You hear it all the time: location is everything in real estate. The distance to and from work is a major factor for potential homebuyers, especially in the Atlanta real estate market. However, with the introduction of light rails to Gwinnett County and Cobb County, commuters may have more options to get where they need to be.

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, light rails are a form of public transportation that offer higher speed and capacity than traditional tram systems such as buses or trolleys. Recently, Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) and Gwinnett Place CID received a $600,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to fund analysis for a line that two groups have been studying for three years. The proposed light rail line would run parallel to Interstate 85, from the Doraville MARTA station to the Gwinnet Arena in Lawrenceville.

The Cobb County Department of Transportation also received an FTA grant for $1,360,000. This grant will be used for analysis of a proposed line running along the U.S. Highway 41/Interstate 75 corridor between Acworth and the MARTA service at Arts Center Station. The potential of the light rail line should not be understated. With a new alternate transportation method in place, commuters could have better access to Kennesaw State University, job centers in Atlanta, Cumberland and Town Center CID’s, shopping, entertainment and much more.

Both counties received their grants through the Alternative Analysis program. This program is part of the FTA’s New Starts process, which provides federal funding for transit projects. The proposals from Gwinnett County and Cobb County were selected out of numerous applications from all across the country as part of a nationwide competition.

By researching these alternatives, Gwinnett County and Cobb County are moving closer to providing a system of the future — one that offers commuters more mobility and options than ever before.

To read more about the proposed light rail system, visit http://www.gwinnettforum.com.