Atlanta Streetcar’s Gone Off the Rails
The Atlanta Streetcar opened over deadline and over budget. Its performance has been astoundingly underwhelming, yet city officials continue to explore expansion.
Transportation policy must focus on improving mobility and relieving congestion, not social engineering to force commuters out of their chosen mode of transportation. Most commuter rail proposals are expensive and ineffective, and could also limit the growth of freight traffic driven by expanding coastal port operations. Policies should embrace technological innovation, a user-pay system, and objective, mobility-focused criteria with cost-benefit analysis.
From an Unlikely Source, Market-based Transit Policies
Public transportation is a highly debated topic in Georgia. Central to this debate is the allocation of federal funding through grants and tax revenues.
Managed Lanes, The Untolled Story
Since the opening of the reversible express toll lanes on I-75 and I-575, enough commuters are choosing to pay the tolls that it’s making an enormous difference to traffic flow in the general-purpose lanes.
Georgia Rail Passenger Program
The Georgia Rail Passenger Program consists of a comprehensive plan for two distinct kinds of rail transportation: commuter and intercity trains, and proposed high-speed rail systems.
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA)
GRTA is a state-level authority that addresses mobility and air quality in metro Atlanta. GRTA approves the allocation of state and federal transportation resources in metro Atlanta via the Atlanta Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the federally-required planning process that allocates funds to the highest-priority, near-term transportation projects.
Bus Rapid Transit Shows Promise
The US DOT and FTA seek new ways to design and operate high capacity Bus Rapid Transit systems as an alternative to building Light Rail systems that often prove to be more expensive and less effective and solving congestion.
Bus Rapid Transit – Faster and Less Expensive than Light Rail
For years, the U.S. public transit industry has exhibited a clear preference for light rail systems even where bus systems could perform more effectively and at lower cost.
Governor’s Road Improvement Program (GRIP)
The Governor’s Road Improvement Program (GRIP) is a system of economic development highways that, when complete, will connect 95 percent of Georgia cities with populations of 2,500 or more to the Interstate Highway System.
Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEEs)
In the broadest sense, a GARVEE is a type of anticipation vehicle, which are securities (debt instruments) issued when moneys are anticipated from a specific source to advance the upfront funding of a particular need.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
FTA provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries. FTA also oversees safety measures and helps develop next-generation technology research.
U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
BTS is the preeminent source of statistics on commercial aviation, multimodal freight activity, and transportation economics, and provides context to decision makers and the public for understanding statistics on transportation.
U.S. DOT Highway Statistics
The Highway Statistics Series consists of annual reports containing analyzed statistical information on motor fuel, motor vehicle registrations, driver licenses, highway user taxation, highway mileage, travel and highway finance.
Georgia Department of Transportation
GDOT works to boost Georgia’s competitiveness via leadership in transportation by delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility.
U.S. Department of Transportation
The mission of the USDOT is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
Light Rail vs. Reality
Everyone loves light rail—especially if they don't actually have to rely on it for actual transportation or pay the full cost of what it takes to schlep a rider from Point A to Point B.
Georgia DOT Fact Book
The GDOT Fact Book offers descriptions of programs, studies and initiatives, as well as information about the State Transportation Board, Georgia DOT divisions, offices and districts, and resource references.
State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA)
SRTA is a state-level, independent authority created to operate tolled transportation facilities within Georgia and act as the transportation financing arm for the State.
Atlanta Regional Commission
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is jointly responsible with the Georgia Department of Transportation for transportation planning for the 18-county Atlanta metropolitan region, including the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (Plan2040) and the six-year Transportation Improvement Program.
Atlanta Transportation Plan
What does Georgia need to do to increase mobility and reduce congestion? A six-step plan offers solutions that can significantly improvement the statewide transportation network.
Still Asking for Whom Georgia’s Roads are Tolled?
Automobiles heading north in the toll lanes along I-75 encountered no delays on April 27, while traffic in the general-purpose lanes crawled for miles because of construction delays.
By Benita M. Dodd
The toll lanes are coming! The toll lanes are…
