More MARTA Outreach Summary OCTOBER 2017 More MARTA Outreach Summary Executive Summary Background & Outreach Purpose In November 2016, 71% of City of Atlanta voters passed a 0.5% sales tax that will generate an estimated $2.5 billion (in 2016 dollars) over 40 years to expand and enhance transit service in Atlanta. This investment and the associated list of potential projects and service improvements is known as More MARTA. The goals of the More MARTA program are to reduce congestion, attract employers and higher wage opportunities, and increase access to jobs and connectivity. MARTA conducted outreach to inform citizens of the potential More MARTA improvements and identify which projects and service improvements citizens preferred. Potential Project & Service Improvements The More MARTA program includes many potential projects, including cross-town light rail and bus projects, cross-jurisdictional light rail and bus rapid transit projects, station improvements, and arterial rapid transit (ART) corridors, as shown in the Figure. Potential More MARTA service improvements include improved frequency and weekend service and higher capacity vehicles. More MARTA Outreach MARTA conducted several rounds of More MARTA outreach, both before and after the November 2016 referendum, including nearly 40 events from May through September 2017. This report highlights data from these May – September events, which were held at MARTA Stations, neighborhood meetings, festivals, libraries, and farmers markets in all 12 City of Atlanta Council Districts and 18 of 25 of the Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Units, and the More MARTA survey, which was available from February - September 2017. Fact sheets, posters, comment forms, and surveys were provided at each event; those unable to comment in person were directed to the More MARTA website and online survey. This outreach generated over 13,000 interactions, 4,300 survey responses, and 930 comments. i More MARTA Outreach Summary Feedback & More MARTA Survey Response The More MARTA survey asked respondents to provide feedback on which potential projects and service improvements they preferred. Survey respondents were also asked to provide their zip code, so project and service improvement preferences could be identified by geography. Based on the survey responses received, the two most favored More MARTA potential projects were the light rail projects, including the Atlanta BeltLine and the Clifton Corridor Light Rail Transit project. Other highly favored projects were rapid transit on Peachtree Street, Metropolitan Parkway, Cleveland Avenue, and Campbellton Road, increased bus frequency, and extending the existing heavy rail line from H.E. Holmes Station to I-285. Geographic analysis identified that northwest, northeast, and southeast Atlanta and core neighborhoods rated light rail projects including the BeltLine the highest, while southwest Atlanta favored rapid transit along Peachtree Street, Metropolitan Parkway, Cleveland Avenue, and Campbellton Road. Most Favored More MARTA Potential Projects & Service Improvements in order of Favorability Light Rail, including BeltLine Loop Clifton Corridor LRT Most Favored Increase bus frequency on existing routes More MARTA Rapid transit on Peachtree Street, Potential Projects Metropolitan Parkway, Cleveland Avenue, and Campbellton Road HRT (H.E. Holmes to I-285) Expanding the MARTA service area Most Favored Frequency of rail service on weekends More MARTA Frequency of rail service on weekdays Potential Service before 9:00 PM Improvements Extending hours of operation The two most favored More MARTA potential service improvements were expanding the service area and improving weekend rail frequency. Other highly favored projects include increased daytime rail frequency and extended hours of operations. ii More MARTA Outreach Summary Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. i More MARTA Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 Outreach Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 1 More MARTA Guiding Principles .......................................................................................................... 1 Potential More MARTA Projects & Service Improvements ..................................................................... 2 Fast Tracks Service Implementation ..................................................................................................... 2 Potential More MARTA Projects .......................................................................................................... 4 Potential More MARTA Service Improvements .................................................................................... 5 More MARTA Program Costs ............................................................................................................... 6 More MARTA Outreach Summary .......................................................................................................... 7 2016 & Early 2017 Outreach ................................................................................................................ 7 Summer 2017 Outreach ....................................................................................................................... 7 Webpage & Social Media Promotion ................................................................................................. 11 Feedback & Response Summary ........................................................................................................... 12 More MARTA Survey: Potential Project Ratings ................................................................................. 12 More MARTA Survey: Potential Service Improvement Ratings ........................................................... 15 Open-Ended Comment Analysis ......................................................................................................... 16 Next Steps............................................................................................................................................. 19 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Appendices Appendix A Fast Tracks Implementation Maps Appendix B More MARTA Potential Project Maps Appendix C Outreach Materials Appendix D Outreach Schedule & Event Summaries Appendix E More MARTA Survey Questions Appendix F More MARTA Survey Potential Project Figures & Analysis Appendix G More MARTA Survey Potential Service Improvements Figures & Analysis Appendix H Open-Ended Comments & Tables iii More MARTA Outreach Summary Table of Figures Figure 1: More MARTA Guiding Principles................................................................................................ 1 Figure 2: Fast Tracks Routes and Service Tiers ......................................................................................... 3 Figure 3: More MARTA Potential Projects Map ........................................................................................ 4 Figure 4: Outreach at Five Points Station ................................................................................................. 7 Figure 5: Outreach at Grant Park ............................................................................................................. 7 Figure 6: More MARTA Outreach Summary (May – September 2017) ...................................................... 8 Figure 7: More MARTA Outreach Locations (May - September 2017) ....................................................... 9 Figure 8: More MARTA Outreach Timeline & Locations (May – September 2017) .................................. 10 Figure 9: Outreach at QLS Empowerment Meeting ................................................................................ 11 Figure 10: More MARTA Social Media Promotion .................................................................................. 11 Figure 11: Outreach Impact Summary.................................................................................................... 12 Figure 12: More MARTA Survey Analysis Sectors ................................................................................... 13 Figure 13: Highest Rated More MARTA Project by Sector ...................................................................... 14 Figure 14: More MARTA Potential Project Preference Ranking .............................................................. 15 Figure 15: More MARTA Potential Service Improvement Ranking .......................................................... 16 Figure 16: More MARTA Free Response Comment Categorization ......................................................... 18 Table of Tables Table 1: Estimated More MARTA Program Capital and Operations & Maintenance Costs ........................ 6 Table 2: Free Response Comment Categories ........................................................................................ 17 iv More MARTA Outreach Summary More MARTA Background In November 2016, 71% of City of Atlanta voters passed a 0.5% sales tax that will generate an estimated $2.5 billion (in 2016 dollars) over 40 years to expand and enhance transit service in Atlanta. This investment and the associated list