State Contributes $100M For BRT Interchanges On GA-400

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Gov. Nathan Deal has announced the state will kick in $100 million in general obligation bonds to fund bus rapid transit infrastructure in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Transportation's project to build express lanes on Ga. 400.

Tuesday's announcement follows approval by the State Road and Tollway Authority, or SRTA, board. It's also the result of a partnership with Fulton County and MARTA to build four bus-only interchanges on a 16-mile segment of S.R. 400. This project was made possible by the passage of House Bill 930, the legislation that created the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority, better known as the ATL.

The upcoming $1.8 billion SR 400 Express Lanes project will widen the highway, reduce congestion and accommodate the new BRT interchanges. The SR 400 Express Lanes project is projected to reduce delays by 18 percent in the SR 400 corridor by 2030, for a total of more than 19,000 hours each day or time savings of 20 to 25 minutes per user, Gov. Deal's office said.

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“We continue to make investments to ensure that our modes of transit and mobility are worthy of the No. 1 state for business and the best place for opportunity,” said Deal. “I allotted $100 million in bonds in the FY (fiscal year) 2019 budget to demonstrate the state’s commitment to addressing mobility needs through strategic investments in transit infrastructure. This visionary project will enhance the plans for SR 400, one of our state’s most vital corridors for commuters, jobs and freight. In 2015, I allotted $75 million to fund transit needs statewide, and this latest investment will further move the needle to decrease congestion and improve Georgia’s transportation network."

Deal also said the $100 million in bonds marks the first time the state, Fulton County and MARTA have come together to improve the area's mass transit system. This announcement highlights "collaborative solutions for both transportation and transit, which is exactly what the ATL and Georgia's commitment to improving mobility are all about," the governor added.

This $100 million in bonds will be used by GDOT to plan and purchase property for BRT interchanges on the SR 400 Express Lanes route, which will help accommodate the growing transit needs in the corridor. MARTA and Fulton County will invest in BRT infrastructure and operations, pending approval of a Fulton County referendum.

Bus Rapid Transit lines combine some of the features of rail with others of local bus routes. For instance, BRT uses stations and schedules more akin to light rail, but BRT offers a considerably reduced cost than new rail lines, and transit sooner, Fulton County notes. In 2017, after the ARC LINK trip to Dallas, officials from Fulton County and mayors of Fulton County cities revisited Dallas and then Los Angeles, which has successfully implemented BRT, to explore the right transit options for Fulton County, in an effort to address traffic congestion.

“This investment is significant in pursuing a better, more focused regional approach to transportation,” said Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts. “Fulton County is proud of its role as a convener on this issue as we worked to build consensus for a better solution for our citizens. Ultimately, this is about keeping our region moving and confronting the gridlock that threatens the continued growth of Atlanta and the entire metro area. This major investment by the state in North Fulton will allow future local transit dollars to be invested throughout Fulton County.”

GDOT is currently in the discovery phase of selecting locations for BRT interchanges. Right-of-way acquisition will begin in fiscal year 2019/2020, and the procurement process to select a contractor will begin in mid-2020.

"On behalf of Fulton County and our 15 cities, we are pleased to see our years of collaborative effort culminate in such a promising investment by the state," said Fulton County District 1 Commissioner Liz Hausmann. "After launching the Fulton County Transit Master Plan Study in 2017 and assessing various transit modes used across the U.S., including site visits to both Dallas and Los Angeles, we all agreed that Bus Rapid Transit would provide the greatest return on investment for Fulton County and Metro Atlanta."

The S.R. 400 express lanes would run from the North Springs MARTA Station in Sandy Springs to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County. Roswell Mayor Lori Henry noted she was "happy to learn" about Gov. Deal's announcement.

"I am sure the city of Roswell will be well served by this decision," she added.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said the announcement is a "great demonstration of the governor’s commitment to keeping healthy one of the state’s most important economic engines."

"It will be a major step toward relieving congestion through a true multimodal transportation network in this area," he added.

Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood added the city welcomes the state's efforts to relieve congestion along Ga. 40, "improving commute times for our residents, and look forward to working with GDOT on future road projects to relieve congestion on state roadways located within Milton.”

Photo: a rendering of an express lane access ramp provided by the Georgia DOT