MARTA CEO: Days of transit agency going on 'bended knee' to other counties are over

[bu2]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Voting no for MARTA is crazy in any circumstance. It's a huge plus for the economy, traffic relief, and general quality of life.

99% of the counties of this country, especially in the southeast, will never have the opportunity to bring heavy rail into their county. To have that chance and pass it up is a short-sighted mistake.

99% of the counties of this country have zero need and would be wasting their money to have heavy rail in their county. (maybe 97-98% would be more accurate)

Rail is appropriate in only a limited number of areas.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by bu2

99% of the counties of this country have zero need and would be wasting their money to have heavy rail in their county. (maybe 97-98% would be more accurate)

Rail is appropriate in only a limited number of areas.

Like in a county pushing 800,000 people with an MLB team and lots of corporate high rises, directly adjacent to a major city.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by cqholt

It never had the opportunity to go to voters. The county commissioners never passed the initial vote.

Originally Posted by primaltech

Yeah, to my knowledge, Cobb County voters have never had the opportunity to vote yes or no for MARTA. Which everyone always assumes otherwise. Popular misconception.

Whereas Gwinnett voted and rejected MARTA twice. (But maybe third time's a charm.)

I'm referring to the creation of MARTA itself in 1965 and the referendum in the five core counties that voted to ratify it:

In March 1965 the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act[1] was passed by the Georgia legislature setting up a rapid transit agency but required ratification by the five counties. In June 1965 voters in four of the five counties approved the creation of MARTA; only 43 percent of voters approved MARTA in Cobb County. MARTA was officially formed in January 1966.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Like in a county pushing 800,000 people with an MLB team and lots of corporate high rises, directly adjacent to a major city.

Exactly.