MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Roswell: tickets, rain)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

For one because 13th @ Peachtree and 5th @ Peachtree are a pretty far walk from the train. The ART allows for intermediate bus stations halfway between the train stations, such as at Baker St.

Also if you live in Brookwood or Garden Hills, and your job is somewhere in Midtown or Downtown, at Colony Square or somewhere along the Peachtree corridor, you shouldn't need to connect or transfer anywhere, or need to access the train. Should be one-seat ride.

People would much rather walk the 1/4 mile to the stations (as the Midtown Stations are 1/2 mile apart), if fact that is part of the reason MARTA has reduced the number of 110 trips south of Arts Center, because people would rather walk to the train stations. In the past you have called for ART stops to be spaced 1/4 mile apart, therefor extending the Peachtree ART line past Arts Center would not qualify.

[primaltech]

Either way, then. I would definitely be fine with the 110/Peach running as a simple loop BRT/ART on Peachtree Rd, between Brookhaven and Arts Center stations, with stations/stops only every roughly 1/4 mile, with 5-10 minute headways, and with signal priority and off-board fare. It would be like a light rail on rubber tires. Serious transit, for cheap.

Then do the exact same solution for the 5 BRT route, running a straight line along Piedmont and Roswell roads, from Lindbergh to a future Northridge station. Once that station exists, I would cancel the 87.

Also with the same BRT type service for the 39 route, along Buford highway, and the Clairmont and Ponce routes, and other key corridor routes. With the stops for those high frequency routes all shown on the map. Then MARTA is a serious system.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I would model it off the London Tude's map. It has a lot of connections and the transfers are simplified. Maybe use MTA's style? Where the streetcar and ART lines cross, make it a transfer point because it will happen. I would say make smaller circles for the streetcar and ART stops, use the large circles for existing rail and Clifton Corridor.
Also, on a personal note, please remove the parking for Clifton @ Memorial on ART 21.

You mean the London Tube.

But yes, I think their map has an excellent style of mapping, even with all the crossing transit and commuter lines. I would like to see MARTA's maps more like that one.

Still, I will say that today's MARTA rail maps are leaps and bounds better than the orange-and-blue-line maps that they got rid of years ago.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by cqholt

People would much rather walk the 1/4 mile to the stations (as the Midtown Stations are 1/2 mile apart), if fact that is part of the reason MARTA has reduced the number of 110 trips south of Arts Center, because people would rather walk to the train stations. In the past you have called for ART stops to be spaced 1/4 mile apart, therefor extending the Peachtree ART line past Arts Center would not qualify.

Not necessarily. I used to live in Midtown on Peachtree, between the Midtown and North Ave stations and the 110 was still useful south or Arts Center. If they keep the frequent headways up on the 110 and get digital route / wait time signage in Midtown (as currently planned by the Midtown Alliance) I could see the route becoming very useful in building ridership.

Remember every connection you force people to make you lose ridership. Taking MARTA from Midtown to Buckhead Village would not be near as appealing it it required a transfer at Arts Center instead of just hopping on the 110.

[cqholt]

DeKalb considers sale tax for road repair | www.ajc.com
How will this effect the MARTA sales tax increase of .5%?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

DeKalb considers sale tax for road repair | www.ajc.com
How will this effect the MARTA sales tax increase of .5%?

We'll have to see how bad the debate is compared to Fulton...

We really haven't heard much from DeKalb about the MARTA expansions at the county level. MARTA keeps mentioning it, but I have not heard anything from the county at all...

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Not necessarily. I used to live in Midtown on Peachtree, between the Midtown and North Ave stations and the 110 was still useful south or Arts Center. If they keep the frequent headways up on the 110 and get digital route / wait time signage in Midtown (as currently planned by the Midtown Alliance) I could see the route becoming very useful in building ridership.

Remember every connection you force people to make you lose ridership. Taking MARTA from Midtown to Buckhead Village would not be near as appealing it it required a transfer at Arts Center instead of just hopping on the 110.

I have to agree. One of the great things about a good bus line is its immediacy. There's no gee-hawing about going to station, passing through turnstiles and winding your way up and down stairs and escalators.

The bus just comes by, you get on and bam, off you go.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I have to agree. One of the great things about a good bus line is its immediacy. There's no gee-hawing about going to station, passing through turnstiles and winding your way up and down stairs and escalators.

The bus just comes by, you get on and bam, off you go.

You act as if it takes 30 minutes to go thru the fare gates and walk down the stairs. Most bus stops do not offer seating or overhead protection.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

You act as if it takes 30 minutes to go thru the fare gates and walk down the stairs. Most bus stops do not offer seating or overhead protection.

I didn't say 30 minutes but it usually does take a good 10 minutes or more to get to a rail station and navigate down to the platform. Add that to both ends of a trip.

And there's no reason we can't improve bus stops with canopies and seating.

That's why I say we should flood the zone with buses (and scooters).

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by cqholt

You act as if it takes 30 minutes to go thru the fare gates and walk down the stairs. Most bus stops do not offer seating or overhead protection.

For those of us who are able-bodied, we just have to go through the fare gates and up or down the stairs or escalator.

For those of us who aren't, just moving through the station--or moving anywhere--can require some real effort. Thank God for the ADA that made this passage slightly less difficult.