Helping to Build Livable and Sustainable Communities for Atlanta

1. Helping to Build Livable and Sustainable Communities for Atlanta Richard Mendoza Commissioner of Public Works City of Atlanta

2. Creating Livable and Sustainable Communities Enhances livability Promotes pedestrian-oriented lifestyle Enhances neighborhoods’ character Enhances economic competitiveness Stimulates job creation and economic development Improves accessibility to jobs Enhances safe and convenient travel alternatives Increases connectivity among modes Makes pedestrian safety a priority  Enhances environmental sustainability Reduces need for energy resources Reduces demand for surface parking

3. Project Overview TIGER II Funding: $47,667 M (federal share) • Total Project Cost $69,267 M • Partnership • City of Atlanta is the official applicant, and provides funding for capital and operations • MARTA is the designated funding recipient and operator • Downtown CID is a project sponsor, as well as capital and operations funding partner • East-West Downtown Alignment • 2.62 track miles with 12 stops • Annual Operating Costs –$1.714 M • Refurbished Vehicles • 3 to 4 vehicles Refurbished Streetcar Vehicles Connects Centennial Olympic Park to MLK Historic District

4. Project History • Atlanta Streetcar Inc. (2003): Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. was the first broad-based effort to unite the city's top business, government and community leaders in an effort devoted to reintroducing the modern streetcar to Atlanta. • Peachtree Corridor Taskforce (2005): The Taskforce was a collaboration of the Atlanta Development Authority, Atlanta business leaders, and in-town community improvement districts, including ADID. The Taskforce’s work evaluated the feasibility of a streetcar, and facilitated advocacy and outreach activities. • Peachtree Corridor Partnership (2007): The Partnership was an extension of the Taskforce, formed to develop an implementation and funding strategy for a first-phase streetcar project. • Connect Atlanta Plan (2008): The City of Atlanta’s first citywide transportation plan included a comprehensive streetcar network and was designed to guide transportation policy and investment to advance the vision of creating a more modern, vibrant, and sustainable city. • Downtown Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Plan (2003, 2004 and 2009): Created in 1999 by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the LCI program encourages local jurisdictions to plan and implement strategies to create sustainable, livable communities consistent with regional development policies. The Downtown area is covered by an adopted LCI plan: the 2009 updated Imagine Downtown plan. • Concept 3 (2008): Concept 3, adopted in 2008, is the conceptual metro Atlanta regional transit plan. • Envision 6 – 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) (2007): The Atlanta Streetcar is included in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s RTP, referred to as Envision 6. • Georgia Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and 2008 – 2013 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): The Atlanta Streetcar Project is included in the STIP through it inclusion in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2008-2013 TIP. • State of Georgia: Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan 2010-2030 (2010): Approved by the Governor and State Transportation Board in 2010, the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan recommends targeted transportation investments based upon the 2008 “Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today” analysis. The Strategic Plan recommends streetcar service for improved mobility in metro Atlanta activity centers. • City of Atlanta Urban Redevelopment Plan (2010): The Plan cites development opportunities and recommends transportation and pedestrian infrastructure improvements to support implementation of key City projects, including the streetcar route and maintenance facility, which are identified for funding through Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds.

5. Key Elements • The Proposed Project is an East-West Segment of a Comprehensive Streetcar Network System • Uses a modern streetcar technology running on a fixed rail line • Operates in conjunction with mixed automobile traffic • Stimulates economic development at the core of the City’s downtown areas by bridging across Interstate I-75/85 • Links Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Centennial Olympic Park, including the Sweet Auburn District • Serves as a “local circulator” for traveling shorter distances within Downtown, alleviating intra-city congestion and connecting with existing transit systems (MARTA and GRTA)

6. Streetcar Characteristics • Travel function: Local, with connectivity and distribution to other systems • Market: In-town/urban core • Minimal/moderate Construction disruption • Significant Potential for economic development • Passenger capacity per vehicle is 95-110 • Maximum speed is 25-40 mph • Average speed is 15-to-20 mph • Overhead electric/on board electric motors • Shared with other traffic on-street lanes

7. Ridership and Service Plan Ridership • 2,600 estimated weekday boardings Service Plan • 9.9 minute one-way running time • 1.31 miles one way • 15-minute frequency* • 2 vehicles required for regular service • Direct transfer to MARTA rail service Proposed Schedule • Weekday span: 5 am to 11 pm (18 hours) • Saturday span: 8:30 am to 11 pm (14.5 hours) • Sunday span: 9 am to 10:30 pm (13.5 hours) *Note: Lay over at end of the line is included in frequency times 7

8. How does the Streetcar operate? • Movements more predictable than regular buses • Utilizes signalization system to improve traffic flow

9. Streetcar Stops • Shelters are low profile and easy to construct • Faster passenger loading (at-grade)

10. Overall Benefits • Increases foot traffic and customers for area businesses • Connects to historic, cultural, entertainment, parks and open space • Expedites redevelopment • Increases transit ridership • Encourages healthier lifestyle with more walking, and less stress • Creates higher, more stable property values • Reduces dependence on oil and pollution

11. Proposed Route • Connects Centennial Olympic Park to MLK Jr. National Historic Site via Woodruff Park • Directly interfaces with MARTA rail and express bus services • Improves connectivity for Georgia State University, Grady Memorial Hospital, Sweet Auburn

12. Livability Benefits: Enhanced Mobility, Modal Connectivity and Access 13

13. Estimated Capital Costs

14. Operations and Maintenance Annual O & M costs approximately $1.714 M (2013) 15

15. Atlanta Streetcar Objectives Reuse of I-75/85 Underpass for Maintenance Facility & Museum Downtown Atlanta – Looking West 16 1. State of Good Repair • Effectively Utilizes Existing Resources • Allows for use of overhauled, previously FTA-funded vehicles • Provides Ability to Operate & Maintain 2. EconomicCompetitiveness • Positions Atlanta to remain competitive with other world-class cities • Allows for efficiencies of transit-oriented development • Supports redevelopment and reuse of underutilized properties and advancement of the Economically Disadvantaged Area

16. 3. Livability Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.) • Enhances Mobility • Improves east-west transportation options through reliable, convenient rail service • Encourages pedestrian activity • Allows for Modal Connectivity • Interfaces with MARTA rail & bus, suburban express bus, and campus shuttle bus systems • Creates Accessibility • Creates greater access for residents, students and workers within the Economic Disadvantaged Area • Enhances mobility for Georgia State University and Grady Memorial Hospital, and across I-75/85 to reconnect Sweet Auburn and MLK Jr. Historic District to Downtown • Allows for Coordination of Transportation & Land Use Policies & Community Participation • Allows for inclusion and coordination through numerous plans and past initiatives • Supports 6 DOT/HUD/EPA Livability Principles 17

17. Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.) 4. Sustainability • Promotes change of travel patterns resulting in fewer vehicles and reduced fuel usage and pollution • Electric streetcar: • Produces no point-source emissions • Enables reduction in use of shuttle buses • Enables reduction in intra-city automobile trips • Requires negligible right of way: operates within existing City streets • Promotes compact, sustainable development patterns (walkable, “live-work-play” neighborhoods) 5. Safety • Encourages diversion of trips to safer streetcar mode that will lead to reduced automobile crash occurrences and severity • Promotes improved safety for pedestrians 18

18. Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.) 6. Job Creation (Preliminary estimates for City of Atlanta and its immediate vicinity; 20-year FTEs) • Creates approximately 1,950 new jobs during the streetcar’s construction • Creates approximately 460 new jobs for streetcar operations (long term) • Creates approximately 1,580 jobs attributable to corridor development (long term) 7. Economic Stimulus • Provides better access to Downtown hotels and tourist destinations, including the MLK Historic Site, Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium and future National Center for Civil and Human Rights • Increases probability of retail and service jobs in surrounding area • Services newly redeveloped Renaissance Walk • Located in the heart of the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood • Services Fairlie-Poplar Historic District: • Provides access to the Rialto Theatre, Theatrical Outfit and The Tabernacle • Services Georgia State University: • Campus and dormitory facilities located along the streetcar alignment 19

19. Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.) 8. Development Projects and New Development Opportunities • Supports 27 development projects that are either under construction, planned, or proposed within 2 blocks of the streetcar line • $1.48 billion of investment already planned/underway in 27 projects • 1,786 housing units • 505 student beds • 545,379 square feet of office space • 329,244 square feet of retail space • 649 hotel rooms • There are 151 underutilized parcels within 2 blocks of the proposed streetcar route, equating to a total land area of 51.695 acres with a total appraised value of approximately $201 million. • Includes Transit Maintenance Facility (and Transit Museum at no cost to project) Future National Center for Civil and Human Rights Wheat Street Gardens Residential (Planned)

20. Atlanta Streetcar Objectives (cont.) 9. Innovation • Design Standards interoperable with other planned rail projects (Concept3 – future LRT) • Leverages existing MARTA investments (maintenance facilities, Breeze System, etc.) • Capitalized maintenance approached through anticipated use of FTA Section 5307 and 5309 funds • Project turns “dead space” under I-75/85 freeway into an attraction • Transit museum included in maintenance facility (Note: no project funds to be expended on museum) 10. Partnerships • Public/Private Partnership: City, MARTA and Downtown CID • Compatibility and Future Connection to BeltLine (Less than a mile from BeltLine corridor) • Disciplinary Partners • Museum partners, Georgia State University (GSU), National Park Service, The King Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Collaboration with Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership and Atlanta Housing Authority

21. Project Readiness and NEPA TheAtlantaStreetcar is “Shovel Ready” • Minimal non-public Right-of-Way acquisition required • Long lead track hardware built as option into MARTA track replacement procurement • Vehicle procurement through partnership with MARTA • Innovative Civil Procurement through Design/Build … and Atlanta is Committed! • Local matching funds have been approved and committed (31%) • Mayor Kasim Reed is the chair of the Regional Transit Committee (RTC) • With enabling legislation approved, the Atlanta region is advancing a 2012 referendum to approve needed funding for priority transportation projects

22. Thank you! Contact: Richard Mendoza, Commissioner Department of Public Works55 Trinity Avenue, SWSuite 4700Atlanta, Georgia 30303Tel: 404.330.6240