100 days for 100 ways to improve MARTA. (Lenox, Buckhead: 2013, bus, train)

[cqholt]

I found this idea on Atlantic Cities, 100 Ideas for Improving the New York City Subway in 100 Days - Eric Jaffe - The Atlantic Cities. Reading through the writers tumblr page, http://improvesubway.tumblr.com/page/4, he has some great ideas and others that just wouldn't work. So it got me inspired to share this with the MARTA lovers of CD and see what 100 ideas we could come up with?

[cqholt]

WiFi on trains and stations.
Digital, interactive destination boards at stations with major attractions and destinations. eg: Five Points, Peachtree Center, North Ave, Midtown, GA State, Dome/Arena/etc., Arts Center, Lindbergh Center, Buckhead, Lenox, Medical Center, etc.

[Gulch]

Starting at 3 due to cqholt having 2 ideas already

3. Better, more consistent signage
4. Fix broken lighting/replace dead lightbulbs in stations
5. Cleaner trains and platforms

[jsvh]

6. Distance based fares

7. Implementing the recommendations from their KPMG audit (That they already seem to be working on). Actually there are 12 major recommendations in there. So does this one cover 7 - 19?

[HH82]

I've got an idea: How about getting the State to contribute one single solitary dime to the improvement efforts instead of never funding it and then bitching about how mismanaged and inefficient it is? Gotta love Georgia politics.

[Mal93]

8. Change all (or more at least) of the seats on the trains so you sit facing the center of the train. I know some people don't like to sit close to strangers, but the center-facing configuration allows for more people on the train, more visibility of what other passengers are doing (from a security standpoint), less chance for someone to slump and be asleep and take up a whole seat, and quicker entry/exit (esp for those who bring luggage to the airport).
9. I love how Tokyo's train has a distinct chime for each of the stops around the Yamanote line. Its a little thing, but charming -- nicer than a warning horn or piped in muzak.
10. Pave the parking lot at Oakland City!!!
11. It would be awesome to see the concrete bridges beneath the tracks near Lenox & Lee St south of West End get painted with a huge, vibrant series of colors.

my 50% practical, 50% aesthetic contribution

[cqholt]

4. Fix broken lighting/replace dead lightbulbs in stations

Those issues can be reported using the See and Say app. MARTA is quick to repair those if reported. I reported a lighting issue at Edgewood-Candler Park Station. 2 days later the bulbs were replaced.

5. Cleaner trains and platforms

MARTA's trains and platforms are very clean when compared to other transit systems in the US. NYC is old and dirty.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by HH82

I've got an idea: How about getting the State to contribute one single solitary dime to the improvement efforts instead of never funding it and then bitching about how mismanaged and inefficient it is? Gotta love Georgia politics.

This. Nothing else matters.

[waronxmas]

"Owl service" between 1 am and 5 am. Not the entire system off course. Just the 20 most heavily frequented bus lines on hourly service and trains on 45 minute service.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by wxjay

This. Nothing else matters.

I think the state should be contributing to MARTA because it is not going to be able to compete with all the subsidies roads get on it's own. But I disagree that that is the only thing that matters.