Georgia

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Transit

Report: Airport Rail Link Increases Hotel Room Revenue

November 27, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

Cities with direct rail access from the airport to and from downtown receive nearly 11 percent more revenue per room than hotels in cities without such a connection, according to a report from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the U.S. Travel Association. The study, A New Partnership: Rail Transit and Convention Growth, shows higher revenue per room translates to a potential $313 million in revenue per year for so-called “rail cities.” In the post-recession period, rail cities commanded 16 percent higher revenue per room than hotels in non-rail cities, the organizations said. “Clearly investment in local rail systems

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Transit

MARTA looking to expand along Ga. Highway 400 corridor

August 29, 2013 Todd DeFeo

ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is looking to expand its system to include “high-capacity transit” along a major thoroughfare into the city’s northern suburbs. Transit options for the 12-mile corridor along Ga. Highway 400, according to a notice published in the Federal Register, could include bus or rail. While MARTA officials have looked to expand the city’s subway system, new tracks haven’t been brought into service since 2000. “MARTA has identified an alignment that would provide approximately 11.9 miles of transit service along the GA 400 corridor within existing right-of-way from the existing North Springs MARTA

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Transit

MARTA Moving Forward with Transit-Oriented Development

August 14, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA recently release a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a master development partner to help create a new Transit-Oriented Development at the King Memorial rail station in Downtown Atlanta. The RFQ is the initial phase of a two-step process wherein potential development partners will be asked to respond to MARTA’s qualification criteria for its TOD program. A short list of firms who satisfy the criteria will subsequently be invited to submit formal bids on the project as part of a future Request for Proposals (RFP). MARTA selected King Memorial Station as the first of five transit-oriented developments

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Miscellaneous

Southern Museum Wraps Up Successful Railroad Rendezvous

July 28, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

KENNESAW, Ga. — More than 600 people turned out Saturday for the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History’s first ever Railroad Rendezvous event. During the event, museum visitors were able to participate in games such as sack races and a bean bag toss, learn about railroads and safety precautions to take around them, and even de-code hobo symbols and learn about living life on the rails. “We want thank each and every person who came out to support us to help make our first ever Railroad Rendezvous a tremendous success,” said Valerie Serra, events coordinator for the Southern

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Transit

Tracks are in the Ground for New Atlanta Streetcar Line

July 3, 2013 Todd DeFeo

ATLANTA — Crews continue to install tracks for a new streetcar line that is set to start operating next spring. When it opens, the 2.7-mile streetcar line will connect with MARTA, the city’s transit system. Future plans call for the new streetcar to tie into the Atlanta BeltLine, a public-private partnership that is building walking paths along a ring of mostly abandoned railroad right-of-ways that circle the city. Workers are expected to install a block of track every three to four weeks. The new line is funded with nearly $100 million – or roughly $37 million per mile – in