The speed of implementation and high cost have some Atlanta officials considering bus rapid transit (BRT).
Atlanta officials are considering a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that would stretch from downtown into the city's suburbs. "MARTA plans to build a 13-mile BRT line along I-20 from Atlanta’s Five Points Station to Wesley Chapel Road in DeKalb County," David Wickert writes for The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
There's been debate about whether to invest resources in light rail instead, or if residents have appetite for transit extension at all. "Bus rapid transit lines are relatively cheap and can be built much faster than a new rail line," Wickert writes.
Regional Commissioner argues that traffic will eventually persuade residents to spend on transit: "Atlanta Regional Commission Chairman, Kerry Armstrong, said if Atlanta traffic isn’t bad enough yet, it’s getting there." Though, whether or not traffic can be calmed by public transit is itself a point of contention.
Read the full story: Are fast buses the future of mass transit in Atlanta?
Atlanta Transit Officials Call for Traffic Cameras to Enforce Bus-Only Lanes
MARTA says bus-mounted cameras would be a more effective way to keep bus lanes clear and make upcoming bus rapid transit lines run smoothly and reliably.
MARTA To Add BRT Connection to Airport
A new rapid bus line in Atlanta will link residents to one of the nation’s busiest airports.
What Is ‘Arterial Rapid Transit?’
Atlanta is planning to build ‘BRT lite,’ a version of bus service that offers signal priority and fewer stops but keeps buses in mixed-traffic lanes.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
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Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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