Georgia Transit Connector regrets to announce that the Atlanta Streetcar was not awarded the TIGER Grant stimulus funding for surface transportation initiatives by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

While we are disappointed to not receive stimulus funding, we remain committed to our belief that Atlanta must improve its transit connectivity and mobility in order to remain competitive with other urban areas.This is a set-back but not an end to our efforts.

We will continue to pursue avenues for funding the streetcar initiative, as our initial intention was to prepare an application that positioned us for other available federal grants and opportunities.

There will be another round of TIGER Grant stimulus funding estimated at $600 million which we will pursue aggressively.

While this particular grant was not awarded, Georgia has received $5.9 billion in stimulus funding.

Those awarded TIGER grants were in better position to fund the capital costs of projects and a number represented multi-state transportation projects.

The initiative to make this application required strategic input and cooperation from the City, MARTA and the metro area business community as well as state and federal officials. This collaborative spirit is key to our future success on this project and other projects aimed improve the quality of life in our city and state.

The studies conducted on the project since 2006 and in preparation for the grant submission in 2009 represent a substantial body of work that makes possible for the partnership of the City, the CIDs and MARTA to expedite the project construction. 

1.      Environmental Assessment

• An Environmental Assessment was undertaken since the project is almost entirely within public rights-of-way and no significant impacts or effects are expected. 
• Early coordination with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) was undertaken to assure that an appropriate process was being followed and to expedite their review of the document in accordance with the schedule for a Finding of No Significance (FONSI) by June of 2010.

2.      Governance

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in the process of being developed to specify how the project will be managed and operated, as well as who will be responsible for reporting, documentation, reviews, and liability.
• Efforts to formalize are well underway and on schedule to have the structure in place as required by the project schedule.

3.       Design

• Preliminary engineering and design was conducted in July and August 2009 to support the TIGER grant application and Environmental Assessment and resulted in a set of plan drawings and cost estimates for alternative alignments, including segments associated with phased implementation of the streetcar.
• Design criteria and specifications from other agencies were obtained.  These were reviewed to serve as standards for the streetcar project. 
• Georgia Power is working closely with the project team to identify and resolve possible utility conflicts early on and facilitate construction and the start operation.
• A two-step RFQ/RFP process using a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) approach will be used to reduce a year out of the the project construction.

4.      Procurement/Delivery of Rail Cars

• MARTA has initiated discussions with Utah Transit Authority (UTA) regarding the use of UTA’s options for additional rail vehicles resulting in a savings of 1 year from the schedule. 

5.      Procurement/Delivery of Trackway Components

• Procurement of trackway components, typically a long process will be conducted via an option added to MARTA’s upcoming Trackwork Replacement contract to be let in summer 2010.

6.      Right-of-Way Acquisition

• The City of Atlanta owns the majority of the right of Way.  The City and the CIDs are committed to facilitate acquisitions within their areas.  The alignment will require minimal real estate acquisition.  Streetcar stops will be placed within the public right-of-way. 

City of Atlanta submits application for U.S. DOT stimulus grant
Invites Atlantans to “Get on Board” with Streetcar Linking “the Last Mile”

ATLANTA (Sept. 16, 2009) – The City of Atlanta and its partners in the Georgia Transit Connector initiative submitted yesterday an application for $298.3 million in federal stimulus to fund a 9.7-track-mile modern streetcar system in Atlanta.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s discretionary Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants are earmarked for local surface transportation projects that will help jumpstart the economy.

“If Atlanta is to remain competitive with other urban areas for economic development, we must improve our connectivity and mobility,” said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. “A streetcar system will help make Atlanta a more walkable city and serve as a catalyst for development and revitalization in Midtown and Downtown.”

The proposed streetcar route is a T-shape, with 6.6 track miles north-south from Peachtree Pointe/SCAD-Atlanta in Midtown to the Five Points MARTA station in Downtown and a 3.1-mile east-west route from Centennial Olympic Park to The King Center.

As proposed now, TIGER funding would cover all capital costs associated with the streetcar, such as construction and vehicle procurement. Several models for operations and management after construction are being considered. Atlanta’s application will be competing against applications for transportation initiatives nationwide.

The partners anticipate the streetcar will act as a catalyst for new urban development, support local and regional land use plans, and accommodate significant population and employment growth. The streetcar is projected to meet future travel demand, enhance existing neighborhood character in an environmentally sensitive manner, and improve transportation access and connectivity to disconnected destinations and activity centers in the urban core.

The streetcar will connect with MARTA’s existing heavy rail and will be used for traveling shorter distances within Downtown and Midtown, alleviating intra-city congestion. The carbon-free streetcar has the capacity to transport more than 20,000 passengers daily and will reduce MARTA’s carbon footprint as it replaces bus service along the Peachtree corridor.

The U.S. DOT is expected to notify recipients of funding by February 2010. If funding is awarded, the City would begin construction immediately with a projected completion date of February 2012.

About Georgia Transit Connector

Georgia Transit Connector is a collaborative effort involving the City of Atlanta, the Downtown and Midtown improvement districts, and MARTA to bring to fruition critical infrastructure that will connect the metro area and the greater region. The public-private partnership contributes resources and perspectives for planning and implementing the streetcar system and bringing the City closer to its long-term regional transportation vision.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ashley Harp or Lawrence Gellerstedt
Jackson Spalding on behalf of GTC
aharp@jacksonspalding.com/
lgellerstedt@jacksonspalding.com