Tunnel Idea Upsets Decatur Board

Update: A PDF of Marta's alternatives for eastward expansion, including the "Tunnels Under Oakhurst" idea, has been attached.

Tunnels under Oakhurst.

Marta has proposed six ways to extend rail service to the east, and that's one of them. Under this plan, a line would go from the East Lake Marta station east to I-20, tunneling under parts of Oakhurst along the way.

The Decatur City Commission voted 5-0 Monday night to support a different Marta plan -- the so-called I-20 project -- but members spent most of the time talking about the Oakhurst tunnel plan, officially called HRT2.

"I think it's important for us to put a stake in the ground," said Commission member Kecia Cunningham. "It's our duty to look at this for the citizens of Decatur."

Marta documents classify public support for HRT2 as "low," while support is considered "high" for the other five options. Marta officials told the commission last month HRT2 doesn't have much chance of approval.

According to a document comparing the six alternatives, "HRT2 would spur from the existing Marta rail network just west of the East Lake station. The alignment would enter a tunnel within existing Marta right-of-way and extend south to I-20. The alignment would then surface and run parallel to I-20 to the Mall at Stonecrest in eastern DeKalb County."

The document said that alternative would displace 27 residences and commercial establishments, increase ridership by 7,900 and have projected daily boardings of 19,100.

Patch will try to obtain and scan that document later today.

Cunningham said she hadn't really heard about HRT2 until last month and wondered why DeKalb and county officials hadn't been more forthcoming with information.

Commission members, especially Cunningham, said the city needs to let Marta know it's vehemently against the Oakhurst tunnel idea.

"The whole idea of digging under Oakhurst is very disturbing," she said. "The whole idea that it's being batted around ... tells me we're not part of their thought process."

The commission voted 5-0 Monday night to support construction of a Marta east line from the Indian Creek station to Wesley Chapel Road. The commission also voted to include supporting documents to show why they made that choice.

"We're supporting this as the best alternative they were presenting," Commission Member Patti Garrett said.

Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd has said he favors the I-20 project. He and DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis are both members of the 21-member regional roundtable, which is narrowing down the list of projects to go on the 10-county transporttion referendum for 2012.

As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported recently, Ellis backs the I-20 project, which would be paid for by taking money earmarked for a Ga. 400 upgrade in North Fulton.