MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Alpharetta: title, metropolitan area)

[primaltech]

Think of the efficiency and time and money savings we could have had (and true regional connectivity and commute options all these years), if the 5 counties had simply joined MARTA from day one (with less NIMBY'ism in Fulton and DeKalb), and heavy rail lines went well into all 5 counties in the 1980's and 90's, back when it was cheaper and faster to do so. All with just a simple 1% tax paid in only the 5 core counties.

GRTA, CCT, GCT would never have needed to exist. If any other surrounding counties want to join MARTA, they could do that. Or, they could just use end of the line park&ride stations at the back of the 5 core metro counties.

If we got to a point where there was no more extra capital to expand, then MARTA could up it to a 1.5 pennies, in the 5 counties. That would generate probably 15 billion for new expansions.

If we could have just simply done that, we wouldn't need to pay for studies and committees every year after, nor have all these different agencies and we can't even figure out what the regional plan is. And we'd have twice as many heavy rail lines and stations, to the point that we'd never even consider doing measly BRT or LRT, we'd just expand the system.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

GOP author of MARTA rail bill picks up a primary challenger

From the article:

Outside the Republican encampment in the Capitol, Barlow said he is a supporter of “religious liberty” legislation aimed at protecting wedding photographers, bakers and such whom he says could be forced into catering same-sex nuptials.

That tells me everything I need to know about Barlow.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

From the article:



That tells me everything I need to know about Barlow.

To be somewhat (and sadly) fair, Beach supported that bill as well.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

From the article:



That tells me everything I need to know about Barlow.

/end topic

[Airforceguy]

The local bills allowing COA and DeKalb County to vote on the 1/2 cent sales tax will be introduced Thursday...

A bill authorizing the Atlanta City Council to ask voters to approve a half-penny sales tax increase for improvements to MARTA inside the city limits will get its first reading in the Georgia House of Representatives. A second local bill that would put the same question to voters in DeKalb County also is expected to be introduced as early as Thursday.The two local bills represent a late fallback position by the transit agency after a broader funding measure covering MARTA’s full service area failed to make it through the state Senate by the Crossover Day deadline for bills to pass at least one legislative chamber.

After elected officials in North Fulton helped sink the Senate bill, MARTA officials came back with an alternative plan to split the legislation into local bills affecting just the city of Atlanta and DeKalb County. If approved by the General Assembly and subsequently by voters, the bills would help fund plans to build a light-rail line serving the Clifton Corridor and extend MARTA’s heavy rail line along the Interstate 20 corridor east to Stonecrest Mall.
As Thursday is Day 34 in the 40-day legislative session, the bills face long odds, said Rep. Pat Gardner, D-Atlanta, chief sponsor of the Atlanta bill.
“It will be a bit of a lift to get it through both houses with so little time left,” Gardner said Tuesday. “But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/b...ing-bills.html

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

The local bills allowing COA and DeKalb County to vote on the 1/2 cent sales tax will be introduced Thursday...

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/b...ing-bills.html

Here's hoping. Ring up your legislators and send out those emails, let's get it done!

[fieldm]

Too bad they cant work on the weekend

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Think of the efficiency and time and money savings we could have had (and true regional connectivity and commute options all these years), if the 5 counties had simply joined MARTA from day one (with less NIMBY'ism in Fulton and DeKalb), and heavy rail lines went well into all 5 counties in the 1980's and 90's, back when it was cheaper and faster to do so. All with just a simple 1% tax paid in only the 5 core counties.

When MARTA came up for a vote Gwinnett had 72,000 residents. That's about the density of Baldwin County, Georgia. (165 people/sm).

The idea of carving 1 cent out of every dollar they spent to pay for mass transit simply didn't make much sense for rural, low density counties.

[fieldm]

Any news on this bill?

[TheTravelinMan]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Any news on this bill?

The local bill was introduced yesterday.