CUMBERLAND — Cobb County has narrowed down the site for a new bus transit center in Cumberland to four locations.
The new facility would replace the transfer center off Cumberland Boulevard which officials say is at capacity, lacks amenities and is difficult to access.
A revamped Cumberland transit center is one of six the county plans to build, if voters approve a 30-year, 1% sales tax to fund transit in November.
The transit tax referendum, known officially as the Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (M-SPLOST), would collect $11 billion to construct 108 miles of rapid bus routes, a countywide system of on-demand “microtransit,” the new transit centers and more. If approved, Cobb’s sales tax would rise from 6% to 7%.
Of the six transit centers listed in the M-SPLOST project list, the new Cumberland center is the furthest along, though still at least five or six years away from completion.
It’s one of three that has already received funding and is being studied by the county and consultants — the other two are a rebuild of the Marietta transit center, and an all-new south Cobb transit center near Wellstar Cobb Hospital.
The MDJ reported last summer that the Cumberland, Marietta and south Cobb transit centers are estimated to cost $50 million, $65 million and $35 million, respectively.
The county’s communications office said this week those estimates will be updated upon completion of ongoing planning studies.
Those three centers have all received some funding for studies and planning — a mix of federal and local funds — but lack funds for land acquisition and construction.
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