What Is The MARTA Mass Transit Like? (Atlanta, Dallas: sales, buy)

[saadrajabali]

but the atlanta metro area is small compared to the DFW Metroplex, then why do they have a bigger system? doesnt make sense

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by saadrajabali

but the atlanta metro area is small compared to the DFW Metroplex, then why do they have a bigger system? doesnt make sense

Hmm? I'm confused with this statement.

[saadrajabali]

Oh sorry...the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is referred to as the "metroplex", if that helps

[JBnC]

It's okay if you live in town and near a station or a frequently used bus stop. But Atlanta has many suburbs and a lot of sprawl, so it's not realistic transportation to many. One problem I have with Marta is that it does not run 24/7. I think the train stops around 12:30 or 1. Buses stop earlier than that. But the city does have a pretty vibrant night and late night life.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by JBnC

One problem I have with Marta is that it does not run 24/7. I think the train stops around 12:30 or 1. Buses stop earlier than that. But the city does have a pretty vibrant night and late night life.

This contributes to an increase in the number of drunk drivers on the roads at late hours.

[crystalblue]

with all the towers they're building in town, wont that create the density needed to expand mass transit, at least in the city?

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by saadrajabali

Oh sorry...the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is referred to as the "metroplex", if that helps

They're referring to why the Dallas light rail system is larger (and rapidly expanding) than MARTA, especially since Atlanta is more spread out and growing quicker.

Again, as statements above indicate - the leaders in Dallas are more progressive and work much better together than ours do. Likewise, apparently those living in the burbs in Dallas support it better than ours do as well.

[PeteyNice]

DART, like every other big city transit agency, gets something MARTA doesn't...state funding. Until that changes MARTA is what it is. I am surprised MARTA does as well as it does without any help from the state.

[Galounger]

Originally Posted by saadrajabali

but the atlanta metro area is small compared to the DFW Metroplex, then why do they have a bigger system? doesnt make sense

I think what he's asking is why do we have a larger system (slightly) than Dallas even though Dallas is a larger metro area? The answer is we got a head start on Dallas because of some ambitous actions we took in the 70's. But they are gaining on us and will pass us in size soon because of the equally unambitous happenings in Atlanta the last two decades.

As far as the leaders in Dallas being more progressive. I think City of Atlanta and MARTA itself can't be blamed at all for our transit shortcomings. MARTA and the City have always since MARTA's beginning planned for constant expansion of the system (that's why the end of line stations were designed as thru stations because there were always plans to keep adding beyond them). There has even been large amounts of Federal Funding availible to do this. It's surburban governments, organized groups of citizen nimbys and the governors office that has blocked every attempt at progress.

[Galounger]

I've checked our all of there systems and Atlanta rail has much higher daily ridership than DART, Houston light rail or Denver RTD. But, all those places are planning big expansions while many argue there is not enough ridership to justify expansion in Atlanta. I honestly think some residents of this area want to see traffic grow so bad that growth of the area stops. Some I think would like to see that.