Atlanta's transportation history

November 9, 3:15 PMAtlanta Metro Transportation ExaminerL. Clifton Oliver II

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If you do not know history you are doomed to repeat it - MAYBE?

In 1837, the Western and Atlantic railroad lines intersected in an area then called "Marthasville." Later that town became known as "Terminus" indicating the termination of two successfully busy passenger and freight railroad lines. Later the town was renamed "Atlanta" after the feminine Atlantic (railroad). 
 

Columbus, GA, Birmingham , AL and Savannah, GA all had a head start on Atlanta.  Yet, Atlanta grew, prospered and became the undisputed economic capital of the southeast - by  a deliberate strategy of building efficient, effective and economical TRANSPORTATION systems.

The leaders (political & business) in the State of Georgia , Fulton County and the City of Atlanta did not limit their transportation vision to solely a comprehensive rail system; they saw the future of transportation. That future was not only rail.
 
In 1948, city leaders began planning & construction on what would open in 1961 as the largest passenger air terminal in the world - - Atlanta's International Airport.

Atlanta's growth continued...

Not only had Atlanta achieved national status as a rail transportation hub but also as a global airline passenger hub. However, city and state leaders saw the future wave in transportation. That future was not just air and rail.

Almost simultaneously, the construction of the world's largest passenger air terminal occured with the construction of three cross country interstate highways. I-75, I-20 and I-85 were designed, planned and constructed to converge just south of the State capital in the heart of downtown Atlanta. These three interstates would forever change Metropolitan Atlanta.

After construction of the three major interstate highways, there was no longer (civic leaders must have felt) the need for passenger rail service.  Atlanta's growth continued...

Passenger rail service discontinued in 1970. The old rail station received a make over. In  1972, the Richard B Russell Federal Center opened over the land previously housing Terminal station. (First Photo is the 1905 Terminal Station)

Fast forward to now, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remains the world's busiest passenger airport. In 2008, $7.7 Billion in goods passed into and out of Metro Atlanta to/from the seaport in Savannah. Those transportation systems are indisputable successes. However, the state of Atlanta's interstate highway system makes ones blood curdle.

After investing billions of tax dollars expanding, constructing and improving new and existing freeways: the photo above represents the normal state of automobile traffic in Metro Atlanta at almost any time of day or night.

The Metro Atlanta interstate system does not appear to be working as efficiently or effectively as the investments made by civic leaders into the aviation and freight rail transportation systems. Compared to other major metropolitan areas in the United State and the world, Atlanta with cooperation from the State of Georgia and the Federal government; appear to have invested too heavily and relied too much upon the interstate highways which never were designed or conceived to have the capacity to handle and/or manage the growth in automobile traffic that has occurred over the last decade.

Today, Atlanta is serviced by Amtrak passenger rail service twice daily in the direction of Washington DC and New Orleans, LA. Gainesville GA is the only other GA city with a passenger rail connection to Atlanta. Amtrak runs the Southern Crescent line from New Orleans.

In 1965, to compete successfully with the speed of automobile traffic, Atlanta ended all Atlanta Transit Services and turned over all assets/employees and obligations to the newly formed Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). The designers of this passenger rail system envisioned trains running at 65+ mph in Fulton, Dekalb, Clayton, Gwinnett and Cobb counties. Unlike the interstate highway system and the airport which required no voter approval; voters were allowed to accept or reject the MARTA rail transit system. Only City of Atlanta, Fulton, and Dekalb counties approved the MARTA referendum.

Today, MARTA rail service continues to be confined to mostly Fulton and Dekalb counties when the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of Atlanta comprises 10+ counties.

As a writer for TheExaminer.com, I plan to expose the lack of transit vision, destructive effect of auto traffic, and vested interest groups which might, quite simply, DESTROY Atlanta's financial, economic and population standings in  the southeast U.S.

Transportation is Atlanta's life's blood. Our leaders must understand and acknowledge this fact. We all must prepare, plan and implement Atlanta's "new" transportation future!

Photo Sources: www.atlantartimemachine.com www.amtrak.com www.itsmarta.com