Georgia cities eye Disney World-style mode of transport

A monorail train sits motionless on a track outside EPCOT Sunday, July 5, 2009, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., after the park's monorail transit system was shut down after two monorail trains crashed early Sunday morning in the Magic Kingdom section of the park, killing one train's operator, emergency officials said.
A monorail train sits motionless on a track outside EPCOT Sunday, July 5, 2009, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., after the park's monorail transit system was shut down after two monorail trains crashed early Sunday morning in the Magic Kingdom section of the park, killing one train's operator, emergency officials said.

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. - Three Georgia cities are expressing interest in a form of transportation from another world: A monorail, like one at Walt Disney World.

The city of Brookhaven, just northeast of Atlanta, is already committing tax dollars to study the idea, WXIA-TV reported.

Sandy Springs will include the idea in a long-term planning study, and a Chamblee city councilman is also interested in the concept, the Atlanta station reported.

Brookhaven already has a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail line linking it to downtown Atlanta. But WXIA reports that its surface streets are often choked with automobiles.

Brookhaven City Councilman Joe Gebbia says he envisions a 12-mile loop connecting Brookhaven's MARTA station to places such as the Century Center commercial area and DeKalb Peachtree Airport.

"It's all going to evolve around money," Gebbia told WXIA. "So we really just need to find out what are the facts, what is the potential, is it affordable, are there ways to fund it?"

Brookhaven is about 7 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.

Thomas Hogan, a city councilman in Chamblee, said he's optimistic the monorail idea may have merit. Chamblee officials will be interested in seeing the results of Brookhaven's study, Hogan said.

Monorails have operated for years in some cities, such as Seattle and Las Vegas.

In the Florida Keys, county commissioners agreed in November to work with state transportation officials to study whether a light rail or monorail system would be feasible for the island chain, The Key West Citizen reported.

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