Planners embrace new transit vision

Metro Atlanta’s official planning agency on Wednesday adopted a $54 billion vision for mass transit that includes new rail lines, buses and streetcars stretching deep into suburban counties.

Planners want to implement the ideas during the next two decades, though money has not yet been allocated for the projects.

“I truly believe that today is a major milestone in the history of metro Atlanta,” said Lee Biola, president of Citizens for Progressive Transit, addressing the Atlanta Regional Commission board before it voted.

The Transit Planning Board, a group created to conjure the mass transportation vision, touted the advantages it would bring to metro Atlanta: The region would save up to 176 million gallons a year of fuel and up to $12 billion a year on congestion relief, in addition to other savings.

Biola said the proposed mass transit projects could effect a 21st-century transformation, and “will form the foundation for future growth.”

The General Assembly is working to find funds for transportation projects. One proposal would let regions within Georgia tax themselves to fund transportation projects they would choose. The proposal failed in the state Senate by three votes in the last session, but is expected to be revisited when the Legislature reconvenes next year.

Some of the items proposed:

> A streetcar or light rail north to Alpharetta, continuing as express bus to Cumming

> Commuter rail lines stretching from Atlanta to Douglas, Hall, Spalding, Coweta and Newton counties

> Express bus lines reaching into Henry, Forsyth and other counties

> Regional or suburban bus routes swinging wide arcs around the region, serving suburb-to-suburb commuters and travelers.