Cain Williamson

Cain Williamson, ARC

The funds can't be used for operating costs, according to Cain Williamson of the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The awards jury included Karen Huebner, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta's Urban Design Commission; Jessica Lavandier, a planner with Fulton County's Department of Environment and Community Development; Marie-José Schwartz, Director of Safe Communities of DeKalb County; Cain Williamson, Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator for the Atlanta Regional Commission; and Sally Flocks, President of PEDS.

"It quickly became apparent [Cumberland to Doraville] was the only area along the east-west corridor that had the population density to support a transit line," said Cain Williamson, a principal planner for the ARC who managed the latter phase of that study.

The tentative 14-mile transit line outlined in the ARC study would run from Cumberland Mall to Doraville with stops at The Galleria, Powers Ferry Road, Northside Drive, Roswell Road, Hammond Drive, East Perimeter and Shallowford Road.

Among a bevy of technology options, ARC identified only two as viable for the corridor: bus rapid transit (projected cost: $447 million) and light rail ($715 million), Williamson said.

The initiative funded by the three CIDs will limit its scope to the Cumberland-to-Perimeter Center leg, one of the most heavily congested areas in all of metro Atlanta.

Given the many federal hurdles any project must surmount, it would be at least 2007 before ground is broken, and another five to 10 years to complete a Cumberland-to-Doraville route, Williamson said.

"That's just a guess on my part," he said.

Contact Person: Cain WilliamsonAtlanta Regional Commission 404-463-3254 cwilliamson@atlantaregional.com

Cain Williamson, Principal Planner, Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta, Georgia

Cain Williamson

Atl. Regional Commission

Since its inception, it has attracted over 2,000 attendees and featured notable program participants including Robert Shaw, Chairman, Development Authority of Fulton County; Mark Toro, Managing Partner, North American Properties; John Wieland, Founder,Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods; Charles Krautler, Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission; Roger Tutterow, Dean, Mercer University; Ernie Williams, Senior Vice President, NAI/Brannen Goddard; Ed Wall, Chairman, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board; Cain Williamson, Principal Planner, Atlanta Regional Commission; Dana Lemon, 13th District, Georgia Department of Transportation Board Member; and Jeff DuFrense, Executive Director, Atlanta Chapter Urban Land Institute.

Cain Williamson Principal PlannerAtlanta Regional Commission