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Alternatives for Preliminary Screening:
Macon - Atlanta Corridor
1. No Build (required by Federal process):
Existing transportation infrastructure, plus capacity enhancement projects identified in the Transportation Improvement Program. This includes the operations of MARTA, as well as commuter bus service in Clayton and Bibb Counties.
2. Transportation System Management Projects (required by Federal process):
Primarily new low-cost non-construction projects to improve traffic operations with existing transportation infrastructure. Projects to be defined after screening completed and could include traffic signal timing improvements, added transit, carpool / vanpool initiatives, etc.
3. Bus Rapid Transit Service:
Express bus service in the Macon - Atlanta corridor providing at least the same level of frequency and points of access and similar fares to those of proposed commuter rail. Buses to use high-occupancy-vehicle lanes built or buildable on I-75 by 2010 or most direct local routing, depending on which is faster.
Park and ride lots will be sited to best serve the same populations as the commuter rail, and the train will terminate at the multi-modal centers in Macon and Atlanta. If ridership warrants, direct service to secondary travel centers such as the Hartsfield airport will be provided.
Frequency of service will depend on the volumes of passengers forecast to use the service and is expected to be higher than the commuter rail frequency since buses hold fewer people.
4. Commuter Rail on Norfolk Southern (NS) Freight Rail Lines:
Several alternative routings will be reviewed in response to public suggestions. The following would be assumed for all these alternatives:
- use predominantly of NS rail right of way from Macon to the MMPT
- two trains between Macon and Atlanta and an additional three trains between the Griffin, Jackson or Locust Grove and Atlanta. A total of five inbound trains would arrive in Atlanta in the morning and leave in the late afternoon. Bus service to and from commuter rail stations would be operated midday and evening.
The alternatives are:
4.1 NS "S" line through Griffin and East Point
Service would use the existing ex-Central of Georgia "S" line between Macon Terminal Station and the Atlanta Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal. Service speed would be the maximum possible within the constraints of the existing railroad right of way.
Stations between Macon and Atlanta:
Forsyth
Barnesville
Griffin
Hampton
Lovejoy
Jonesboro
Forest Park
East Point
4.2 NS "H" line at Macon to "S" line north of Macon
Service would leave downtown Macon on the NS main freight line – "H" line – for approximately eight miles to Arkwright, utilize a new right of way west for about seven miles to the "S" line near Bolingbroke and then through Grififin Stations between Macon and Atlanta are the same as alternative 4.1.
4.3 NS "H" line through Jackson to the MMPT
Service would use the existing ex-Southern Railway "H" line between Macon Terminal Station and the Atlanta Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal. Service speed would be the maximum possible within the constraints of the existing railroad right of way.
Stations between Macon and Atlanta:
Arkwright
Berner
Jackson
Locust Grove
McDonough
Stockbridge
Clayton
Constitution
4.4 NS line to Griffin, NS line to McDonough, and NS "H" line to MMPT
Service would join the Macon – Griffin "S" line segment to the Locust Grove – Atlanta "H" line segment by a mostly abandoned Griffin - McDonough line segment. Service speed would be the maximum possible within the constraints of the existing railroad right of way.
Stations between Macon and Atlanta:
Forsyth
Barnesville
Griffin
McDonough
Stockbridge
Clayton
Constitution
5. Commuter Rail using I-75 and other Rights of Way
Two commuter rail alternatives would use non-railroad rights of way.
5.1 I-75 right of way and NS right-of-way in Macon and Atlanta
Service would extend north from the Macon Terminal Station on the NS "H" line to Arkwright where it would transition to I-75 right-of-way. The alignment will parallel and share I – 75 right of way to the crossing of the "H" line over I – 75 north of University Avenue in Atlanta where it would transition to the NS "H" line and travel north to the Atlanta Multi-modal Passenger Terminal. Service speed would be the maximum possible within the constraints of the existing railroad right of way.
Stations between Macon and Atlanta:
Arkwright
Liberty Hill – SR 36
Locust Grove
McDonough
Stockbridge
Clayton
Constitution
5.2 Higher-speed alignment Macon to Atlanta
An alignment based on the "S" line through Griffin will be developed from the Macon area to the Atlanta area using existing and new rights of way. The alignment improves on the existing alignment by flattening and / or eliminating curves to allow faster service.
Stations between Macon and Atlanta:
Forsyth
Liberty Hill
Griffin
Hampton
Lovejoy
Morrow
Forest Park
East Point
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