GA 400 shoulder lane (Atlanta, Alpharetta: transfer, utilities, cost)

[billl]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I say if the DOT can't handle it, just bring in private companies and let them construct toll roads.

They tried that with the I-75/575 HOT lanes. The deal would have blocked development of secondary roads near the interstates, in order to guarantee a healthy profit for the private company by ensuring continued congestion on the non-toll roads.

[livinginbuffalo]

Just a comment but do you all realize what the property taxes are in both Florida and Texas? I would guess at least double GA. I am going to get a bigger house by about 2000 square feet and my property taxes will be less than half of what I paid in NY which I would guess r close to the property taxes in both TX and FL. If you don't have the money coming in, how do you expect to have it to pay out? (not that I'm complaining about our taxes here)! Yes, I know there is no state income tax in either state but still...

[hatgirl007]

I don't drive the 400 in the morning but something about this set up makes my "common sense" meter go crazy. Question: What happens when a vehicle breaks down and there is no "shoulder" to park your car while waiting for help? What is the likelihood that commuters will remember to part the highway lanes like the red sea allowing emergency vehicle's to drive in the lane to the right of the fast lane? My take -disaster.

[ATLTJL]

Yes, I know there is no state income tax in either state but still...

But still, what?

Is your income situation such that not having to pay state income tax wouldn't more than make up for having property tax that is twice as high? For most people, you'd have much more money in your pocket if you doubled property tax but got rid of state income tax.

I don't know about Texas, but Florida has laws in place that severely limit how much your property tax can raise every year. My parents have lived in the same home for 17 years, and even though the value of the property has skyrocketed, their property taxes are next to nothing because they are only allowed to go up a small percentage regardless of what the values do.

Don't worry. Between state income taxes, ad valorem taxes, property taxes, gas taxes, etc., Georgia gets plenty of money. The fact that it isn't spent wisely is much more a reflection of the leadership in place than it is the budget they have to work with.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I just went to Google maps and looked at Dallas and Houston. Both put Atlanta to shame.

Creating a great city takes a lot of chutzpah and I'm not sure Atlanta is in that space anymore. Great projects like the Interstates, MARTA, Lake Lanier and the airport weren't built because somebody got out a slide rule and calculated how many trips per day at X cents per trip would be made, but because people said, "We need this!"

If folks had sat around debating whether the Golden Gate Bridge or the Holland Tunnel would improve traffic in their neighborhood or whether Hoover Dam would lower their water bill they would never have been built. It's the same with virtually every other major achievement.

To move forward you need a vision of your future and you have to be willing to invest in it. Otherwise, you quibble yourself into mediocrity.

Wonder why have other cities been forging ahead with new roads and rail systems? They probably used to ask the same thing about us.

[noah]

Atlanta isn't the first metro to use the shoulder as a lane -- Boston is doing the same thing so it must be working at least somewhat.

Light rail is a nice but we are one of the lucky cities to have heavy rail infrastruture which is even better.

Originally Posted by mike7586

They aren't just building roads, but also a pretty extensive light rail system. We can't seem to build roads or transit, just cheap solutions like turning a shoulder into a temporary lane... and people here really wonder why Dallas is doing better than we are...

[kira kira]

Originally Posted by noah

Light rail is a nice but we are one of the lucky cities to have heavy rail infrastruture which is even better.

I disagree. Light rail is better because it is much less expensive and quicker to build. Expanding MARTA would be great, but to do it as a heavy rail system would be cost prohibitive. If we are to expand our mass transit system, I believe light rail is the only way to go.

I believe the main issue in this whole transportation debate is that we lack the leadership that is willing to make difficult decisions. Building new roads and reconstructing current roads can be a complete nightmare for years. It's ugly, frustrating and oftentimes unpleasant. But the end result makes it all worth it. Now we just need to identify some forward-thinking elected officials who want to lead the charge .

[cittic10]

Heck, in the mean time, they could just put in BRT that just connects from a station to the existing marta train station. And nowheres else. Just a straight line with very few stops.

So in essence, they could build out the r.o.w. for a train but put in a bus until the money was is place.

[noah]

Fine with me, I was just pointing out that we have a good base here and can add light rail to link up to Marta as opposed to starting with nothing like many cities who are finally starting to get light rail.

Originally Posted by gagirlatl

I disagree. Light rail is better because it is much less expensive and quicker to build. Expanding MARTA would be great, but to do it as a heavy rail system would be cost prohibitive. If we are to expand our mass transit system, I believe light rail is the only way to go.

I believe the main issue in this whole transportation debate is that we lack the leadership that is willing to make difficult decisions. Building new roads and reconstructing current roads can be a complete nightmare for years. It's ugly, frustrating and oftentimes unpleasant. But the end result makes it all worth it. Now we just need to identify some forward-thinking elected officials who want to lead the charge .

[ATLTJL]

I can't stand the overhead power lines associated with most forms of light rail.

If they can put the power in the tracks like on heavy rail and make the trains look normal instead of having that goofy antenna that grabs onto the overhead power lines, I wouldn't really have a problem with it.

However, light or heavy, I believe in exclusive right of way. No stops for traffic or the like.