Georgia DOT seeks abandonment exemption

The George Department of Transportation has filed with the Surface Transportation Board for an Abandonment Exemption, in order "to abandon a 3.12-mile line of railroad between milepost 469.15 and milepost 472.27, which comprises a portion of a line known as the L&N Belt, in Fulton County, Ga. (West End Property)."

GDOT’s filing, made last month, was advanced so that “the West End Property would be used in developing the Atlanta BeltLine, an economic development effort that combines transit, green space, trails and new commercial, residential, and public facility development along a 22-mile ring of historic rail segments encircling Atlanta’s urban core,” STB said. (See related story on MARTA.)

“Specifically, according to GDOT, the West End Property would be used to develop a transit corridor to accommodate light rail or buses in a fixed guideway, along with a trail and adjacent uses designed to support and be supported by the variety of available transportation modes. These requests will be addressed in a later decision.

“GDOT states that, based on information in its possession, the West End Property does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in GDOT’s possession will be made available promptly to those requesting it,” STB said.

STB noted “GDOT acquired the line in December 2001 but did not seek the requisite regulatory authority for this acquisition until February 2012.” It added, “GDOT has requested expedited consideration of its petition.”