MARTA has scheduled two meetings in early December to enable the public to learn about, and comment on, plans to advance the proposed light rail line that’s to stretch from the Lindbergh Station, through the Clifton Road corridor, to the Avondale Station.

The proposed light rail line that would serve the Emory University area has been discussed for nearly 20 years.

The meetings are scheduled for Dec. 4 and Dec. 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Details of the locations are at the end of this story.

The general concept is to create a transit option for commuters from the Lindbergh Station to Decatur, at the Avondale Station. One of two options includes a tunnel and above-ground structure. The other does not include the tunnel.

The route was to have been funded with proceeds of the transportation sales tax that was on the ballot in 2012. Although voters rejected the proposed 1 percent sales tax, advocates of the “Clifton Road corridor” transit route have continued to foster the project.

The state Legislature is expected to revisit in the transportation funding issue during the 2015 session. Any measure is likely to take two years to win approval, which means a funding mechanism could be in place with the environmental impact study of the Clifton Road route is complete, in 2015 or 2016.

Some lawmakers are discussing an increase in the statewide motor fuel tax. Another proposal would enable a few counties to unite to propose a transportation referendum, rather than the  10 counties that were involved in the 2012 referendum.

Here are the proposed routes that are being reviewed, as stated in the Federal Regisltry:

• “Build Alternative 1: Build Alternative 1 is a new LRT [light rail] line that was previously referred to as the LPA following the 2009 AA study and includes segments that are at-grade, tunnel, and on aerial structure. From Lindbergh MARTA station, the alignment for Build Alternative 1 would parallel the existing MARTA heavy rail transit (HRT) line to the CSX railroad corridor, then continues eastward adjacent to the CSX railroad right-of-way, then along Clifton Road, adjacent to and under the CSX railroad corridor and Clairmont Road. The alignment would then proceed along Scott Boulevard, North Decatur Road, DeKalb Industrial Way, and North Arcadia Avenue to Avondale MARTA station.
• “Build Alternative 2: Build Alternative 2 is a new LRT line that includes at-grade and aerial segments only. From Lindbergh MARTA station, the alignment would parallel the existing MARTA HRT line to the CSX railroad corridor, then continues adjacent to the CSX railroad right-of-way and then along Clifton Road, N. Decatur Road, DeKalb Industrial Way, and North Arcadia Avenue and finally on to Avondale MARTA station.”

Meeting details:

Dec. 4: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1438 Sheridan Rd. NE., Atlanta, GA 30324

Dec. 9: Emory University Student Activity and Academic Center (SAAC), Room 316,1946 Starvine Way, Decatur, GA 30033.