MARTA Presents Transit Alternatives Update to North Fulton Officials

More than 90 of North Fulton's business and community leaders heard an update last Thursday on a study by MARTA in its Connect 400 Transit Initiative - and now the transit agency wants your input.

Connect 400 is an “Alternatives Analysis” - an 18-month study of the Georgia 400 corridor from I-285 north to McGinnis Ferry Road, as explained by the , one of the hosts of the breakfast forum held at its offices. The study will begin to identify the needs and look at alternatives for more high-capacity transit in the corridor.

"Basically they are doing the study just to look at all the alternatives along 400. What would be the alternative to extending transit up 400, what would it look like, what would it be, do we need it at all," said Ann Hanlon of the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID), another host of the event.

To offer your own comments about the project, email MARTA's Jason Morgan or Janide Sidifall.

Hanlon, contacted after the breakfast forum, said MARTA representatives made sure one of the choices will be do we need transit at all.

The 18-month study will be finished in Spring 2013.

Hanlon offered the reminder that the MARTA line stops at North Springs. Beyond that transit is limited to just bus service in North Fulton.

The study looks at the biggest employers in the area, where people are coming from and where they are going, Hanlon said.

"Is transit something that can help offset the congestion here? And maybe it's not. We don't know for sure that they are going to recommend an extension" of transit, Hanlon said. "They are looking at all the options."

City staff, elected officials and representative from every city – including Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek and Roswell – plus Fulton County officials, North Fulton CID members and chamber members and staff attended the breakfast forum.

"Basically they are looking for input. The whole thing is to solicit input to the community," Hanlon said.