ARC proposes busway across northern I-285

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ARC proposes busway across northern I-285

By JULIE HAIRSTON

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

The Atlanta Regional Commission staff is recommending an $840 million two-lane dedicated busway be constructed from the Cumberland-Galleria area of Cobb County to the Doraville MARTA station in DeKalb County.

The recommendation Friday is the result of an ARC study focused on increasing public transit on the traffic-clogged top end of Atlanta's perimeter highway.

For the past year, the ARC staff and its consultant, URS Corp., have been studying potential routes, technologies, ridership and costs. ARC's board will be asked in February to formally endorse the dedicated busway at its Feb. 25 meeting.

Andy Aiello, who has coordinated the study for the ARC, said the dedicated busway will feature rubber-tired vehicles equipped to ride like a train on a separate roadway from the interstate. The busway was the most popular of the four transit alternatives presented, Aiello said.

"Far and away, we've gotten more public support for [this] than any other alternative," Aiello said.

The busway is projected to generate the most passengers, cost the least to build, cause the least disruption and provide the option of upgrading eventually to a light rail line if ridership warrants it, Aiello said.

The proposed transit line is projected to attract 67,200 riders daily, including 39,962 new transit riders.