More than 100 residents gathered at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Thursday to hear about three potential transit systems that would utilize buses, streetcars and trains to improve the city's public transportation.
Each of the alternatives - with their advantages and disadvantages - are intended to satisfy different goals, such as the reuse of existing rail systems or spurring and expanding economic development. And each prioritizes different needs and comes with a price tag that reflects the investment.
Blythe Bailey, an administrator for the Chattanooga Department of Transportation, said he is excited about the options, but he said the community should consider both costs and benefits.
"We need to be intentional about feasibility," he said.
The least expensive option was designed to re-use as much existing track as possible while connecting the Chattanooga Choo Choo to Enterprise South. It would also expand the downtown electric bus system to provide better access across the city and connect directly to the proposed train.
Because of the minimal capital investment, that plan could actually be implemented in a handful of years, city officials say, and it could serve as the structural backbone for future transit expansions.
The other two options require significantly more capital investment, though total dollar amounts are uncertain, but they come with their own set of advantages.
Both involve the construction of a streetcar system that would service the downtown area and Southside neighborhood along the Broad and Market Street corridors, as well as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Third Street.
One would include the construction of a rapid rail system stretching from the Choo Choo through Highland Park to Enterprise South, while the other would simply extend the streetcar system along the same route but would sidestep Highland Park and Orchard Knob.
Despite the costs associated with these plans, multiple people in attendance said they appreciated the permanence of such an investment and said they believe it's the direction the city should take, even if construction were a more long-term 10-15 years.
Some said a major part of the appeal for developing an improved public transit system that uses a form of rail transport is it would directly benefit underserved communities in East Chattanooga that lack adequate connection to the rest of the city.
A combination of rail transport and an expanded bus service would run directly through some areas like Avondale and Glenwood, connecting them to the city more than ever before and providing access to work opportunities that were impossible otherwise.
This was one of the major draws for UTC student Kim Jones who said she likes the cost-effectiveness of the first option, but that she also appreciates the ambition of an option that utilizes streetcars.
Jones, who is pursuing her master's degree in environmental science, said current systems don't adequately meet the needs of residents in East Chattanooga who stand to benefit the most from increased public transportation.
"If we can help these people move around more easily, it would be a huge benefit to everyone," she said.
But members of those underserved communities were all but absent at the public meeting.
Jones said that is far too common for major initiatives in the city that involve a large amount of public input, especially since the opinions of the citizens who attend often dictate which direction the city takes.
"What ends up happening serves those people."
Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6731.