Q: A recent article noted that a new Amtrak station would not be allowed to be built near Atlantic Station. Why is the new station not being considered as part of the proposed new multimodal station in the downtown “Gulch”?
-- Joe Alaman, Alpharetta
A: Amtrak has informed the Georgia Department of Transportation that it doesn't believe it would utilize a multimodal facility in the "Gulch," primarily because of concerns about access to the area. "Its most direct access for current Southern Crescent service would have been from the east along a rail corridor known as the Decatur Belt. That abandoned track, however, has been deeded to the city of Atlanta Beltline project and Beltline officials have stated they will not support passenger rail of this nature in the corridor," David Spear, spokesman for the Georgia DOT, told Q&A on the News in an email. He added that the only other conceivable option for Amtrak would be to approach the multimodal facility from existing trackage on the western side of the city, but trains would have to pass through a congested area known as Howell Junction, where private rail lines from Norfolk Southern and CSX converge. Spear wrote that an Amtrak passenger train would have to either "back in" or "back out" for several miles to access the "Gulch" through this corridor, and Amtrak told the DOT those movements would pose unreasonable scheduling, operational and safety concerns.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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