The $ 300 million BRT project will provide a high-capacity transportation service that connects MARTA College Park Station to Clayton County destinations, including Airport Gateway and more.
Photo: Marta
The Atlanta Rapid Transportation Authority (MARTA) has announced that it has sought to give the Clayton Southlake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project entry into the FTA Capital Investment Program (CIG) project development phase as a small start-up project.
Clayton Southlake BRT is the first of several projects that MARTA will promote as part of its MARTA 2040 program with requested CIG funding.
“This is an important milestone for MARTA and the first of many to come when we embark on the biggest expansion in our history,” said Jeffrey Parker, CEO of MARTA.
The $ 300 million BRT project will provide a high-capacity transportation service that connects MARTA College Park Station to destinations in Clayton County, including the airport gate, Riverdale stores, the South Regional Medical Center campus, the Mount Zion Commercial Hall and the Southlake Mall .
The features of the BRT system will be similar to those found in rail investments including dedicated transit routes, more frequent service, BRT-focused stations and transport-oriented development opportunities. The project will also include 13 new BRT-branded stations with off-aircraft tariff collection, the purchase of 10 BRT-branded electric buses and related electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and the installation of priority equipment for signaling at major intersections.
“Clayton County residents will benefit from SouthLike’s BRT because it will make the drive from College Park to Southlake Mall faster in 19 minutes, making it easier to access jobs, health and entertainment services across the area,” said Jeff Turner, Hugh. “I’m excited this is MARTA’s first request for federal transportation funds in decades.”
The latest federal investment law on infrastructure and employment, which re-approved high-transportation plans for five years, included a change advocated by Senator Rafael Warnock to increase eligibility for Small Starts to $ 400 million and increase the maximum amount of federal funding from $ 100 million to $ 150. one million. These changes will ensure that Southlake’s BRT project is eligible and may leverage additional federal funding to support it.
MARTA received support from the Clayton County Board of Governors in November to advance the project, and the MARTA board voted to continue the project earlier this month. If entry is given into project development, the next steps include a CIG budget application to Congress in August, the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) next December, and construction starting in the summer of 2024 with an operating date in 2026.
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