Mass Transit System Proposal On Table

Channel 2 Action News has learned the Georgia Department of Transportation is exploring the idea of a mass transit system that could connect Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton and Cobb counties.

GDOT board member Brandon Beach shared a map of the plan with Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.

Beach said it would include service from the Perimeter Mall area north up Georgia 400 to Windward Parkway in Alpharetta, east to Duluth in Gwinnett County and west to Smyrna and Kennesaw State University.

"This is all based on jobs and projected growth," said Beach, who also serves as president of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. "We’ve got to get our employees to the employers and this is an option."

Beach said GDOT and several stakeholders have funded a feasibility study of the plan.

"It should tell us ...what the projected ridership is and what type of transit we should do, whether it be heavy rail, light rail, or bus rapid transit," said Beach, who added that light rail is much more cost-effective.

Beach told Petchenik the current fragmented system isn't working for the Metro area.

"We’ve got MARTA in two counties," he said. "We’ve got Gwinnett doing their own thing, Cobb doing their own thing and none of them talk to each other. None of them are coordinated.”

MARTA passenger Lisa Mize welcomed the idea. She told Petchenik her daily trip from Sandy Springs to Alpharetta includes a ride on two separate buses.

"Wouldn’t have to get on the buses and wait on the buses so much," she said of the idea of light rail up Georgia 400.

Next week, mayors from several Fulton and DeKalb County cities plan to meet at Atlanta City Hall to build support among legislators for a regional transit agency. Last month, Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos told Petchenik that Fulton County and DeKalb County taxpayers are paying for MARTA while everyone gets to use it. She said lawmakers need to pass a regional transportation bill prior to a 2012 referendum on transportation.

MARTA CEO Dr. Beverly Scott told Petchenik she supported the idea of a regional transit authority.

Beach told Petchenik the the north Metro transit system would be a part of the overall regional system. He said a feasibility study into the idea would be completed within the month.