Inside City Hall: Let’s talk transit on Campbellton Road

But Atlanta City Councilmembers who represent the area weren’t happy with MARTA’s announcement, saying they were initially promised a $317 million investment on Campbellton. The bus line would cost $100 million. What would happen to the other $200 million-odd that was promised?

The councilmembers held a town hall Tuesday after sending out a press release in which Councilwoman Marci Collier Overstreet said “$200 million of promised investment is missing” from the project.

That prompted a public response from MARTA saying it’s “absurd and false” to accuse MARTA of “stealing” from southwest Atlanta. The statement came with a breakdown of past statements Overstreet made in support of bus rapid transit, also known as BRT.

The councilwoman shot back in an email to MARTA’s chief of staff saying she feels “directly attacked by the press release that MARTA released,” and that she had never accused MARTA of stealing.

We checked in with our transportation reporter David Wickert to clear up some of the claims made last week.

No money has gone mysteriously “missing” from MARTA’s coffers, though some social media posts last week amplified that conspiracy. Overstreet, who clarified that she doesn’t oppose bus rapid transit, was referring to the $200 million difference between what southwest Atlanta was apparently promised vs. what the BRT line would cost.

The funds are still in the More MARTA pot as the agency decides how to disperse the money. Many neighbors said at the town hall that they want to see full light rail line on Campbellton — the kind advocates are pushing for the Beltline and the Clifton corridor in northeast Atlanta.

Mayor Andre Dickens, for his part, seems open to BRT, as long as the full $317 million ends up in the community through additional investments like infrastructure improvements along Campbellton.

MARTA is set to vote on the proposal in March.

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Dickens scored a major victory Friday when the Buckhead cityhood effort was effectively killed for this legislative session.

It’s no secret that fighting the secession effort was among his top priorities when he took office six weeks ago. He quickly worked to build bonds with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston, who both said they would give Dickens a chance to implement his crime plan before giving Buckhead cityhood a chance.

Speaking of Buckhead cityhood, check out our profile of Buckhead City Committee CEO Bill White, the experienced political player and fundraiser whose brash style has divided Buckhead and turned off some under the Gold Dome.

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Mayor Dickens is moving forward with a plan started by his processor to repurpose part of the Atlanta city jail into a diversion center for people struggling with substance abuse, behavior health concerns or extreme poverty.

He supported the introduction of City Council legislation last week to find a third-party operator for the center, and to put $3 million toward the construction of the new space.

Credit: Bill Torpy

Credit: Bill Torpy

That plan began under Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who put a strong emphasis on criminal justice reform during her four years in office. She signed a memorandum of understanding last year with Fulton County to greenlight the center.

The new facility won’t repurpose all of the jail, which will remain functional and open. But officials hope it will keep more people out of the criminal justice system by giving them support and services instead of jailing them. It could also help reduce overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail.

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ICYMI: A municipal court judge ordered the demolition of the troubled Forest Cove apartments in southeast Atlanta, home to hundreds of low-income tenants.

Dickens visited the complex over the weekend; WABE’s Stephannie Stokes reported that he told residents the city is working on a plan to move residents out and help them return to a redeveloped Forest Cove. An announcement could come before the end of the week.

“This ain’t owned by the city, but I’m in it now,” Dickens said. “Because this is deplorable. This is something we got to fix.”

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Quote of the week:

(For the record, he was joking. There is no mayor school.)

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