New Yorkers had a discussion on City Data some time ago......... (Atlanta: real estate, construction)

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I disagree. South Fulton, South Dekalb and North Fulton have been paying into this system for 40-50 years. Where are their rail lines? Would anyone be naive enough in any other county to believe that they wouldn't have to pay into this system even longer before they saw the first shovel full of dirt turned?

Perhaps if Marta was a massive success, covered Fulton and DeKalb the way older cities' transit systems cover them, these other counties would be begging to come in. But that ain't the scenario.

Who said it had to be rail? Clayton could get by with bus only service in the meantime.

[jsvh]

This is an example of why we need to get away from funding transportation with taxes. We are never going to be able to bring MARTA rail to every tax payers front door. Nor will we have a superhighway to everywhere. Both should be funded by user fees and run semi-privately so they will expand to where it will benefit the most people (draw the most paying customers).

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by jsvh

This is an example of why we need to get away from funding transportation with taxes. We are never going to be able to bring MARTA rail to every tax payers front door. Nor will we have a superhighway to everywhere. Both should be funded by user fees and run semi-privately so they will expand to where it will benefit the most people (draw the most paying customers).

You like the user fee idea, we take it. It will simply just not work in our society / economy.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Who said it had to be rail? Clayton could get by with bus only service in the meantime.

Good point. Often we talk about MARTA if it were simply the rail lines, but in fact they have a modern and very extensive bus system.

I like the idea of extending transit via bus, as it is vastly cheaper, faster and more flexible. Bus lines also sets patterns of travel. Once the ridership is built up, it may make sense convert to rail, but we have to walk before we can run.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Good point. Often we talk about MARTA if it were simply the rail lines, but in fact they have a modern and very extensive bus system.

I like the idea of extending transit via bus, as it is vastly cheaper, faster and more flexible. Bus lines also sets patterns of travel. Once the ridership is built up, it may make sense convert to rail, but we have to walk before we can run.

Yup. Bus routes are phenomenally easier to set up, change, and remove. Considerably more time would have to be put into rail expansion (but that's not to say that that shouldn't eventually happen).

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

I'm not sure I agree with the premise that suburbia is dying, though I do think it is being redefined in some ways. I do, however somewhat agree with post 57:



I do think Atlanta is sorely in need of adequate public transportation. But I don't see it happening within 50 years.

In NYC and in Chicago even in the burbs and outlying areas are somewhat accessible via public transit. Not as familiar with NYC but Chicago has an excellent train system that I do feel would be beneficial for Atlanta to look at repeating here. It would be easier to build since the density found in Chicago is not in Atlanta where there are large swaths of land. Center lanes could be made on all the freeways here and train stations could be built to mirror 75, 85, 20, and even 285 so that people would be able to get to the actual places they need to go.

I live near 3 Marta stations and even though I do like MARTA, I feel it is an elementary sort of transit authority, like it is at the kindergarten level and needs to add additional grades instead of just focusing on small areas. I do feel the state would have to make it mandatory and make the counties who are hesitant, participate. Cobb and Gwinnet should be the primary targets, as well as southern counties like Clayton and Henry.

Clayton and Cobb definitely need it, BUT its not going to happen in Cobb. Cobb doesnt want anyone who lives on the westside or southside having access to its lilywhite county of beauty and perfection.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by BlackPeach2

Clayton and Cobb definitely need it, BUT its not going to happen in Cobb. Cobb doesnt want anyone who lives on the westside or southside having access to its lilywhite county of beauty and perfection.

WTF are you talking about? What "lilywhite county" are you talking about? If you've ever been to Cobb County, which I now doubt, you'd know that it's anything but lily white, and you'd know that CCT already has intra and inter county bus service, just not on the same scale as MARTA.

Again, people can differ about approaches and solutions, but I can't stomach people who invent facts and discuss from ignorance of reality.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by BlackPeach2

Clayton and Cobb definitely need it, BUT its not going to happen in Cobb. Cobb doesnt want anyone who lives on the westside or southside having access to its lilywhite county of beauty and perfection

Wonder what kind of stuff their smoking?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

You like the user fee idea, we take it. It will simply just not work in our society / economy.

This is not correct. It is the norm throughout the world and history. Including here in the US. And were are heading back that way. Congress will be forced to up the gas tax to keep the Highway fund viable and HOT lanes are on the rise. PPPs are become key in new transit and private transit like bus lines that run on Buford Highway will grow.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by jsvh

This is not correct. It is the norm throughout the world and history. Including here in the US. And were are heading back that way. Congress will be forced to up the gas tax to keep the Highway fund viable and HOT lanes are on the rise. PPPs are become key in new transit and private transit like bus lines that run on Buford Highway will grow.

PPPs?