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METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
GLENN BUILDING / ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 / AREA CODE 404 524-5711
OFFICERS:
Richard H. Rich, Chairman.
Roy A. Blount, Vice Chairman
Glenn E. Bennett, Secretary
Henry L. Stuart, General Manager
July 25, 1967
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Mr. H. W. DiCristina, Jr.
6251 Vernon Woods Drive, N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30328 :
Dear Mr. DiChristina:
Thank you for your letter of July 20 in which you suggest the
use of existing railroads for rapid transit. Very early in
our study of rapid transit for the Atlanta region the possi-
bility of using diesel electric commuter cars on the exist-
ing tracks was very carefully considered. The proposal was
never accepted for a number of reasons.
fRailroad operating conditions in the city require speed limits
as low as 15 miles per hour in many places. This would slow
rapid transit trains to the point where they would be no more
rapid than the expressway.
Another problem which would have to be overcome would be the
necessity to operate rapid transit vehicles on the same tracks
with freight trains, passenger trains, and switch engines.
This would invariably cause delays to the railroad operation
and to the rapid transit operation, neither of which would be
tolerable. In the same connection, the problem of maintaining
a safe operation would be exceedingly difficult.
Another very difficult problem in using existing railroad tracks
is that there would be no way to provide any services to
Peachtree Street between Brookwood Station and the five points
area. A similar gap exists on the West Line from Chappell
Road to downtown.
As for such a service being a source of revenue, Southern
Railway has indicated to us that such a service is possible
but could not be expected to be a profit-making service and
Mr. H. W. DiCristina, Jr. July 25, 1967
that MARTA or some agency would have to underwrite the ser-
vice and make up the operating deficit. Our position is that
such a service using old cars on old tracks to inconvenient
or inaccessible stations would not be practical.
Henry L. Stuart, General Manager of MARTA, was, prior to as-
suming his present position, Director of Service Control,
Southern Railway System, Atlanta, and was responsible for
developing and implementing effective operational control
plans for the entire system and is very familiar with the
operational procedures and problems.
If you have further questions or comments along this line,
please contact Mr. Henry L. Stuart, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid
Transit Authority, 808 Glenn Building, 120 Marietta, N. W.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Rich,
Chairman of the Board
RHR: je
cc: Mayor Ivan nied
H. L. Stuart