By David Pendered
The state’s tollway authority is negotiating the planned relocation of Amtrak’s train station from Buckhead to Atlantic Station, the mini city on the western edge of Midtown.
The station’s proposed relocation was to be the first item discussed at a meeting convened today by state Transportation Commissioner Emory McClinton. The matter never came up.
“Gena [Evans] is negotiating it. That’s all I can say,” McClinton said after the meeting.
Evans is executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority. The agency is best known for collecting tolls along Ga 400.
Gov. Nathan Deal chairs the SRTA board. State law provides SRTA with broad powers, including the authority to:
- Condemn land;
- Borrow money by issuing revenue bonds;
- Build, maintain and operate properties.
Telephone calls and emails seeking more information from SRTA and Amtrak were not immediately returned.
In 2002, SRTA spent $10.4 million in tollway collections to buy 6.8 acres on the west side of Atlantic Station. At the time, the land was intended to be a landing pad for a transit line from Cobb County.
Earlier this year, the site was earmarked for Amtrak’s new station. The state requested federal funding to help build a facility, but did not receive the money.
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