Concept 3: A New Atlanta

Most citizens of the Atlanta and metro-Atlanta area would agree that the transportation system in this area is far behind most major U.S. cities. Unlike the subway in New York, the BART system in San Francisco, or the T in Boston, MARTA only travels North-South and East-West. Many proposals have been made to overhaul the entire system in Atlanta, but one plan, instead, is trying to build around the current MARTA lines. Concept 3 not only utilizes MARTA’s current heavy rail, but it also bring in commuter rails, light rails and streetcars, and adds expressway buses. But what would each of these new types of transportation in Concept 3 do for Atlanta?

If enacted, there would be extensions to both directions of the already existing MARTA heavy rail. The North Line rail would be extended to Windward Parkway, the West Line would be extended to I-285/I-20, and there is a proposed line from East Point to the Southern Crescent Station. By extending the North lIne there would be a transit system to access the North Point, Perimeter, and Buckhead areas, which are all highly commercial areas, The extension could be a much needed economy boost to the area and away from this area because it would now be much more accessible. AFter extending the existing MARTA system, the project would move forward to multiple commuter rails. 

The new commuter rail service would be provide to Athens and Griffin as an all day service, and to Senoia, Bremen, and Gainesville during peak travel periods. This rail would help meet the needs of many commuters that travel more than half an hour each way on a daily basis. These lines would significantly decrease the emissions into the air substantially because less cars would be commuting every day, and there would be less traffic. The commuter rail would benefit many Atlanta workers who would prefer not to pay for gas prices because they travel pretty far distances. The next step to enacting Concept 3 would be adding the light rail and the streetcar services.

Production has already begun on a streetcar that will travel down Peachtree Street in Atlanta; Concept 3 would also introduce the beltline, an I-75 light rail from Town Center to Midtown/Downtown, an I-285 rail from Smyrna to Doraville, an I-85 rail from Doraville to Gwinnett Place Mall, and finally, an Emory-Lindbergh-Decatur rail. Not only do light rails serve for trips farther than can be walked, but they also bring much more commerce to activity centers around Atlanta. The light rails would connect areas better that the current MARTA does not reach, and it would be easily accessible from a streetcar. These rails would give Atlanta more mobility. Another mode of transportation suggested in Concept 3 that would benefit Atlanta greatly would be an expressway bus system. 

Lastly, the freeway bus system proposed in Concept 3 would have liens traveling I-75, and sever lines each traveling I-20 and I-285. This would help clear up the freeways because less people would need to drive, and it would be much faster to take the bus because would be able to travel on bus-only lanes. These bus-only lanes would be an incentive for people to ride the buses because there would never be any traffic on them. Also, these buses could be easily connected to the other stationary transportation options included in Concept 3. The freeway bus system would help Atlanta with many different transportation issues. 

Concept 3 introduces many different modes of transportation along with a safer, more effective way of travel throughout the Atlanta area. If enacted, Atlanta could become an even bigger business mecca and Atlanta’s economy could get a good boost. 

Atlanta Regional Commission. "Section 2: Developing Concept 3." Concept 3 1 (2008): 2.1-2.15. Atlanta Regional Commission. Web. 3 Oct. 2011.