Reed against Atlanta tunnel

By Ariel Hart

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told a meeting of Intown Atlanta neighborhood leaders Tuesday night that his opposition to a road tunnel under east Atlanta was "steadfast and absolute" from the moment he heard of it.

Another Atlanta-area official, Atlanta Regional Commission Chairman Tad Leithead, said the ARC had no opinion on the project yet, and would have to do extensive studying if it were to advance in the planning process. However, he said, very preliminary data showed a funding gap, a possible $8 toll, and not enough lanes, added up to a project that "doesn't make any sense." The ARC is metro Atlanta's official planning agency.

The state Department of Transportation is considering the new toll road to connect Ga. 400 north of Atlanta to I-675 southeast of the city. It could be a tunnel for most of the way, then surface for a few miles at its southern end.

Other toll projects are far ahead of it in the planning stages, like I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties. Those projects and the tunnel were among the possibilities that DOT suggested to private investors at a recent conference. DOT is planning a forum to discuss the tunnel idea with tunnel company representatives in the spring.

The forum is only intended for the most basic information-gathering on the project's possibilities and pitfalls, the director of DOT's toll program, Earl Mahfuz, said last month.

DOT leaders stressed to the irate audience Tuesday night that the tunnel was only a concept, that it had not yet been formally approved or found feasible, and that other toll projects were well ahead of it in the pipeline. DOT Planning Director Todd Long said even with toll money and private investors there would likely be a significant funding gap that "concerns us." It was under consideration, however, because of the significant possible benefits to relieving congestion on the Downtown Connector, which would parallel the tunnel.

"I don't know if we'll ever even see a tunnel," said DOT Commissioner Vance Smith. He said he was merely in favor of putting all ideas on the table for discussion.

Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) held the meeting at the Rock Springs Presbyterian Church. Initially intended for a small number of neighborhood leaders to meet with transportation officials, Gardner said, "it grew." Attending were with a standing room only crowd; the top board and staff leaders of the state DOT and the Atlanta Regional Commission; the mayor of Atlanta, and several members of the city council and the General Assembly.

She opened the meeting by asking to hear "what they can tell us about this wretched tunnel."

Asked after the meeting if there were any circumstances under which he could accept the tunnel, Reed said, "they do not exist."