http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-threatens-to-shut-down-atlanta-streetcar/nrTwm/
Full-Story (paywall)
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-threatens-to-close-atlanta-streetcar/nrTt3/?icmp=AJC_internallink_052616_AJCtoMyAJC_atlantastreetcar
"In a letter to Mayor Kasim Reed and MARTA CEO Keith Parker on Monday, the Georgia Department of Transportation gave the city until June 14 to submit plans to address 60 outstanding problems outlined in the reports. If those plans are not sufficient, GDOT said, it will order the streetcar to shut down immediately."
"McMurry said in the letter that, since the service started in December 2014, streetcar officials have failed to “provide timely, substantive and compliant responses to deficiencies identified by the department and (Federal Transportation Authority).”
Do they have to return the federal money?
rdamon http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-threatens-to-shut-down-atlanta-streetcar/nrTwm/ Full-Story (paywall) http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-threatens-to-close-atlanta-streetcar/nrTt3/?icmp=AJC_internallink_052616_AJCtoMyAJC_atlantastreetcar "In a letter to Mayor Kasim Reed and MARTA CEO Keith Parker on Monday, the Georgia Department of Transportation gave the city until June 14 to submit plans to address 60 outstanding problems outlined in the reports. If those plans are not sufficient, GDOT said, it will order the streetcar to shut down immediately." "McMurry said in the letter that, since the service started in December 2014, streetcar officials have failed to “provide timely, substantive and compliant responses to deficiencies identified by the department and (Federal Transportation Authority).”
Gov. agencies having a urination contest with other Gov. agencies. Priceless!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
By David Wickert - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The City of Atlanta on Tuesday submitted plans to fix a slew of problems with its troubled streetcar, but it’s unclear whether those plans will pass muster with state regulators who have threatened to shut it down.
Last month, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry gave Atlanta and MARTA the Tuesday deadline to come up with their plans to address 60 problems outlined in recent audits.
Forty-one issues are dealt with in the response, and officials requested a four-week extension for tackling the remaining ones, a spokeswoman for Mayor Kasim Reed said. She said the city also asked GDOT to withdraw its threat to shut down the streetcar, at least until the city has had a chance to address the other issues and the state has completed its review.
The statement said the city submitted more than 2,500 pages for review. It also said Atlanta and its streetcar partners “are committed to the safe and secure operation of the Atlanta streetcar, and agree that current and previous operation of the Atlanta streetcar is both safe and reliable.”
In its own statement, GDOT said it will take at least 10 days to evaluate Atlanta’s response. The agency pledged to review the documents but was noncommittal about shutting down the streetcar or giving the city an extension.
“The department has had numerous work sessions, meetings, and conversations and will continue to work collaboratively with the City of Atlanta and MARTA to ensure the goal of a safe and secure streetcar system,” the GDOT statement said.
The city and MARTA share responsibility for the $98 million downtown streetcar, which opened in December 2014. But state and federal law requires GDOT to oversee its safety and security. Over the last year, audits have uncovered problems ranging from poor maintenance procedures and inadequate staffing to a failure to properly investigate accidents.
In the May 23 letter, McMurry said streetcar officials have failed to “provide timely, substantive and compliant responses to deficiencies” identified by GDOT and the Federal Transportation Administration.
City expects to comply with Streetcar issues
ATLANTA -- Tuesday marked the deadline for the city of Atlanta get things right with the state Department of Transportation or shut down the Atlanta Streetcar.
The city reportedly submitted a massive amount of paperwork to comply with a long list of issues GDOT made. They also asked for a four-week extension for documents that did not get submitted.
Two months ago, the Atlanta streetcar collided with a parked vehicle. That got the attention of GDOT, which had already asked the city to upgrade the streetcar’s safety and management systems.
In a letter written last month, the DOT told Mayor Kasim Reed the city needed to bolster the streetcar’s “safety-critical facilities and systems” including the “overhead catenary system” which powers the streetcar, “track, stops and the vehicle maintenance facility” among other things. The deadline to straighten it out was “close of business on June 14, 2016.”
On Monday, Reed predicted the city would meet the deadline.
“We’re going to comply,” Reed said. “We’re working really hard with our GDOT partners to comply and make them comfortable. They have oversight for the city. And I’m confident that we’re going to satisfy them.”Despite a drop in ridership since the start of this year, Reed views the streetcar as a vital part of the city’s future. The line has 2.7 miles of track connecting Centennial Olympic Park to the King Historic Site. And despite its slow start, Reed expects to ask Atlanta voters to approve a new public transportation sales tax that would, among other things, extend the streetcar to the Atlanta Beltline, a half-mile beyond the King site.“The streetcar is not only going to be OK, but we’re taking it to the Atlanta Beltline,” Reed said.“I think when it’s connected to the Atlanta Beltline, people will have no idea what’s going to happen.”
A city spokesperson issued a statement Tuesday saying:
The City of Atlanta, along with its partners at MARTA and CAP/ADID, are committed to the safe and secure operation of the Atlanta Streetcar, and agree that current and previous operation of the Atlanta Streetcar is both safe and reliable. The City has submitted 41 CAP log items to GDOT, prioritizing all items relating to safety and security. GDOT had previously approved 13 CAP items, and the City today requested a four-week extension for remaining items. Overall, the City submitted more than 2,500 pages of documents.The City understands GDOT will evaluate these items over a ten-day period, and is confident that GDOT will find accurate and detailed responses in the CAP log submitted today. In addition, the City, MARTA and CAP/ADID respectfully requested that GDOT withdraw its threat to cease operations of the Streetcar, at least until the Department has been able to fully review today’s submission and the City has had time to respond to any remaining questions or requests for revisions.
GDOT said it will take at least 10 business days to review the material. Spokesperson Annalysce Baker issued a statement saying:
The Georgia Department of Transportation is required by federal and state laws to perform safety and security oversight for fixed guideway rail operations in Georgia. The Department has had numerous work sessions, meetings, and conversations and will continue to work collaboratively with the City of Atlanta and MARTA to ensure the goal of a safe and secure Streetcar system.
Yesterday, the Georgia DOT began receiving submissions of responses to the outstanding corrective action plan items and other items addressed in the Department's May 23, 2016 letter to Mayor Reed and Keith Parker. We will begin our initial review immediately; however, the submissions include thousands of pages and documents, so we estimate that it will take at least 10 business days to finish our review, before a conclusion can be made.
If not June 14th?, how about June 28th?
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-gives-atlanta-two-weeks-to-address-streetcar/nrhRq/
State officials this week gave Atlanta extra time to submit plans to address problems with the city’s troubled streetcar, but they also renewed their threat to shut it down if those plans don’t pass muster.
In a letter dated Wednesday, the Georgia Department of Transportation gave the City of Atlanta and MARTA until June 28 to comply with its request for plans to address a slew of problems uncovered in recent audits.
[snip]
On Tuesday
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/atlanta-streetcar-still-in-limbo-over-safety-conce/nrgPD/
city officials submitted plans to fix 41 of the problems and asked for another month to address the others. It also asked GDOT to withdraw its threat to shut down the streetcar.
On Wednesday GDOT gave Atlanta an extra two weeks – not four – and refused to back away from its threat to shut down the streetcar. GDOT said it “may order the Atlanta streetcar to immediately cease operations” if the safety concerns are not adequately addressed.
Meanwhile, GDOT is reviewing the more than 2,500 pages of records the city has already submitted – a process expected to take at least 10 days.
Atlanta and MARTA share responsibility for the $98 million downtown streetcar, which opened in December 2014. But state and federal law requires GDOT to oversee its safety and security.
What are the concerns ? Or is that secret ?
from memory, allegations of not thorough enough training, lack of supervision, unreliable or nonexistant maintenancce schedules, inadequate schedules for inspections of rolling stock and physical plant.
Atlanta City Council has voted to call for a public vote in November to decide whether MARTA should collect an extra half-cent in sales taxes to pay for expansion projects.
The list of projects to be financed through the tax includes light rail and bus plans for Buckhead, including:
–A new Armour Yard rail station on the Gold and Red Lines. Armour Yard, at Piedmont Road and I-85, currently has a MARTA maintenance facility.
–BeltLine light rail. Buckhead’s segment of the BeltLine would run between Armour Yard and I-75 along Peachtree Creek, the Shepherd Center and Piedmont Hospital.
–Clifton Corridor light rail. This new line would run from Buckhead’s Lindbergh Center Gold/Red Line station to the Blue Line’s Avondale station through the Emory University area.
Arterial rapid transit buses on Peachtree Street and Peachtree Road. “Arterial rapid transit” means a bus that runs especially frequently and with priority at signals and in lines. The Peachtree route would run through Buckhead between the Five Points station and the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe Gold/Red Line station in Brookhaven. MARTA proposes pedestrian improvements on that corridor as well.
–Bus rapid transit on Northside Drive. “Bus rapid transit” means the bus would travel mostly in a dedicated lane. The Northside route would run between southwest Atlanta and I-75 on the Buckhead border.
–A light rail plan to link BeltLine light rail to the new Armour Yard station, the streetcar and other intown transit facilities.
–Improved signage, pedestrian access and other amenities at all existing rail stations; additional cars on rail lines; and better bus timing on some routes.
In July, the council will take up a potential second referendum for a transportation sales tax – or TSPLOST – to fund bike trails, sidewalk and road projects for five years. If voters approve another half-penny for the TSPLOST along with approving the MARTA tax, that would increase the city’s sales tax to 9 percent – the highest in the state.
–Collin Kelley contributed to this report.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has backed away from its threat to shut down Atlanta’s trouble streetcar.
In a letter to the city Tuesday, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said the agency will continue reviewing Atlanta’s plans to fix dozens of problems outlined in recent audits. But he said GDOT is satisfied with the city’s recent progress after months of delay.
“We no longer anticipate issuing a cease operations order,” McMurry wrote to Atlanta officials. “However, it should be understood that additional clarification or content from the (streetcar) team may be required for full compliance.”
Mayor Kasim Reed issued a statement saying he is pleased with the decision.
“I look forward to building upon our positive relationship with GDOT, as we share in our strong commitment to offering safe, convenient and best-in-class transportation opportunities for Atlanta’s residents and visitors,” the mayor said.
Recent GDOT and Federal Transportation Administration audits cited 60 safety and other concerns with the streetcar. The problems included poor maintenance procedures, inadequate staffing and improper accident investigations.
Last month, McCurry threatened to close down the streetcar, citing the city’s failure to “provide timely, substantive and compliant responses” to the agency’s concerns.
This month Atlanta has submitted thousands of pages of documents detailing how it will respond to those concerns. It submitted its final batch on Monday.
In Tuesday’s letter, McMurry indicated GDOT will continue reviewing those plans until July 15. The agency also plans a meeting with streetcar officials for an initial discussion next week.
By Chris Bowling - The Atlanta Journal-Constitutio
Posted: 5:19 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2016
City officials, transit activists and BeltLine backers in Midtown Thursday night said they can all agree on one thing—they can’t make the same mistakes as last time.
In 2012 the metro area voted no on a new regional sales tax that would have provided $7.2 billion over 10 years to address transportation needs from roads to transit.
On Nov. 8 citizens of Atlanta will vote again on transit expansion. At a public discussion held by pro-transit group the MARTA Army, City Councilman Kwanza Hall said, officials still use 2012 as a lesson.
“There’s a lot to be learned,” Hall said. “And of course it was bigger than the city of Atlanta, and the city did pass, barely. But I think we’re in a different place in the conversation and different in a lot of ways than we were back then.”
Public education and discussion before the vote are critical, said Ben Limmer, MARTA’s assistant general manager. He said those were some of the biggest missing pieces prior to the 2012 vote.
“We need the public process,” Limmer said. “We have to listen. We have to make sure that the process is transparent and the project list reflects what the public wants.”
One issue on the Nov. 8 referendum is raising the sales tax by a half-penny for 40 years, generating about $2.5 billion exclusively for MARTA expansion within the city. City Council approved the referendum in June after MARTA submitted a menu of projects ranging from more buses to light rail.
A second issue, which is still awaiting City Council approval, is a TSPLOST specifically for the BeltLine. This tax would be up to a half-penny for five years, generating a maximum of $340 million.
Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability, expects a decision by July 18 on whether BeltLine projects will appear on the ballot.
Limmer said looking forward to this vote, he’s “reluctant to say [he’s] wildly optimistic about it.” While nothing’s guaranteed, he said, based on how the city voted last time he feels pretty good about where citizens stand on transit.
One topic panelists discussed is light rail, a similar technology to Atlanta’s streetcar.
With light rail making up a large part of MARTA’s project proposal, if MARTA’s vote passes there’s a possibility this will become a big part of Atlanta transit riders’ future.
But Atlanta’s streetcar has had its problems, from low ridership to GDOT threatening to seize control of the project, which is operated jointly by MARTA and the city.
That joint arrangement has been widely blamed for many of the problems the Atlanta Streetcar has encountered. Councilman Hall said if voters want to expand light rail, MARTA needs to take the lead on it because right now having two entities involved is inhibiting progress.
What’s more, he said it hasn’t had strong support from people who don’t like how it looks or how it worked with traffic or with MARTA.
“I think the streetcar is considered maybe the bastard child by MARTA folks,” Hall said.
But he said it’s just the beginning. Hall said other cities have proven this is a viable option, but there needs to be one group running it to create a comprehensive, integrated plan.
As panelists stressed in the beginning, they want the public to tell them which projects are more important. That means more education, outreach and discussion to show not just what the projects are, but what they’ll cost, Limmer said.
Hall said City Council is still discussing these issues, but he’s not aware of an official campaign for community engagement yet.
But every panelist agreed that the best way for the public to get educated is for citizens to become spokespeople. This campaign is not going to consist of automated calls, said Dwayne Peterson, a committee member of the Partnership for Southern Equity, which advocates for equitable transportation.
“It’s conversation over pound cakes, not faxes and emails,” Patterson said.
Thanks for sharing!! For those outside of GA,
SPLOST = special-purpose local-option sales tax
A "temporary" 1% sales tax that seems to never go away.
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