When Opportunity Knocks...
BELTLINE RAIL ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: A QUICK TRANSIT CHAT WITH KASIM REED
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Yards
by Beth Smith, BRN Board Member
So I bumped into Kasim Reed at a community event at Pittsburgh Yards the weekend after MARTA made headlines for all the wrong reasons (see below).
Happy to hear Reed’s plans to accelerate Atlanta’s big transit plans by tapping into the anticipated influx of federal transit funding and enthusiastic support from the Georgia congressional delegation. After a brief pause, he said it was “possible” to get the full 22-miles of BeltLine light rail up and running by 2035. Sure, I would have preferred to hear probable or definitely. But it’s a starting point.
“I was – and truth be told, still am — having trouble understanding how [Reed’s] plan would generate enough money, and do it fast enough.”
I was – and truth be told, still am -- having trouble understanding how his plan would generate enough money, and do it fast enough. As I understand it, the assumption is that the More MARTA plan’s Emory-Clifton Corridor line would get federal dollars first, and development will follow. That would result in increased tax revenue that will make more money available to BeltLine rail (and presumably other More MARTA projects).
Exactly how much more real estate development potential there is along that corridor and how much money that might generate isn’t clear. I wanted to ask whether anyone has crunched those numbers and find out whether that’s just one prong of a multi-pronged funding approach.
BeltLine rail, and its $2.5 billion* price tag, can’t build itself. So far, the public has kicked in nearly $250 million through self-imposed local taxes. And MARTA has some unambitious building timelines that Atlanta’s next mayor – whoever that may be – will have something to say about.
I told Reed I was genuinely surprised to hear him say he’s confident in MARTA -- especially given recent headlines that must have been a bombshell in Clayton County, but no surprise to south Dekalb. Years after Clayton started collecting taxes for commuter rail, MARTA announced it might be too difficult to build that project without a deal to share tracks with the Norfolk Southern railroad.
Without skipping a beat, Reed dismissed the doom and gloom, saying that would likely be reversed. I hope so, for Clayton County’s sake.
He reminded me that when it comes to holding MARTA accountable, the city makes three appointments to the 13-member MARTA Board.
So, if you’re lucky enough to bump into a candidate or elected official, don’t be shy.
WE voters get to decide Atlanta’s affordable housing and transit future with our selections for mayor and City Council. During these final weeks before the Nov. 2 election, keep an eye on BRN social for candidate comments and our candidate scorecard to help you decide.
*BeltLine Rail Now estimates it will cost $2.5 billion to build the Beltline Rail project along the 22-mile corridor. That may sound like a lot, but in terms of infrastructure, it’s not. Most cities in the United States spend far more on transit and other investments to improve mobility and livability. Atlanta spends similar amounts on roads and interchanges: a single highway interchange in Atlanta at I-85 and U.S. 400 is projected to cost $2 billion.
Beth is a BeltLine Rail Now board member and a realtor, and has lived in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood for the past two decades