Project Report: Urban Public Transportation Planning - The feasibility of the new LRT system

Page 83

The feasibility of the new LRT system in the city of Bryan and College Station

Income created from a BeltLine TAD would cover approximately 60 percent of estimated project costs – without requiring a tax increase

It also anticipated generous number of long-term economic development gains for the city.

Another piece of research study conducted by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) indicated that after the comparison carried out in the the Inner Core Feasibility Study (which investigated several transit options for the City of Atlanta) advocated the BeltLine for inclusion in its Alternatives Analysis Study. Thus the Alternatives Analysis Study supplemented by the thorough public ultimately led the MARTA Board in January 2007 to approve the full 22-mile loop of the BeltLine and a light rail mode of transit as its Locally Preferred Alternative. Nevertheless, the initial difficulty was to secure the federal funding for the project.

Making the BeltLine Real •

The formation of the BeltLine Partnership was announced in April 2005 by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and renowned veteran civic and business leader Ray Weeks as Chairman. The BeltLine Partnership was successful to create a 22-mile live-work-play-transit corridor from vision to reality; definitely the public support played a key role in its success. Consequently the BeltLine Redevelopment Plan, completed in November 2005 and the major players were ADA, the BeltLine Partnership, City Departments and the consultants.

The Redevelopment Plan formed a baseline to carry the project forward by outlining the major public infrastructure projects that comprise the BeltLine project, by delineating the type and scope of development that is consistent with good planning practices, and by setting the boundaries of

83 | P a g e


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.