larryfeltonj

Here's an article by Haisten Willis on last Sunday's meeting of Connect the Comet, the effort to extend the Silver Comet Trail eastward across the river, to connect with Atlanta's Beltline.

The good news is that Cobb County DOT's Greenways and Trails draft plan (awaiting approval by the Board of Commissioners) lists the Silver Comet Trail extension as one of the top eight priority trails. The not-so-good news is that CSX, which owns the remaining Silver Comet track, seems to be using the track southeast of Georgia Power's Plant Atkinson on the Cobb County side of the river. One possibility under discussion is shifting the trail to alongside Atlanta Road to cross the river.

Here's the whole article: Connect the Comet sees progress in mission to connect Silver Comet with Atlanta Beltline ? Cobb County Courier

Juan Foote

There was and has been similar discussion concerning this matter. Considering the limited options for coming across the river, I am rather surprised something wasn't "built in" to the (rushed) stadium proposal to the (bamboozled) area for ped/bike traffic to there.

IMO there really isn't a good option here. Either you talk CSX out of property they actually WANT, unlike the unsuccessful years of negotiating with them over properties they didn't use. Widen and improve the bridge for Atlanta St. Create a new bridge for nothing but the Comet.

Cost wise, #3 is likely the most feasible but a location would have to be chosen. Given the crossing of the Chatt. requirement, adding something to the existing Atlanta St bridge may work out cheaper. Are there impact/cost studies done on these options?
The more "northern" route involves so much retail and sidewalk I just don't know how it could happen elsewhere.

audiomagnate

"Connect the Comet’s next meeting will be held July 29, 4 p.m. also at Vinings Bank."
Is anybody going? These meetings have been going on since at least 2012. My hopes aren't high, especially if the city of Smyrna and Cobb county are essential partners. The existing Silver Comet Connector trail is a joke. To say it is poorly marked is a huge understatement. It's nothing more than some fading yellow paint on some crumbling, weed infested, litter strewn sidewalks in most locations, just like most "bike paths" in Atlanta. Anybody expecting this, or any other serious bike path expansion in the Atlanta isn't an optimist, they're delusional. This has to be one of the least bike friendly major cities in the world.

Juan Foote

It's a bit unfair to say that Atlanta is the 'least' bike friendly, especially if you grew up from around here. Just a few short (decades) ago there was ZERO bicycle infrastructure in and around Atlanta, much less the state. It used to be really easy to get knocked off the road by a truck, etc. With ABC and the Beltline people, PATH, and the last mayor of Atl things moved forward leaps and bounds. Apparently cycling infrastructure isn't a priority to the 'now' mayor and it appears only small localized projects are getting any traction.