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Federal Transit Administration May 15 announced its intent to prepare environmental impact statements for proposed corridors near two cities: Atlanta and Spokane, Wash.



Metropolitan Atlanta Region’s proposed Northwest Corridor would connect Atlanta with the Town Center/Kennesaw State University activity center in Cobb County. A response to Atlanta’s project population growth and increased traffic congestion, the project also is designed to help alleviate the region’s sever non-attainment status for air quality. The number of vehicle miles traveled in this corridor on U.S. Hwy 41 and Interstate 75 increased 42 percent between 1990 and 2000. And roadway congestion is expected to reach moderate to severe status by 2015.



In addition to a no-build alternative, options to be studied include express bus, bus rapid transit, light- or heavy-rail transit and commuter rail.



The project under consideration in Spokane, Wash. is the South Valley Corridor, which primarily parallels I-90 between downtown Spokane and Liberty Lake. Local transportation planners believe the construction of a rail line might help maintain the area’s livability, manage growth and provide a balanced transportation system.



In addition to a no-build alternative, options to be considered include a separate and shared rail alignments. The "separate" alternative would include building a light-rail line on an exclusive right of way. The shared alignment would place light-rail vehicles on an existing Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way; light- and heavy-rail traffic would be separated by restricting operating times.



Both rail options would include in-street operations and use part of the former Milwaukee Road corridor.



Communities in the Spokane and Atlanta areas plan to hold public hearings in June as part of the EIS’ preparations.