MARTA Expansion into Clayton = Long awaited Commuter Rail? (Atlanta, Forest Park: transfer, college)

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by IspeakFact

Be quiet! You probably have like 3 cars and a possible. there are so many people who work everyday and have to walk to get to public transit. So many others who can get to work because many jobs are out of range. Why don't they just buy a car? Maybe because they can't afford one yet. aah gee ya think?! U wanna do some some math. There are 1 million people in the city of Atlanta. 500 k use public transit. Add the work commuters there's another 200 k. It cost $5.00 round trp to go any anywhere. Multiply $5.00 x 700 k x 5 days a week. I could go on. We are not gonna even count the tourists that flood the city over the summer. Marta BOard members all make over 70 k a year. They keep buying new police cars. They get for the ads on the buses and trains. Doable?! please! There is no need to raise any any tax on anything. They should cut the pay scale of the Board members and execs. NEXXXXXXXT!

There are actually less than 500,000 people who live in the City of Atlanta and 500,000 do not use MARTA every day. Far less. The current system certainly can not adequately fund a meaningful expansion into Clayton with rail. Cutting the pay for the management team will likely result in current management leaving and being replaced by less skilled folks - certainly don't want that as Mr. Parker is doing a pretty darn good job right now. I don't think cwkimbro's automobile ownership has a thing to do with the financial analysis, either.

[Listennow32]

Other thread got closed (smh)

Tonight, MARTA CEO Keith Parker came to the Clayton County board meeting in order to make a case for a MARTA expansion into Clayton County. During the meeting he cited the current state of the system, the various improvements that have been made since he has taken the wheel, and the benefits that the county would receive if the county were to join. He stated that they would work to make the transition as smooth as possible due to the fact that this would be the system's first expansion in over 35 years. He would like to make this area a poster child in order to showcase to other surrounding areas "Cobb" and "Gwinnett" an example of a successful MARTA expansion.

The numbers he presented were very nice and really showed the strength of the current system. County Commissioners brought up concerns about type of service would be implemented and ability to control where service is implemented throughout the county. Parker assured them that development of service would be flexible and community led. Furthermore, he even mentioned that MARTA planning staff would investigate the possibility of commuter rail running in Clayton. There was also the concern of whether or not MARTA could join at a 1/2 or a whole penny. There are worries that if the MARTA tax were approved, Clayton's tax rate would rise to 8% making it one of the highest in the metro area. Therefore, there has been talk about joining at the 1/2 as opposed to the whole. However, this is ludicrous. The County would lose representatives on the MARTA board and would not generate nearly enough revenue to fund other transit initiatives within the county.

Back story, yes sales tax is high, but the real back story is for one of the commissioners desire to see a MARTA tax fail. Why? Due to deep seated resentment towards the introduction of transit within district 4 of Clayton County. Who is district 4? Constituents who come from the wealthy Lake Spivey and Jodeco area that don't want to see transit succeed. All these years, this area has been sheltered from the economic destitution that the rest of the county has faced. Therefore, they misguidedly want to preserve the status quo due to the fact they have remained hidden after all these years. Bringing "buses" would bring "undesirables" to the area. The very ones they have been hiding from.... What they fail to understand is that by bringing transit, this will only enhance the quality of life within the county and help to spur the economic engine of the area. Which will ultimately put that area back on the map as one of the top destinations for individuals of that income level.

If Clayton County fails to allow MARTA to expand.. it will be a dark day for those who fight for transit and equitable economic development.

[Listennow32]

MARTA leaders pledge 'robust service' if Clayton County opts in | Clayton News Daily

[bu2]

It sounds like they want to split the North and Northeast lines at East Point and do the long planned Hapeville route.

If that follows the rail line, it would go to the east of the airport, by the Georgia Farmer's market, through Forest Park, Morrow, by Clayton St. and to Southlake Mall at I-75.

[tikigod311]

They can finally use those MARTA survey markers I see riding my bike along Central Ave


https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6688...Y3G5AGnp4Q!2e0

[tarnishaluvsdontae]

Why would we need MARTA to go to Clayton? There's nothing to do down there. I can't imagine a lot of people are going to visit.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by tarnishaluvsdontae

Why would we need MARTA to go to Clayton? There's nothing to do down there. I can't imagine a lot of people are going to visit.

We need transit (MARTA or otherwise) to go to Clayton County because it is a densely-developed and densely-populated urban county of over 260,000 with no transit service currently operating.

We also need transit to go to Clayton County because it is a community with a very-large population of lower-income and transient residents that desperately needs the logistical mobility, economic development, economic growth opportunities that come with high-capacity transit service.

There are also a few very-major destinations in and just outside of Clayton County in the International Terminal on the east side of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Atlanta Farmers Market in Forest Park, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway (which is just over the county line in Henry County, but requires some very-heavy travel through Clayton County when major auto races and other special events are held there).

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by tarnishaluvsdontae

Why would we need MARTA to go to Clayton? There's nothing to do down there. I can't imagine a lot of people are going to visit.

It's not really for people to go TO Clayton, it's for the people in Clayton to go to the rest of the region.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

We need transit (MARTA or otherwise) to go to Clayton County because it is a densely-developed and densely-populated urban county of over 260,000 with no transit service currently operating.

We also need transit to go to Clayton County because it is a community with a very-large population of lower-income and transient residents that desperately needs the logistical mobility, economic development, economic growth opportunities that come with high-capacity transit service.

There are also a few very-major destinations in and just outside of Clayton County in the International Terminal on the east side of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Atlanta Farmers Market in Forest Park, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway (which is just over the county line in Henry County, but requires some very-heavy travel through Clayton County when major auto races and other special events are held there).

Have you heard of any plans to connect the international terminal to that Hapeville line? Or even to the rest of the airport other than by bus?

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by bu2

Have you heard of any plans to connect the international terminal to that Hapeville line? Or even to the rest of the airport other than by bus?

I haven't heard anything. What I will note is all of the long-term updates have been working off of the 1999 Master Plan for the airport.

The next Master Plan (for 2030) is expected to come out later this year. It is suppose to be the conceptual plan to guide the airport for growth expected by 2030.

Any new major changes to the existing set up not apart of the 1999 plan, will likely come out in that plan.

Personally I don't see a great way for MARTA to get to the international terminal with a Hapeville line. I also don't see why that heavy costs should fall on MARTA and not the airport.

I'm starting to think the best case scenario might be an extension of the unsecured side peoplemover that goes to the renal car facilities over the existing concourses at a sufficient height. Then the international terminal would be directly linked to ground transportation/MARTA and the rental car facility. I just haven't the slightest clue what that might costs and how much in long-term operational costs it might save.

The airport will also have more frequent service to the city and limit transfers if both the north and northeast line can continue to serve the main station. It is the difference between 5 minutes and 10 minute headway at peak hours.