood station to Centennial Olympic park and anyone who wishes to travel by train who lives here will make that choice. Also where does this leave cyclists who use Edgewood as a safe route to get from points East to downtown? BS!
Can anyone chime in about the rationale for putting the Streetcar ahead of the BeltLine? What do the major BeltLine supporters think of this decision? Has anyone heard from Brian Leary, the BeltLine CEO, on this choice?
Hey, I grew up in Atlanta. I walked a lot of the NE Beltline when it was a lot tougher. I think most of what is proposed for the Beltline is great, street cars, not so much. But we have to slow down the federal largesse. It's killing us with kindness.
I know Greece was hobbled by a vast benefit structure for a bloated government workforce. In this case, it's public works projects. Same difference, spending out of control.
And of course not all government spending is bad, ? Man. What's bad is the explosion of federal spending since the sixties kicked off by LBJ.
All that said, it's stupid to think streetcars should be ahead of any of the Beltline purchase and landscape.
They should have applied for both. Atlanta has consistently ranked highest in worst traffic and pollution - despite being MUCH smaller in population to its comparative worst.
Even if you would have lost out on one, submitting for both would have indicated how sorely this city needs comprehensive transit and increased the chances for a bigger piece of the pie.
Lastly, that Downtown/Edgewood streetcar just serves an area already covered sufficiently with transit. BeltLine spans transit, walkable areas, greenspace - all which would serve to bolster the value of surrounding properties, attract more people to the city and its overabundance of unoccupied homes and blighted neighborhoods.
This city really needs to begin focusing on the BeltLine, since it covers the entire span of this city, and is more likely to fill the gaps of MARTA service cuts. Something tells me the majority of people affected by those cuts don't live in Downtown, Edgewood or anywhere between.
This was a REALLY bad decision.
Did you know that Brian Leary, the BeltLine CEO, posted the below explanation on www.beltline.org ? It doesn't explain much to me, but how about to you?
"We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported our efforts in the TIGER II application. This support demonstrates the sustained and passionate level of support for the Atlanta BeltLine that will carry the project forward for years to come.
"We have made the strategic decision not to pursue TIGER II funding. However, we have heard from decision makers in Congress and the Obama administration that the Atlanta BeltLine is a visionary project that will be extremely competitive in the short and long term for other significant federal funding opportunities. Your continued support will only help those efforts. The City of Atlanta and our partners are committed to building every aspect of the Atlanta BeltLine and having our supporters with us every step of the way. "
I agree with the consensus...the streetcar seems like a waste, at least compared to the Beltline project. At least with the latter, it would serve as a real substitute for car transportation, as well as taking passengers to places that they would actually be going to on a regular basis (i.e. job commute or weekend activities).
At the risk of sounding like a party-pooper, the thing the streetcar has going for it is that is will go by people's front doors instead of their back yards. More people from in and out of Atlanta will ride the streetcar -- whereas the Beltline is designed primarily for Atlanta residents. Of course, that's been the thing driving the Beltline; this it's for US and not for THEM OTHERS. That won't have as much pull in Washington, however...
Like I said this will be another hokie Atlanta tourist attraction instead a real transit project. We need projects that will connect the residents of the city and move visitors. People want to visit cities with authentic cultures and experiences. This will be yet another contrived Atlanta tourist experience. People visit places like NYC, SF, etc because they provide an experience for vistors to spend time in a city that has a confident sense of place. This little train to nowhere will do nothing to help us compete with these cities and shows that our priorities are confused at city hall.
Seems like all on this board and in my network (even transit advocates) oppose this decision. My recommendation is that you all reach out to your city council representative (at-large and in your district) and express your displeasure directly. Remember they work for you.
it seems that the leaders of atlanta beltline inc have already managed to live down to/up to our expectations of them.
can we fire them already and just hire the georgia tech grad student whose idea the beltline was in the first place?
Sometimes you have to wonder if the city leaders are dipping into the crack that the Atlanta Police Department keeps in the property room.
Clincher is right, if you've ever been to SF, those cars do serve a purpose. Those cars cost about $5 but they truck you up some of those gnarly hills to North Beach.
My grandma could walk from the Centenial Park to Auburn Ave.
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