Who thinks the MARTA should be expanded to include Cobb,Gwinnett, and the other metro Atlanta counties? (Powder Springs: crime rate, quality of life)

[LoufromNewYork]

If I'm hearing correctly, what people really want is for their own county or area to do the right thing and create their own transit system that will bring people to Marta.

Westboy - if you compare the size of Atlanta, versus the Metro Atlanta area, you'll see why it can be difficult to decide how to proceed. Atlanta proper appears to be well served by the transit system. It's the people on the outskirts that seem to think that they should have the privelege too.

The big problem is that the aren't options like there are in other cities. In New York, you can take LIRR, MetroNorth, NJ transit, the ferry from Staten Island, Amtrak, or Greyhound if you don't want to drive into Manhattan.

The "El" in Chicago traverse a bunch of the neighborhoods in Chicago, but they have a commuter rail for people that live further out.

Atlanta is growing and one of two things are going to happen. People are going to move closer, or they won't. I say that because I highly doubt that people are willing to pay the additional taxes needed to finance a project like that and make the time commitment. Even worse, it could end up happening and the people that it was built for don't use it....it happens.. and with oil and gas prices coming down, people are going to feel better about Atlanta traffic.

[ttefylooc]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Atlanta is too big of a city and metropolitan area not to have a good rail transit. This excuse of "it would bring in crime", doesn't work for me. I was robbed in the suburbs by men who had a car. It shows me that crime can come from anywhere. Atlanta needs its transit system improved because the buses are a joke. I have taken them and they are all a joke. A metrowide rail line is needed.

Dude i totally agree. But in order for this to really happen. Gas would have to be like 6$ a gal. When I first got to Atlanta and started getting job interviews and I had to drive to them instead of using the train I was a lil irritated. Then I read that "certain places" didn't want the train line in there city/county/area....More transit oriented developments need to be built in Atlanta, there are a few, but Atlanta needs more. I do like the breeze card system. It is easy to use. BUSES are a JOKE EVERYWHERE not just Atlanta. A bus is just a longer automobile that sits in traffic with all the other automobiles & and be slowed up and stopped just like other automobiles. Trains have right of way. Expand the Marta line and build more transit oriented developments near stops. Marta has like 12 dead stations they could start at easily.

[ttefylooc]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Well, this is part of the problem. If it's not convenient for them, people vote against MARTA. It's one reason why there does need to be a regional transit agency that is given back the power to just expand it without votes. Just do it. If they don't like it, they can move.

No, Atlanta is not a "dense" city such as New York or Chicago. And no, we will never have a NYC style subway system with stations every block on every corner of the city - nor do we need that. That doesn't mean that rail can't help with traffic or that it doesn't need to be expanded, however.

There needs to be rail up to Alpharetta, West to Douglasville, East to Conyers, Northeast to Suwanee, and Northwest to Kennesaw, as well as South to near Peachtree City. At the end of each line would be parking facilities for 2500+ cars, and there would be a couple of stations in-between the existing lines and the end of each extended line, each with parking lots. Not only would this eliminate thousands of cars off the roads that would instead park in the lots, but, there are countless others who would be "dropped off" by a spouse or friend at the stations as well, leaving their cars at home, again leaving even more cars off the road. On top of taking cars off the roads, it would also give people an option to getting into/out of the city and other areas simply to avoid driving in traffic, avoiding gridlock due to accidents, etc. This type of system still gives people in all corners of the heaviest burbs to drive to a station and park, and ride the train into town or to one of the other areas, yet doesn't cost billions by trying to put a station on every block, either.

Express buses are little more than a gimmick. They hold relatively few people, take few cars off the road, run infrequently, and get caught in the same traffic tie-ups and accidents as any car on the pavement. An express bus system works best in smaller to mid-sized cities, not a gridlock king like Atlanta, L.A., or DC.

Yes, rail needs to be expanded. Yes, we need to forego the voting process and just build them where they're needed, period. No, under current state, local and MARTA leadership, it won't happen anytime soon at all.

What does it take to have this done?

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by ttefylooc

What does it take to have this done?

I think it would take a really bad disaster for that to happen where roads are bad to the point of uselessness. I think few people care that there are people out there who are also disabled, or too old to drive and could use the transit as well. What about them?

[FromCLTtoATL]

I've been using MARTA every day to go to work since I moved here. I was lucky enough to find a rental home not far from the Avondale station. I drive there, park and ride in. I think expanding the lines, improving the system and eventually turning it into a 24/7 system would be the best investment Atlanta could ever make. And I vote to put atlantagreg30127 in charge of the planning of the system's expansion!

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by FromCLTtoATL

And I vote to put atlantagreg30127 in charge of the planning of the system's expansion!

You do realize that I'm going to raise the fares from the outer most stations to downtown to around $3.00 each way though, right? And charge for parking. But I will add a lot more visible police to the trains and stations, as well as pass out free doughnuts (well, the police and doughnuts go together, but you get the idea).

[FromCLTtoATL]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

You do realize that I'm going to raise the fares from the outer most stations to downtown to around $3.00 each way though, right? And charge for parking. But I will add a lot more visible police to the trains and stations, as well as pass out free doughnuts (well, the police and doughnuts go together, but you get the idea).

Hmmm, let me rethink my endorsement! LOL. I like that free parking.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by richard112360

Unfortunately Gov Roy Barnes had his head handed to him on a platter after supporting the removal of the confederate emblem from the Georgia flag. African American voters stayed home that year and he was kicked out of office. Can anyone here name anything of importance that Sonny our current Governor has done in his 6+years in office?

Sonny has done nothing important. All he is is just a figure head. It should alot of people in GA have messed up priorites. There are many people who want mass transit to work. Sadly, Perdue has made it known he won't do anything. I voted against him in the governor election of 2006. Sadly, he won anyway. Any place theat cares more about a flag than mass transit must not have good priorities.

[ttefylooc]

I say expand!!! break ground on something. The North line needs the most attention, then the East line.

The Gwinnett & Cobb people are hurting what could happen in the North. They don't want people coming in...but what about the people coming out? Not everyone that lives in Gwinett & Cobb work there.

East should get closer to Stone Mountain & terminate there, West line could eventually end near 6 Flags, but that is not priority at this time.

I notice that there are still a few "ghost stations" on the line, basically just a station surrounded by trees. Jobs/employers should develop those areas with offices instead of places like Kennesaw & Marietta. Not enough TODs on the line.

The Marta needs to be expanded, and become AN OPTION, instead of automobiles being THE OPTION.

[ttefylooc]

Check out this link.

Transit Oriented Development