One-hundred years ago, rail was by far the most efficient and modern form of transportation available to the general public. The Trans-Continental Railway united a nation in the thought that long distance travel could be fast, comfortable and affordable. Fast forward a hundred years, and our nation’s major cities are inundated with cars commuting to and from work, trucks carrying freight cross country and buses driving citizens around the city. While technology has drastically improved in the last 100 years, the riddle of easy, convenient and affordable transportation options remains unsolved. However, a possible solution may be to take a modern approach to an aging technology.
Recently, I visited Denver’s Union Station. In 2010, the aging Union Station building sat mostly dormant. The surrounding area remained mostly undeveloped, and the city’s roads and highways were constantly backed up. However, through a development initiative led by the City and County of Denver, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Denver Regional Council of Governments assembled to restore Union Station and create a Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT). The MMPT was completed in 2014 and now serves as a hub for commuter transportation, Amtrak, light rail and bus services. It is now a one-stop-shop for all of the city of Denver’s transportation needs. In 2016 alone, Union Station saw more than a ten-percent increase in ridership from the previous year and had around 140,000 boardings. Union Station also now serves as the focal point of economic development in the city of Denver and continues to serve as a reliable, convenient centerpiece of Denver’s transportation options.
This same model could be applied to Atlanta. Early plans suggest that a 119-acre site in the Gulch area of downtown Atlanta could be a perfect place for an MMPT of our own. It would have a direct connection to the centrally located Five Points MARTA station and would serve as the transportation hub of the city. It would include bus lines, passenger rail, as well as light and freight rail, all in one centrally located transportation nerve center. This hub would also become an economic boon to the Gulch area, making it an ideal location for future businesses, retail shops or restaurants.
A recent study reported that the Atlanta region grew by more than 80,000 people in the past year. The population will continue to grow, and Atlanta will have to accommodate the increase in population with sustainable public transit. The need is clearly there; it is evidenced by the droves of citizens who flocked to MARTA after the bridge over I-85 collapsed in March, and we are now in financial position where this could become a reality. If Georgia truly wants to lead the way in new and innovative transportation methods, our own MMPT would go a long way toward securing that legacy.
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