$1B Atlanta Intermodal Project Wins Federal Acceleration
A $1-billion intermodal center being developed in Atlanta via a public-private partnership received a boost from the White House recently that could help accelerate the project by as much as a year, officials say.
The Georgia Dept. of Transportation is leading the MultiModal Passenger Terminal (MMPT) project as part of its P3 program, backed by MARTA, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and the city of Atlanta.
GDOT describes the project as a “transportation hub that provides a central facility and transfer point for (Atlanta’s) existing and future intercity, regional and local transit services.”
FXFOWLE and Cooper Carry are working in association on the project’s design. The program for the facility currently calls for 80 bus bays; five rail platforms, accommodating up to five tracks; street car platforms; and parking. Other firms involved with the project include DLA Piper, Kimley-Horn, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Sykes Consulting and Thornton Tomasetti, among others.
At a July public presentation about the project, John Schuyler, a principal with FXFOWLE, described three different concepts for the facility, with options using between one and three city blocks, and between one and three bus levels.
In late July, the Obama administration announced it was adding the MMPT project to the Federal Infrastructure Projects Permitting Dashboard, thus expediting its federal permitting and review by as much as a year, according to the project team. HNTB is working with GDOT on assessing the project’s environmental issues.
According to GDOT, the project’s developer will have the rights to develop related retail, commercial and residential projects. That P3 team includes Forest City Enterprises of Cleveland, and two Atlanta-based firms, The Integral Group and Cousins Properties.
“The selection of the MMPT project … by the Obama Administration will help get this region moving,” John McColl, executive vice president with Cousins Properties, stated in response to the Obama administration’s acceleration of the project.
GDOT is planning to locate the MMPT on a 119-acre site in the Gulch district of downtown Atlanta, near Philips Arena and CNN Center. At present, the agency has not yet produced a construction schedule for the project, and design work is ongoing. Information from GDOT describes the size of the future station as between 15 and 20 acres.
The current cost estimate for the project is $1.2 billion, says GDOT.
Why would we use federal tax money, or anyone else's money for that matter, to invest where the residents wont' help themselves? <br/>The Federal and State legislatures refuse to adjus...
The Federal and State legislatures refuse to adjust the user fees, what the Brits call 'road tax' and the Yanks call 'gas tax', for inflation. Not for increased cost of repairs and renovation/remodeling caused by delayed repairs that could have been done inexpensively if done timely.
And the Georgians refused to enact an increment on their sales tax to do what the Representatives haven't.
Most of us are willing to give a hand to someone who is diligently working to help themselves, but not to those who won't take responsibility for themselves.
Atlanta does not seem like a good investment of federal tax money to me.
I live outside of Atlanta, and voted against the one cent sales tax. Don't critize the people who will not give the goverment a blank check for a disconnected transportation plan. Show ...
As an interMODAL station, shouldn't a transportation center like this include consideration of biking and pedestrian movement within the city as well? Where is any mention of mixed use...
Come on DOT and DESIGNERS... this building should be groundbreaking in energy use reduction, water management, and engagement with city / place. I could care less if it has a folded roof or a wavy roof unless they contribute to performance and quality of spaces. PLEASE show us some intelligent design prospects... and PLEASE don't squander this opportunity to add a vibrant center within the downtown area.
Congrats on the commission and funding!
I'm optimistic yet seriously nonplussed by the renderings and text.
