Today, we find ourselves at a point in time when Atlanta has the opportunity to once again be the crossroads of America.
It is a major freight-rail junction, a logistics powerhouse when combined with the international airport and the Port of Savannah nearby. Our network of rail tracks is an asset we need to continue to harness and nourish.
However, an element has been missing for decades: a unified passenger rail and bus station giving commuters connectivity throughout the region. The Georgia Department of Transportation has hired our team (Forest City Enterprises, The Integral Group and Cousins Properties Inc.) to create a master plan for a MultiModal Passenger Terminal in downtown Atlanta. The station is a way to spur the region’s and the state’s growth by circumventing barriers we face — specifically, a transportation network that is congested and inefficient.
Our task is to create a redevelopment plan for the “Gulch” — now an interchange of railroads near CNN Center and the Georgia Dome. We envision building a passenger transit station there that will bring multiple modes of transportation together in one place, for the first time.
By connecting MARTA, GRTA, Greyhound, Amtrak, commuter rail, high-speed rail and other modes of transportation, we will give residents and visitors an efficient, convenient and affordable means of commuting and traveling. Travelers will have access to interstate rail, intercity buses and rail, bicycles, taxis and services such as Zipcar — all in one place.
Historically, however, one of the challenges to creating a passenger transit hub has been the active freight rail lines running through the Gulch. It’s crucial that we work with the rail freight operators to enhance their efficiency, as freight rail traffic is forecast to continue growing in the Southeast. We understand that stakeholders — both public (state, federal, local agencies, etc.) and private (freight operators, property owners, etc.) — need to be treated as partners and not as an afterthought in the planning process.
Less-populated cities such as Denver and San Francisco already have multimodal passenger terminals in the works. We believe Atlanta now has the opportunity to build an innovative station as well. By not being the first, however, we can learn from the mistakes of these “pioneering” cities, and capitalize on their successes. And we remain ahead of cities such as Charlotte and Kansas City.
Internationally, we have seen cities across Europe and Asia reap the benefits of passenger transit hubs, with vibrant nearby neighborhoods and sustainable jobs and economic growth. The MMPT in particular, provides Atlanta with a unique opportunity that is unparalleled in the nation. The site is walking distance to downtown’s employment centers, MARTA’s central station, rail infrastructure, world-renowned attractions, sports and convention venues, and yet is an underutilized area ripe for development. Atlanta shouldn’t be left out.
Our experience shows a host of funding options exist for transportation facilities, including federal loans and grants. Denver received more than $300 million in low-cost, long-term, interest-deferred loans from the federal Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing and Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act programs to finance Union Station. In Atlanta, we also want the private sector to bear some of the costs and the benefits (such as development opportunities). Local tax increment financing, branding rights and special assessment districts provide that venue for investment.
We believe, by working together, we can make this happen. In doing so, Atlanta can leverage this monumental opportunity and provide an innovative example for the rest of the country to follow.
Jim Richardson is vice president at Forest City Enterprises.
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