The Braves are partnering with Marietta, Ga.-based American Maglev Technologies (AMT) to "build a maglev train from MARTA’s Georgia State station to Turner Field as a way to improve fan accessibility to the stadium," according to Maria Saporta of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. But the Braves "must first negotiate a new agreement with the city of Atlanta." The team’s lease at Turner Field expires Dec. 31, 2016, and the Braves "would love to reach a new agreement -- with more favorable terms -- as soon as possible." The maglev train, or "some kind of mass transit connection to MARTA, is considered essential to the Braves." AMT is working with Madrid-based Grupo ACS, which is "expected to provide funding for the Turner Field project." The proposed one-mile elevated track from the MARTA station to Turner Field "with two vehicles is expected to cost" about $30M. It would "take less than two minutes for each vehicle, which can carry about 200 passengers, to make the one-mile trip." The automated trains "would travel as fast as 40 miles an hour, and trains would arrive every two minutes." City of Atlanta COO Duriya Farooqui said that the city is "evaluating the feasibility" of the project (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 7/26).
