Box 6, Folder 10, Document 1

Box 6, Folder 10, Document 1

THE ATLANTA
REGIONAL RAILROADS IN :THE
RAPID TRANSIT PICTURE

last
Back in February of zhks year, I presented to the Georgia Architects
and Engineering Society a concept that I had long been interested in,
that proposed to bring the railroads serving Atlanta so well for the
past century, back into the picture of provideing regional transit
and commuter service, by providing a climate that would remove the
ecenomic handicaps that had progressively forced them out of the field
they are so eminantly fitted to handle---the hauling of large numbers
of people, ecenomically, and efficiently . thus

The age of the personal automible provided(more flexible and enjoyable
means of transportation (remember this word\enjoyable) than the
smokey, dirty, off schedule trains of the past¥making the personal
auto preferred, even for the long haul. Then the airplane, delivered
the coupe degrace,toc- the railroads ae caw being almost out of the
passenger business entirely.

When I talked of using the railroads for our rapid transit I presume
there were many who wondered why I looked to this means of solving
our rapid transit, delima.

This is brought about by several factors:

First: The booming use of the personal car has begun to boumerang
and is defeating its own ends. There are not enough highways, exp-
ressways to handle the volume of cars wanting to use them, bringing
about monumental traffic jambs, air polution,and parking problems, etc
therefore the average commuter is now looking for a better answer to
his desire to live out, yet not have to pay so heavily in precous
time, frustration, and health. He is asking if possibly there is'nt
a better way.

-— er —-Sevonir Tné Government 1s beginning to “face up eo the fact teas
every expressway worthy of the name takes so much of the city away,
that ecenomically it becomes more and more imposible to consider.

true ;

Third: It is in most cities, and certinally is/in Atlanta, that the
right of way that the railroads have are very advantageouslylocated
to best serve as rapid transit routes, and serve the various sections
of the city, and this without causing the disruption or loss of a.
Single bit of the existing city.

I, thus propose that we look to the railroads again, and see what they
offer if anything.

50:
First, they move masses of people, better than any other means,
and have for a centuary. Having done this, they have much that

it takes, such astrained personell, management ability, Gonstruction

ability and equipment, opperation, and maintenance moxy.
Second: The railroads started so far back that the cities were
not here, but rather the cities grew along the railroads. If these
right of ways are now put to this new use vast portions of the
city will not have to be sacrificed to acquireexpressway right-
of-way, and with stops suitably located, feeder bus lines can
radiate out into the neighborhoods from these stops, over the
existing streets, and not have to be routed,down town as now to
congest the downtown streets as is now done.~to
Third: The railroads are inter-city, going on, and on beyond the
limited range that M.A.R.T.A. could serve. This means that our
outlying cities and towns become satelite cities, and open spaces
become available for NEW CITIES, industrial complexes, and office
parks, and by reaching out to cities like Gainesville, Athens,
Monroe, Covington, Jonesboro, Griffin, Newnan, and Cartersvillé,
it becomes a state responsibility, and the state can legitably
participate in its funding and contribute services of the
highw-y department, and other state agencies. This is needed to
take care of grade separation, provide access roads to the stat-
ions, and parking at the stations, and other services and imp-
lementation acts. In return the successful opperation of this
leapfrogging opperation will lessen the need for new wxpressways,
thus reducing the expansion needs for expresswsys.


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Fourth: It has been shown that experience in handling trains as
demonstrated over the years by the railroads, is a most valuable

phase of railroading, and the existing, trained personell is a

a most valuable asset that the railroads have to offdr.

Fifth: The management and technology of running a transportation
system is incomprehensible to most, but is extremely important and
NECESSARY. The existing trained technical and managerial resivor

that the railroads already have is trully priceless. The know how fo:cc
for construction,opperation, and upkeep of Facilities is truly

hard to come by. The railroads have it already, ready.

I do not propose, nor do I recomend for a new Metropolitan system to
take over the railroads right of way and install tracks, stations,
rolling stock, etc., and organize and opperate a rapid transitsystem.

I am proposing for the railroads to be subsedized to the extent that
their facilities can be updated, with new or supplement track as needed
modern trains or cars, computerized scheduling and controlls, then under
suitable controlls leave the opperation to the railroads own oppiration
staff. I further propose that they be guaranteed a satisfactory earning
on the investment, and opperation by an anual supplementary earning
Supplement, if rates cannot be set that will show the necessary earn-
ings. This will be required becaused rapid transit will not attract the
patronage if it is ecenomically unattractive to the user, therefore a
subsidy most likely will be necessary.

I also propos:that the present city transit company opperate the feeder
bus service with the existing and augemented equipment, and that the
city transit and raiload fares be kept as low asnecessary to meet the
competition of the personal vehicle, by subsedizing the earnings if
necessary. ;

I propose that the capitol improvements needed be provided by Federal
and Metro Bond grants, and by highway aide in the provision of grade
separations where necessary, and access roads to the railroad stations
and paving tue needed all day parking lots at the stations.

I suggest that funds to cover these subsedies might be raised in vatious
ways, such as to have the Bureau of Public Roads permit an exit toll to
be charged to leave the expressways between certain sections. This will
serve two purposes. First it is to raise the needed subsidy and bond
revenue funds, and to also discourage use of the private cars to get
into the congested down town areas, and in turn encourage use of the
rapid transit, and city transit. Also for the same reasons, require
that a tax be imposed on all parking down town, hopefully believeling
that both revenue that is needed, and that ecenomic deterant to use

of the private vehicle would stimulate use of the transit facilities.

Another gainful development to the railroad opperation of the rapid
transit, would be the planned dual airport for Atlanta.

When the §wo airports are in opperation, the interchange of passengers
will become a major problem, and to throw this load onto the express-
ways will be intolerable. Yet that is about all that can be done, as
helicopters and short hop planes are too risky, and impractical. But

if there are raiload facilities between these two airports, shuttle ©
trains can handle the loads. As of now there is a possible rail
facility avaiable for the present airport, and if the new airport is
located so that a few miles of track from the nearby railroad is
possible then the railroad is the way to handle it by using shuttle
trains for passengers and baggage. Eurthermore if this second airport
is located north or east of Atlanta, a downtown Central Air Terminal

ean be ereated, as the State now controlls the air rights over the
railroads, right where the railroad transit center would be. This

area could become a largeparking facility to handle the central terminal
needs, and with airpassengers being picked up from the down town
terminal and hauled by train to the embarkation port, a reduction of

the terminal facilities could be made at these points. to the benefit of
the public, the air lines and the communities. Also by this set up the
railroads, being regional rapid transit facilities, could thus become
feegwers for the air lines from the outlying cities on the lines.

Tt seems that with all this to start with, a definate demand and

effort should be made to endeavour to implement something that has so
much merit.

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However, the way things are moving, this cannot be dallied with.
Critical decisions must be made without any delay. Some grané funds
are even now available, and possibly by the end of the winter large
participation by the Federal Government will become available, that
will be eagerly sought by rival cities, and rival groups right here

in our own city. Much has to be accomplished, as of now the railroads
have no program to participate in this. They must be either sold or
or compelled to participate. Our rival, grandiose MARTA scheme must

‘ be replaced by this or this encorporated into its picture. The Federal
Government must be sold , however it seems that this will not be too
hard, for much has recently been discussed in Washington to give te
railroads a subsidy break such as the airlines and expressway now are |
recieving.

I have just been coaching, I want to have you get us a quarterback
and a team of experts who can now take the ball and score. I am not
trying to create any job or work for my company. It is out of my
technical qualifications, and I dont care who takes it on if it is
pushed as it should be. If MARTA will take it on and push it, fine,
or Voreese, or Mingledorf, or someone capable tut not alréady too
commited to be handicapped with it.

As I said in the beginning, I asked for this oppertunity to talk to
you about this, because I need your help, or rather we need your help.
We have made a lot of contacts. I have been coresponding with Mr. Volpe
the Secretary of Transportation in Washington, and have a lot of
literature furnished from his office. He wants grassroot help with
congress, to get the funds for the program they are working on. It
need our Congressmen, and Seaators support; It needs our legislature
Support. -I already have the Govermors hearty support. We have the
Support of the air lines for the Central Terminal idea, and train

for transferring passengers. We have the ingorsemrnt of the Atlanta
Transit Company. We do not have the backing of M.A.R.T.A., but do

have their strong resistance, for it is undermining their plan, and

we want tho either ston them. ar have them accept this modefication.
You area very represenative cross section of our comunity, ana ir
what I have proposed to you makes sense, theré are those among you
who can reach some that need to be met, your help is wanted, and I
peg of you to become really involved, with our State, County, and

City governments, not just Atlanta, but Decatur, Marrietta, Hapeville,
College Park East Point, Jonesboro, Chamblee, Doraville, etc.

Thank yo so much #umr for having heard me thru. Ihope it has hit
home. If there are any questions, I will be happy to try to answer
them,