Study envisions rail transit across top of Perimeter

By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A transit study funded by the state and business organizations finds public support for a rail system – including a Kennesaw-to-Dunwoody line, and a northern extension of the MARTA Red Line – to serve the northern suburbs of metro Atlanta, Channel 2 Action News reports.

The new “ATL Northside Strategy” may be on a list of projects for voters to consider in a transportation sales tax referendum next summer.

The concept document was funded by the Georgia Department of Transportation and business owners from four Community Improvement Districts. It looked at building light and heavy rail lines to connect northern Cobb County to Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

The study envisions a light rail line from Kennesaw to the Cumberland Mall/Cobb Galleria area in the Smyrna area, then extending east along the top end of I-285 Perimeter to the Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.

The study also says it would be more cost-effective to extend the MARTA Red Line north from the North Springs Station to Holcomb Bridge than to build a new light rail line up Ga. 400. Eventually, a line also could extend to Gwinnett County.

“We want to put together an action plan,” consultant Grady Smith, transportation group manager at The Jacobs Group, which conducted the study, told Channel 2. “We’re talking pretty significant investment for transit in these corridors.”