MARTA bill clears Georgia Senate with surprise change - Option to raise MARTA tax to 1.5% (buy, cost)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by arjay57

They Beltline is supposed to connect to the Clifton corridor at the Lindbergh MARTA station.

Yeah, that's what I thought, though I think that's just for cross-platform connections. There was talk at one point of having an Armor-Yard Station yeah?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Yeah, that's what I thought, though I think that's just for cross-platform connections. There was talk at one point of having an Armor-Yard Station yeah?

There was talk of a MARTA station at Armour yard.

The Betline's preferred transit alternative comes into Lindbergh but I don't know the details of it is supposed to hook up.

[oobanks]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

I would love to have a comprehensive State commuter rail system, and yes, the Perimeter makes for a rather obvious boundary of service for MARTA. The thing is, though, that where these MARTA 'Super Arms' are being planned, are actually rather gaping holes in the GDOT Commuter Rail plan.

This true for at least the Connect 400 and I-20 East extensions. I-20 East actually stops where it intersects the commuter-rail line at Lithonia/Turner Hill Rd. There are no commuter-rail options running up GA 400's way. So, in a way, MARTA IS filling in the Inner city gaps, though more like the core county gaps, as the ends are really by county as opposed to city. Map



Furthermore, the route along 400 and I-20 were chosen for HRT because of their density, traffic volume, and ability to support such transit. While one would think that the city should be more dense, in a lot of cases, it isn't. Not yet.



See the line of bright/dark red spots going up into North Fulton? That's GA 400. The dark red along the south part of Dekalb follows I-20. Then Compare that to east Atlanta and you'll see the difference. This is why the Beltline/Streetcar System is important. It reaches out into areas of the city, away from MARTA, that need is in dire need of permanent transit options, but don't quite have the density to justify HRT.

Finally, while Commuter Rail makes the most sense to stretch out of the city and into the less-dense suburbs (and I still think that's exactly what's happening), GDOT and the State don't seem to give to right craps about it. The closest they've put in are the GRTA buses, which have been rather successful as far as ridership goes. We're many, many years before any commuter rail is even close to the stage of planning as the MARTA expansions, but we need transit options now, so MARTA's what we got.

I Totally Agree, seems like Marta is the only ones that really care about real Transit/Rail in the Region/State so i guess you have a MAJOR POINT... If Marta does end up running it, i hope they go with a Light Rail to Commuter Rail option where possible, I think more citizens will go along with that.

[Ha-Mez]

The bill is on the house floor.

[magnetar]

https://twitter.com/jmshapiro/status/583718488700772353

All I can say about the Georgia House of Representatives is ████ ██████ ███████████ █ ███ █████!

Please note the way your representative voted and contact them accordingly.

[Ha-Mez]

This confuses me because I thought the extra half-penny was a compromise to get Senate Dems to sign HB170.

Also, apparently it was both Dems and Reps who took away the amendment. According to Bluestein, there's a "technical flaw".

It's not over. The bill goes back to the Senate.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Ha-Mez

This confuses me because I thought the extra half-penny was a compromise to get Senate Dems to sign HB170.

Also, apparently it was both Dems and Reps who took away the amendment. According to Bluestein, there's a "technical flaw".

It's not over. The bill goes back to the Senate.

That's so stupid! Why wouldn't you allow the people to choose if they themselves wanted to be taxed more!? It's just so... frustrating. So close yet so far from a working solution!

[Ha-Mez]

The amendment is now on the Senate floor.

[Ha-Mez]

Passed, 50 to 3. Whoa. What in the world happened in the Senate between Tuesday and Thursday to just take away the whole amendment?

[Ha-Mez]

The extra half-penny bait and switch really spoils the excitement of the 50/50 split being removed.