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Marta transit map12/27/2023 ![]() ![]() Further tweaks were also made to extend train and bus lines more effectively into some of Atlanta’s 10 outlying counties. The light rail addition has long been in the works for the famed urban park and trial. Initial plans for the major expansion were announced in May, but significant adjustments were made leading up to the final decision after Beltline advocates pushed for more money for public transit along the 22-mile loop. Station improvements along the MARTA rail line will also be made over the next few years. Three arterial rapid transit routes serving both the north and south sides of Atlanta will be built out as well, making 20-to-30 minute trips much faster. In total, 29 miles of light rail will be built throughout the city, as well as 13 miles of new bus lines. Map showing MARTA’s mass transit expansion plan (Courtesy More MARTA) Officials have agreed to dole out money to 17 projects across the city, allocating large sums to the Beltline and the Clifton Corridor, the latter of which will include four miles of light rail service from the Lindbergh Station to a new station at Emory University. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the 40-year plan, “ More MARTA,” was approved by the authority’s board of directors in a unanimous vote on Thursday. The announcement marks the largest development strategy made by the organization in decades. No matter how realistic the map is, it at least offers a glimpse of what could be in store for MARTA's future, if about eight billion things go right.Last week, Atlanta ’s notoriously dysfunctional mass transportation authority, MARTA, released a $2.7-billion expansion plan that will extend its services from the city center via light rail, bus rapid transit, and arterial roadways. The final project, Clayton's proposed Commuter Rail, would theoretically be funded by tax revenue generated by Clayton County, though pennies don't really add up that quickly. Additionally, some funding could trickle down to streetcar service along the Beltline and an expansive network throughout the city. Those include the Connect 400 Heavy Rail to extend the Red Line to Windward Parkway, BRT and Heavy Rail extensions on the Interstate 20 Corridor and Light Rail on the Clifton Road Corridor to service Emory and the CDC. According to Lathbury, four of the seven new components of this dream system would be completely funded under the expansion proposal floated back in July. Let's ignore the fact that it seems unlikely the state will pony up a significant amount of money to make this happen. While it's pretty optimistic to assume that all the projects are going to happen - considering that whole $8+ billion price tag - the map is at least slightly more plausible than the first iteration Lathbury whipped up this summer. And this time, Lathbury's eye-candy for mass-transit-ophiles is a bit more realistic. In honor of the system's progress, Jason Lathbury, a guy who apparently really likes making pro-grade MARTA maps, has sent us an update to his more fanciful MARTA map, highlighting seven potential projects and their impact on the system. (All that, despite Johns Creek's recent anti-MARTA resolution and Mark Toro's claims of racism stifling development - the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.) With Clayton County joining the system, growth along the Gold Line plowing ahead, Red Line expansion plans in the works and even its own song, there's reason to believe the historically maligned system is posed for more growth. MARTA's been having a pretty good year, running high on the success it was experiencing at the close of 2014. ![]()
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