Georgia Mayors want rail transit connections to Atlanta (Columbus, Savannah: moving, trains)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

It's that gosh darn demographic hump that Georgia just can't seem to get over.

The point-man for originally selling the concept of MARTA to the state was former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell.

A few decades gone by, a couple of demographic changes, and some party-switches later...now you can't even speak of the name MARTA without the usual snide remarks under breath.

And begging had to be involved to even get Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on a transit panel leading up to the failed 2012 TSPLOST referendum. What a full circle that is, huh?

Meanwhile in North Carolina, both the capitol city Raleigh and the largest city Charlotte have been able to create and consistently expand top-notch masstransit/rail with relatively miniscule issues.

And I bet the NC cities don't have their local major paper and other corporate media schizophrenically half-azz praise and overwhelming bash their premeire transit agencies at every opportunity.

This tribalism thing the American south has is pretty intense.

I wouldn't call LYNX top notch. It's a single line of LRT and they built a single line streetcar.

[Tryska]

Originally Posted by DirkMcGirt

Those systems are 'profitable' because they receive massive tax assistance. The systems are not profitable on their operations. In order for MARTA to be self sufficient, they would have to raise prices up over $6 per ride. That is how massively inefficient the system is. 99+% of transit in the US falls in this category.

That is like saying Ms. Welfare Queen living off government assistance is 'self sufficient.'

Surprise....ALL transportation infrastructure exists because of massive tax assistance. That is how the world works. America uses the socialist model for funding when it comes to roads, bridges, rail, transit, airports, etc.

Also, wars.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I wouldn't call LYNX top notch. It's a single line of LRT and they built a single line streetcar.

All I am saying is at least you have not one but two major cities in one state in the south doing something on a visionary scale.

All Georgia has is Atlanta and we already know what the story is here.

Where are the other secondary cities in Georgia at in this masstransit equation, eh? Macon? Augusta? Savannah?

It seems like the demographic issues are a big hump and a hindance to any discussion on transportation issues.

If I am lying, show me how and where.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

All I am saying is at least you have not one but two major cities in one state in the south doing something on a visionary scale.

All Georgia has is Atlanta and we already know what the story is here.

Where are the other secondary cities in Georgia at in this masstransit equation, eh? Macon? Augusta? Savannah?

It seems like the demographic issues are a big hump and a hindance to any discussion on transportation issues.

If I am lying, show me how and where.

True, but unlike NC Atlanta is the both the largest city and state capital. Also, Raleigh has a very robust economy, unlike any of GA's secondary cities.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by cqholt

True, but unlike NC Atlanta is the both the largest city and state capital. Also, Raleigh has a very robust economy, unlike any of GA's secondary cities.

And yet Atlanta has currently stalled out on the masstransit issue.

And likely will remain so for the near future.

The dearth of vision and action in this issue goes simply beyond innocent rationalizations like coincidence...and moves squarely into the area of tribal politics, southern-style.

My main point remains untarnished.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

And yet Atlanta has currently stalled out on the masstransit issue.

And likely will remain so for the near future.

The dearth of vision and action in this issue goes simply beyond innocent rationalizations like coincidence...and moves squarely into the area of tribal politics, southern-style.

My main point remains untarnished.

Or that we're broke.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by Gulch

That we're racist?

I'm not here to make you happy. You can either deal with what I say or not.

That's on you, not on me.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

I'm not here to make you happy. You can either deal with what I say or not.

That's on you, not on me.

You are most certainly entitled to your opinion.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

And yet Atlanta has currently stalled out on the masstransit issue.

And likely will remain so for the near future.

The dearth of vision and action in this issue goes simply beyond innocent rationalizations like coincidence...and moves squarely into the area of tribal politics, southern-style.

My main point remains untarnished.

MARTA has expanded into a new county.
Downtown Streetcar opened.
MARTA is currently studying 4 expansion projects: I-20 East, Clifton Corridor, Red Line North, and Clayton County enhanced transit service.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by cqholt

MARTA has expanded into a new county.
Downtown Streetcar opened..

Technically MARTA was already in Clayton. And the Streetcar is operating in an area that fully supports MARTA and has done so since the beginning.

Originally Posted by cqholt

MARTA is currently studying 4 expansion projects: I-20 East, Clifton Corridor, Red Line North, and Clayton County enhanced transit service.

See above on Clayton.

And I-20 East MARTA rail should've happened back in 2000. No study was needed for that. It was already studied. Then stopped by a state turning Red.

No more studies.

Show me full-throated action on expansion. Show me the beef.