MARTA unveils its dream project list for November Referendum (Atlanta: costs, vs.)

[jsvh]

Atlanta transit tax projects must connect with existing network to succeed | Atlanta News & Opinion Blog | Fresh Loaf | Creative Loafing Atlanta

Some good thoughts. But seems a bit over focused on a bus-only solution. I think that is only one piece of the puzzle.

[tikigod311]

I think the author was advocating just that buses are not forgotten as this plan proceeds. Along with the ART/BRT routes, I do hope that enhance bus service in general. Upping bus frequency is a huge aspect of improving transit in Atlanta

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

I think the author was advocating just that buses are not forgotten as this plan proceeds. Along with the ART/BRT routes, I do hope that enhance bus service in general. Upping bus frequency is a huge aspect of improving transit in Atlanta

The article was a bit redundant, since the MARTA proposal included a decent amount of bus upgrades, and both Parker and Ashe have been talking about the bus upgrades as a core part of the expansions.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Atlanta transit tax projects must connect with existing network to succeed | Atlanta News & Opinion Blog | Fresh Loaf | Creative Loafing Atlanta

Some good thoughts. But seems a bit over focused on a bus-only solution. I think that is only one piece of the puzzle.

BRT/bike lanes would be great and is a cheaper alternative to LRT/streetcar on certain corridors. The BeltLine Loop is a way to connect 45 neighborhoods with grade-separated transit, let's not kid ourselves and think that a bus would better serve this corridor. The BeltLine is 100% needed as it would provide a loop around the central core and allow the areas around it to build up. Also, the BeltLine does not just pass thru the 'white areas' or 'rich areas' instead it sees no difference in race and SES as it passes thru NE and SW Atlanta connecting all of them to each other and jobs.

[cqholt]

Atlanta

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed embraces a proposed $2.5 billion transit sales tax before his administration has time to complete a pending update of the city’s comprehensive transportation plan. Two distinct observers – one local, one national – say the process raises some troubling issues.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Atlanta

We have spent enough time doing studies already. Time to put some of the transit in the ground.

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by jsvh

We have spent enough time doing studies already. Time to put some of the transit in the ground.

Agreed. I do think we should do it smartly, but it is really hard to keep up with changing technology. Technology changes so rapidly that when a study is completed, there is already something new and better out there that people will beg needs studying as well. That's how NOTHING gets done.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by CCATL

Agreed. I do think we should do it smartly, but it is really hard to keep up with changing technology. Technology changes so rapidly that when a study is completed, there is already something new and better out there that people will beg needs studying as well. That's how NOTHING gets done.

The city council has already approved the streetcar plan, MARTA has had their experts give their project wishlist, what more do these guys want?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The city council has already approved the streetcar plan, MARTA has had their experts give their project wishlist, what more do these guys want?

I can sort of see their angle, but I tend to agree with you Cq. How long have we been talking about all the various projects? How long have we had to look and think and come up with ideas on things like MARTA service and streetcars and light rail? I would say ever since MARTA first started presenting ideas for the $8 Bil. project lists.

I can understand the frustration of only having 2 meetings before a preliminary list is set, but it is only the preliminary list after all. If we can't overcome our understanding of the word enough to keep pushing new / better ideas until the end of the process, then is that really the city's fault?

I can understand the issue with moving forward on projects based on a lack of planning, but I don't know if that fully applies here. The streetcar has had two full plans released. The BeltLine has been planning for a decade or two now. MARTA has been planning the I-20 east and west stuff for years now, and surely has a decent amount of internal studies on the feasibility of ART and circulator services.

The major thing that has the least amount of planning that I can think of is the Northside BRT, which has had a few studies associated with it through GDoT, the city, and a few University projects. I'm sure MARTA has a decent collection of documents built up.


As for the practicality, I keep looking at Dobbins little drawing about day and night time Atlanta there to the right. It is captioned, "The Atlanta BeltLine circles the urban core but doesn’t provide much connectivity between neighborhoods and regional job centers." Which, I don't buy for a second. He conveniently forgot to include the crosstown streetcars, MARTA heavy rail, the planned BRT, the planned ART, the planned circulators, or the existing bus services. He also doesn't seem to think that the 45 neighborhoods that the BeltLine touches / goes through would be connected with the trail / rail.

I've had others defend Dobbins to me before, and generally I think he has solid arguments and positions, but this one I'm not so sure on.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Atlanta

We will always have people that will disagree with what the majority want. I'm sure I can find some people that want to toll 75/85 $10 per car even though most people would be against it. I'm sure I can find people in Atlanta that wouldn't mind cutting down every tree in Atlanta even though most people are against it. Just because a few people are against it and want more studies doesnt mean the majority of the city of Atlanta residents want the same