Braves Exec: Traffic Near Cobb Stadium will Be A-Okay

[noah]

Is there a real funding plan where local dollars will be the major source or just a hope and a pray that the feds say yes and we cobble together enough local dollars to satisfy the feds.

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Most of these are in planning stages now, and seeking funding soon (if not already). Emory line = Clifton corridor. South DeKalb = I-20 East. Connect 400 = North Fulton. Atlanta Streetcars / Beltline Light rail would serve Linbergh and Buckhead village. We'll have to see what happens with our buses in the near future.

There's not really any reason to not plan for MARTA into Cobb if they asked for it, especially if they funded the studies. An agency like MARTA can handle multiple projects on the board at once, just as they have been all along. Besides, by the time such a thing would ever be seriously considered, MARTA will either be on their way to building the listed expansions, or it will have been shot down.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by noah

Is there a real funding plan where local dollars will be the major source or just a hope and a pray that the feds say yes and we cobble together enough local dollars to satisfy the feds.

Yeah, MARTA is asking for 0.5% sales tax for 42 years that will potentially raise $4B as local funds to be matched to $4B federal funds.
MARTA pushing for largest expansion in history | www.ajc.com

[SaxnFlutman]

This has to be a story from The Onion, right? That is one of the most congested areas around, both on the freeways, and the surface streets. I've lived in the Vinings/Smyrna for about 25 years, and it is inconceivable to imagine how thousands more cars will get there (maybe by the 5th inning), and even more so, as where they'll park! Zero public transportation, and even if they add tons of buses, they'll be bogged down on the overcrowded roads, along with everyone else! The streets are already at full to past-full capacity, as are the interstates. And the line to go N on 75, coming from the east, on 285, begins backing up by 2pm, on weekdays!

As a 20 year veteran traffic reporter said recently, "When the stadium opens, we will see gridlock of epic proportion'! And I believe him.... smdh

[JoeP]

Uh yes all those points of entry not used for anything else like people trying to get home, shop or eat nearby. Nah, Just empty roads waiting for game traffic.

[ElleKaye]

I guess my biggest question.is if he thinks traffic is a.okay now?

[netdragon]

Not only is there nothing planned for MARTA, but the federal government refused to fund half of Cobb's LRT/BRT to midtown concept (which would have also had a beltline station) citing inadequate ridership as the main concern.

What you'll have is uber, bus and a new pedestrian bridge.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

I guess my biggest question.is if he thinks traffic is a.okay now?

lol

That would be a funny question to ask him on camera

[netdragon]

I think traffic will be mostly fine since the road and pedestrian upgrades will actually benefit the area the approximately 8600 hours a year there isn't a game going on.

However, not all traffic improvements going on are directly to benefit access to the stadium. E.g. Spring Rd is being widened by Smyrna almost to Campbell Rd. This is to directly benefit the businesses residents and add capacity for the coming additional townhome development along Spring Rd. It'll also have a benefit for Smyrna of making it easier for Braves-goers to access Smyrna restaurants.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by netdragon

Not only is there nothing planned for MARTA, but the federal government refused to fund half of Cobb's LRT/BRT to midtown concept (which would have also had a beltline station) citing inadequate ridership as the main concern.

What you'll have is uber, bus and a new pedestrian bridge.

Did Cobb County have adequate local matching funds?