Box 21, Folder 6, Document 18

Box 21, Folder 6, Document 18

July 20, 1967

Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Mayor Allen:

In the reams of material that has been written about Atlanta's
traffic problems, its expressways, and its "proposed" Rapid
Transit System, it is ironic that nothing (so far as I have

seen) has been mentioned of the city!s original natural resource.
By this I mean the EXISTING RAILROADS.

A map of the city shows railroads stretching out like the spokes
of a wheel. Why not ask the Railroads to help with our problem
and establish commuter service? It is incalculable what service,
for example, on the Southern with stops at Lenox Square, Chamblee,
and Norcross, could do toward alleviating the Northeast Express-
way farce.

If experience is any indication, we are planning now for a rapid
transit service for 1977 which will probably be out of date by
1972 and completed by 1987, at a cost three times that currently
being considered.

A drive on our expressway system is enough to convince anyone
that we need help NOW. Rapid transit will help--when it arrives.
But can we wait?

In this time of the city's greatest need, it appears strange that
we seemingly are ignoring an available resource which could be
not only a blessing to us commuters, but a source of revenue to
the railroads as well.

Very truly yours,
H. W. DiCristina, .

6251 Vernon Woods Drive N.E.
Atlanta, Ga. 30328

cc: Mr. Richard Rich, Chairman
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority