Incoming MARTA chief will focus fixing finances and image (Atlanta: real estate, apartment complexes)

[LynnHarris]

I truly wish this new CEO all the best. I hope he proves to be a good fit for MARTA and the metro-area.


Incoming MARTA chief will focus fixing finances and image

"MARTA’s incoming chief says he plans to put a new face on the troubled transit authority for the public, politicians and the press by turning around its finances, increasing its ridership and recasting its image.

He acknowledged Georgia may be a more challenging environment, which will quickly test the diplomatic tact his admirers say he has..."

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/incoming-marta-chief-will-focus-fixing-finances-an/nShqK/

[AcidSnake]

I certainly hope for the best for the new CEO.

It's my wish that at some point more saner & wiser heads will prevail at the state capitol as in times long past; and that a proper & holistic path towards transportation reform will eventually reveal itself.

Originally Posted by LynnHarris

I truly wish this new CEO all the best. I hope he proves to be a good fit for MARTA and the metro-area.


Incoming MARTA chief will focus fixing finances and image

"MARTA’s incoming chief says he plans to put a new face on the troubled transit authority for the public, politicians and the press by turning around its finances, increasing its ridership and recasting its image.

He acknowledged Georgia may be a more challenging environment, which will quickly test the diplomatic tact his admirers say he has..."

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/incoming-marta-chief-will-focus-fixing-finances-an/nShqK/

[10scoachrick]

Incoming MARTA chief will focus fixing finances and image


After almost three decades in Atlanta, I would file this along with these other 'dreams' I've heard about since childhood:

A) Middle-East peace

2) Synchronized traffic lights

C) Women's shoes that fit

No need to even mention flying cars .

Y'all take care now.

[AcidSnake]

Too cool for words.

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Incoming MARTA chief will focus fixing finances and image


After almost three decades in Atlanta, I would file this along with these other 'dreams' I've heard about since childhood:

A) Middle-East peace

2) Synchronized traffic lights

C) Women's shoes that fit

No need to even mention flying cars .

Y'all take care now.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

I certainly hope for the best for the new CEO.

It's my wish that at some point more saner & wiser heads will prevail at the state capitol as in times long past; and that a proper & holistic path towards transportation reform will eventually reveal itself.

I hope so, too.

One thing I've wondered about is why MARTA doesn't either sell off or take a more vigorous role in developing the land around the stations. MARTA is sitting on a lot of very pricey real estate.

They should also pursue PPI type financing for the Emory line and the Cobb line. Both of those would give the system a huge boost.

[Atlwarrior]

I think its great that he will take the bus to work every morning to get a first hand look at what the public see. My biggest grip is the restrooms not being open, and people are now relieving themself on the elevators or the stairs.

[AcidSnake]

Or relieving themselves in the parking decks surrounding Five Points MARTA station. I work downtown and I religiously take the stairs when I park...my gosh there isn't a day that goes by when I don't encounter some form of human biowaste product in the stairwells.

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

I think its great that he will take the bus to work every morning to get a first hand look at what the public see. My biggest grip is the restrooms not being open, and people are now relieving themself on the elevators or the stairs.

[MiamiRob]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I hope so, too.

One thing I've wondered about is why MARTA doesn't either sell off or take a more vigorous role in developing the land around the stations. MARTA is sitting on a lot of very pricey real estate.

They should also pursue PPI type financing for the Emory line and the Cobb line. Both of those would give the system a huge boost.

Not to intrude but does MARTA have any TOD's? This has worked well for Miami and here is a link if you want to read about the TOD's in Miami and how the transit agency is making money from them :

Miami Metrorail | Metro Jacksonville

scroll down to Transit Oriented Developments

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by MiamiRob

Not to intrude but does MARTA have any TOD's? This has worked well for Miami and here is a link if you want to read about the TOD's in Miami and how the transit agency is making money from them :

Miami Metrorail | Metro Jacksonville

scroll down to Transit Oriented Developments

Atlanta is a city full of TODs.... even without the transit.

Alot of urban planners love studying Atlanta, because of its traditional circular unconstrained design, its unique linear growth, and what all is accomplished after doing so many things traditioanlly wrong.

Anyways I'd recommend taking a a google aerial map tour of Atlanta.

The most traditional TOD, before the phrase was popular, is midtown. It use to be more of a suburban district than it is now.

Modern TOD... I would look at an area around Lindbergh station. There is another uproar thread on here over a Wal-Mart proposal that would disrupt continuation of the existing TOD spaces.

Another place for lightly developing TOD would be just to the north of Chamblee station. Now on the southern side of town where value/demand is lower there is moderate success getting new apartment complexes to move right next door, which isn't as fun and sexy ... but its something.

The real big success of TOD development in Atlanta doesn't have transit yet and probably won't for some time. It is the whole Beltline project we have, especially on the east/northeast side. It's been really fun watching the area change on the ground and watching things pop up on aerial images.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by MiamiRob

Not to intrude but does MARTA have any TOD's?

We sure do. As CW mentioned, there is extensive TOD around the stations in downtown, Midtown, Buckhead and Lindbergh. All of those areas are set aside by law for transit oriented development. (The city recently repulsed an attempt to put a suburban style shopping center at Lindbergh, and a similar fight is brewing in a Glenwood TOD along the Beltline).

MARTA has some excellent TOD guidelines, and most developers are smart enough to take advantage of them. However, some developers cling to the past, especially since it's cheaper in the short run to simply pave a big surface parking lot.