CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — MARTA said Thursday that the agency is moving forward the Clayton County bus rapid transit line project, with design and engineering proposals now being sought.
The 15.5 mile route would have 13 stations and would "extend from the College Park MARTA Station to Southlake Mall, connecting several key Clayton County destinations, including the Shops of Riverdale and the Southern Regional Medical Center, to MARTA's heavy rail transit system," according to a project fact sheet.
Its proposed cost estimate is $338 million. The project overview lays out a timeline for the line to be in operation by 2026, though that included a final design phase for 2023 and construction beginning in 2024.
"The project goal is to implement over 50 percent of new, dedicated lanes for buses, which could be improved as project development progresses and an amended locally preferred alternative (LPA) is considered in early spring," a release said.
The current solicitation for proposals will seek designs for Segment 1, south of I-285 and Segment 2, north of I-285.
Take a look at the line's proposed map below:
MARTA has touted bus rapid transit (BRT) for recent transit expansion projects as a more cost-effective way to deliver transit expansion more quickly. The transit mode utilizes dedicated lanes for buses that make stops at permanent stations with features such as "off board fare payment, level boarding, seating, and digital signage."
The agency says BRT lines can offer 15-minute peak frequencies or less, and has rolled out plans for similar lines in Summerhill, the Campbellton Road corridor and a route that would connect the Lindbergh heavy rail station to the CDC/Emory area along Clifton Road.
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