Helping to Build Livable and Sustainable Communities for Atlanta

Richard MendozaCommissioner of Public Works

City of Atlanta

• Enhances livability Promotes pedestrian-oriented lifestyle Enhances neighborhoods’ character

• Enhances economic competitiveness Stimulates job creation and economic development Improves accessibility to jobs

• Enhances safe and convenient travel alternatives Increases connectivity among modes Makes pedestrian safety a priority

• Enhances environmental sustainability Reduces need for energy resources Reduces demand for surface parking

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Creating Livable and Sustainable Communities

Project Overview

TIGER II Funding: $47,667 M (federal share)• Total Project Cost $69,267 M• Partnership

– City of Atlanta is the official applicant, and provides funding for capital and operations

– MARTA is the designated funding recipient and operator– Downtown CID is a project sponsor, as well as capital

and operations funding partner

• East-West Downtown Alignment – 2.62 track miles with 12 stops

• Annual Operating Costs –$1.714 M • Refurbished Vehicles

– 3 to 4 vehicles

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Refurbished Streetcar Vehicles

Connects Centennial Olympic Park to MLK Historic District

Project History• Atlanta Streetcar Inc. (2003): Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. was the first broad-based effort to unite the city's top business,

government and community leaders in an effort devoted to reintroducing the modern streetcar to Atlanta.• Peachtree Corridor Taskforce (2005): The Taskforce was a collaboration of the Atlanta Development Authority, Atlanta

business leaders, and in-town community improvement districts, including ADID. The Taskforce’s work evaluated the feasibility of a streetcar, and facilitated advocacy and outreach activities.

• Peachtree Corridor Partnership (2007): The Partnership was an extension of the Taskforce, formed to develop an implementation and funding strategy for a first-phase streetcar project.

• Connect Atlanta Plan (2008): The City of Atlanta’s first citywide transportation plan included a comprehensive streetcar network and was designed to guide transportation policy and investment to advance the vision of creating a more modern, vibrant, and sustainable city.

• Downtown Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Plan (2003, 2004 and 2009): Created in 1999 by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the LCI program encourages local jurisdictions to plan and implement strategies to create sustainable, livable communities consistent with regional development policies. The Downtown area is covered by an adopted LCI plan: the 2009 updated Imagine Downtown plan.

• Concept 3 (2008): Concept 3, adopted in 2008, is the conceptual metro Atlanta regional transit plan.• Envision 6 – 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) (2007): The Atlanta Streetcar is included in the Atlanta Regional

Commission’s RTP, referred to as Envision 6. • Georgia Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and 2008 – 2013 Transportation Improvement Program

(TIP): The Atlanta Streetcar Project is included in the STIP through it inclusion in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2008-2013 TIP.

• State of Georgia: Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan 2010-2030 (2010): Approved by the Governor and State Transportation Board in 2010, the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan recommends targeted transportation investments based upon the 2008 “Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today” analysis. The Strategic Plan recommends streetcar service for improved mobility in metro Atlanta activity centers.

• City of Atlanta Urban Redevelopment Plan (2010): The Plan cites development opportunities and recommends transportation and pedestrian infrastructure improvements to support implementation of key City projects, including the streetcar route and maintenance facility, which are identified for funding through Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds.

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Key Elements

The Proposed Project is an East-West Segment of a Comprehensive Streetcar Network System • Uses a modern streetcar technology running on a fixed rail line• Operates in conjunction with mixed automobile traffic• Stimulates economic development at the core of the City’s downtown areas by bridging

across Interstate I-75/85• Links Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Centennial Olympic Park, including the

Sweet Auburn District• Serves as a “local circulator” for traveling shorter distances within Downtown, alleviating

intra-city congestion and connecting with existing transit systems (MARTA and GRTA)

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Streetcar Characteristics

• Travel function: Local, with connectivity and distribution to other systems

• Market: In-town/urban core• Minimal/moderate Construction disruption• Significant Potential for economic development• Passenger capacity per vehicle is 95-110• Maximum speed is 25-40 mph• Average speed is 15-to-20 mph• Overhead electric/on board electric motors• Shared with other traffic on-street lanes

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Ridership and Service Plan

Ridership– 2,600 estimated weekday boardings

Service Plan– 9.9 minute one-way running time– 1.31 miles one way– 15-minute frequency*– 2 vehicles required for regular service– Direct transfer to MARTA rail service

Proposed Schedule– Weekday span: 5 am to 11 pm (18 hours)– Saturday span: 8:30 am to 11 pm (14.5 hours)– Sunday span: 9 am to 10:30 pm (13.5 hours)

*Note: Lay over at end of the line is included in frequency times7

How does the Streetcar operate?– Movements more

predictable than regular buses

– Utilizes signalization system to improve traffic flow

Streetcar Stops• Shelters are low profile

and easy to construct• Faster passenger loading

(at-grade)

Overall Benefits

• Increases foot traffic and customers for area businesses• Connects to historic, cultural, entertainment, parks and

open space• Expedites redevelopment• Increases transit ridership• Encourages healthier lifestyle with more walking, and less

stress• Creates higher, more stable property values• Reduces dependence on oil and pollution

Proposed Route

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• Connects Centennial Olympic Park to MLK Jr. National Historic Site via Woodruff Park• Directly interfaces with MARTA rail and express bus services• Improves connectivity for Georgia State University, Grady Memorial Hospital, Sweet Auburn

Livability Benefits: Enhanced Mobility, Modal Connectivity and Access

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Estimated Capital Costs

FTA Element Estimated Costs

10 GUIDEWAY & TRACK ELEMENTS $ 9,841,162

20 STATIONS, STOPS $ 360,000

30 SUPPORT FACILITIES $ 6,562,500

40 SITEWORK & SPECIAL CONDITIONS $ 5,720,302

50 SYSTEMS $ 10,549,383

60 ROW, LAND EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS $ 600,000

70 VEHICLES $ 6,500,400

80 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES $ 16,335,250

90 UNALLOCATED CONTINGENCY $ 9,134,380

Es ESCALATION $ 3,664,400

Total $ 69,267,777

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Operations and MaintenanceAnnual O & M costs approximately $1.714 M (2013)

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Revenue Source Annual Revenue

City of Atlanta Car Rental and Hotel Motel tax (Dedicated through ordinance over 20 years) $ 1,000,000

Downtown CID (Annual average contribution over 20 years) $ 750,000

Fare Revenue (20% recovery ratio policy, 2013 estimate) $ 420,000

Advertising and Concessions (Including naming rights, 2013 estimate) $ 70,000

Potential Additional Federal Support

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Funds (Total over 3 years; first 3 years staggered 50%-33%-25% of total O&M cost) $ 1,890,000

1. State of Good Repair• Effectively Utilizes Existing Resources

• Allows for use of overhauled, previously FTA-funded vehicles

• Provides Ability to Operate & Maintain

2. Economic Competitiveness• Positions Atlanta to remain competitive with other

world-class cities• Allows for efficiencies of transit-oriented

development• Supports redevelopment and reuse of underutilized

properties and advancement of the Economically Disadvantaged Area

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Atlanta Streetcar Objectives

Reuse of I-75/85 Underpass for Maintenance Facility & Museum

Downtown Atlanta – Looking West

3. Livability• Enhances Mobility

• Improves east-west transportation options through reliable, convenient rail service

• Encourages pedestrian activity• Allows for Modal Connectivity

• Interfaces with MARTA rail & bus, suburban express bus, and campus shuttle bus systems

• Creates Accessibility• Creates greater access for residents, students and

workers within the Economic Disadvantaged Area• Enhances mobility for Georgia State University and Grady

Memorial Hospital, and across I-75/85 to reconnect Sweet Auburn and MLK Jr. Historic District to Downtown

• Allows for Coordination of Transportation & Land Use Policies & Community Participation• Allows for inclusion and coordination through numerous

plans and past initiatives• Supports 6 DOT/HUD/EPA Livability Principles

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Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.)

4. Sustainability• Promotes change of travel patterns resulting in fewer vehicles and reduced

fuel usage and pollution• Electric streetcar:

• Produces no point-source emissions• Enables reduction in use of shuttle buses• Enables reduction in intra-city automobile trips

• Requires negligible right of way: operates within existing City streets• Promotes compact, sustainable development patterns (walkable, “live-work-

play” neighborhoods)

5. Safety• Encourages diversion of trips to safer streetcar mode that will lead to reduced

automobile crash occurrences and severity• Promotes improved safety for pedestrians

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Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.)

6. Job Creation (Preliminary estimates for City of Atlanta and its immediate vicinity; 20-year FTEs)

• Creates approximately 1,950 new jobs during the streetcar’s construction• Creates approximately 460 new jobs for streetcar operations (long term)• Creates approximately 1,580 jobs attributable to corridor development (long term)

7. Economic Stimulus• Provides better access to Downtown hotels and tourist destinations, including the MLK

Historic Site, Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium and future National Center for Civil and Human Rights

• Increases probability of retail and service jobs in surrounding area• Services newly redeveloped Renaissance Walk• Located in the heart of the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood• Services Fairlie-Poplar Historic District:

• Provides access to the Rialto Theatre, Theatrical Outfit and The Tabernacle • Services Georgia State University:

• Campus and dormitory facilities located along the streetcar alignment

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Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.)

• Supports 27 development projects that are either under construction, planned, or proposed within 2 blocks of the streetcar line

• $1.48 billion of investment already planned/underway in 27

projects• 1,786 housing units• 505 student beds• 545,379 square feet of office space• 329,244 square feet of retail space• 649 hotel rooms

• There are 151 underutilized parcels within 2 blocks of the proposed streetcar route, equating to a total land area of 51.695 acres with a total appraised value of approximately $201 million.

• Includes Transit Maintenance Facility (and Transit Museum at no cost to project)

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Future National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Wheat Street Gardens Residential (Planned)

8. Development Projects and New Development Opportunities

Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.)

9. Innovation• Design Standards interoperable with other planned rail projects (Concept3 – future

LRT)• Leverages existing MARTA investments (maintenance facilities, Breeze System, etc.)• Capitalized maintenance approached through anticipated use of FTA Section 5307

and 5309 funds• Project turns “dead space” under I-75/85 freeway into an attraction

– Transit museum included in maintenance facility (Note: no project funds to be expended on museum)

10. Partnerships• Public/Private Partnership: City, MARTA and Downtown CID• Compatibility and Future Connection to BeltLine (Less than a mile from BeltLine

corridor)• Disciplinary Partners

– Museum partners, Georgia State University (GSU), National Park Service, The King Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Collaboration with Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership and Atlanta Housing Authority

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Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.)

• Minimal non-public Right-of-Way acquisition required• Long lead track hardware built as option into MARTA track replacement

procurement• Vehicle procurement through partnership with MARTA• Innovative Civil Procurement through Design/Build

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Project Readiness and NEPA

… and Atlanta is Committed!

• Local matching funds have been approved and committed (31%)• Mayor Kasim Reed is the chair of the Regional Transit Committee (RTC)• With enabling legislation approved, the Atlanta region is advancing a 2012

referendum to approve needed funding for priority transportation projects

The Atlanta Streetcar is “Shovel Ready”

Thank you!

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Contact:Richard Mendoza, Commissioner

Department of Public Works55 Trinity Avenue, SW

Suite 4700Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Tel: 404.330.6240