MARTA unveils its dream project list for November Referendum (Atlanta: selling, value)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by bu2

I don't think it should be put at the bottom of the list simply because many of its riders would be out of the service area. It should be prioritized based on its relative value, which may be at the bottom of the list.

Which I, myself, have argued as well.

Originally Posted by bu2

MARTA is really not usable currently to the west and south metro. In the south it terminates at the airport. There just is not good access from the south. To the west, by the time you get to HE Holmes, you will just drive into downtown. A stop outside 285 would generate additional riders.

Not saying that would make it a top priority, but it should be a long term priority. Really the west line should at least go to Charlie Brown Airport. That area is primed for redevelopment and already has a decent job base.

I don't think anyone is really saying it shouldn't be built, just that right now it shouldn't be prioritized since it's on the periphery of the city.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by bu2

MARTA is really not usable currently to the west and south metro. In the south it terminates at the airport. There just is not good access from the south. To the west, by the time you get to HE Holmes, you will just drive into downtown. A stop outside 285 would generate additional riders.

Not saying that would make it a top priority, but it should be a long term priority. Really the west line should at least go to Charlie Brown Airport. That area is primed for redevelopment and already has a decent job base.

This begs the perpetual question: Do we build transit to where people are, or do we build transit and hope people will come to it?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by arjay57

This begs the perpetual question: Do we build transit to where people are, or do we build transit and hope people will come to it?

It is quite possible to do both.

[primaltech]

Kind of always going to be a combo of both, inevitably. Like if they ever finally build the extension to Alpharetta, that would be both a train to where people already live and work and shop, and also a potential catalyst of new development, particularly dense transit oriented development within walking distance of the new stations.

Same deal for ITP. Cheshire Bridge for example has already been redeveloping, but when they get the light rail station you'll see even more, and I'm sure that's the hope of MARTA.

[jsvh]

For West extension to even make this list shows that it is not "the bottom" priority. But I don't think there are many things on this list I would place behind it in priority.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

It is quite possible to do both.

You must do both.

The value of the west line would depend on their analysis. There are commuters from the west who would use it that wouldn't drive to Holmes. There are jobs along Fulton Industrial that would be accessible for people with an extension of MARTA. And there would be more development of jobs and housing with MARTA.

Now you do have to ask the question of how much ridership you get for the $$. You don't just build it and assume development and riders will come.

[demonta4]

Is there a timeline set for any of these projects?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by demonta4

Is there a timeline set for any of these projects?

Not yet. They're still getting prioritized.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by arjay57

This begs the perpetual question: Do we build transit to where people are, or do we build transit and hope people will come to it?

The problem is there are not enough places where enough "people are" in Atlanta. For transit to work well you need a certain amount of density. Few places in Atlanta have the density to support transit. I'd say creating places where it is legal to have the density transit needs is an important first step.

[fourthwarden]

I did a bit of additional math to go about comparing costs for the projects on the table that was shown in the Streetsblog article: