GDOT announces it won’t close Atlanta Streetcar (taxes, rail)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

The signal priority improvements are definitely do-able. At the very very least, just a simple syncing system that keeps the light always green for an approaching streetcar. Very possible.

And the longest stretches of the streetcar in mixed traffic are on Auburn and Edgewood, and those also could be fixed by changing each of those streets to one-way traffic in either direction, with one lane each. The streetcar's ROW would not be a lane, but cars could still use it briefly in order to access street parking on the opposite side.

Most of the lane would be barrier separated and would look like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7584...7i13312!8i6656

Peachtree St could do the same. Yes, it's Peachtree St, but it's just a short stretch of it where the streetcar travels.

The other stretches, Luckie St, Carnegie Way, Andrew Young, and Jackson St- could all either make similar modifications, or they could be brief stretches of mixed traffic operation- that wouldn't kill the speed as long as most of it is dedicated.

The great thing is, as this system grows and gains more riders all these improvements are possible and easily implemented.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The great thing is, as this system grows and gains more riders all these improvements are possible and easily implemented.

Well then they need to do so, fast, in order to get into the good graces of public opinion.

And honestly, these modifications to the current route should be made right now, regardless of expansion.

And all expansions from here out should have them built in from the beginning. Mostly dedicated ROW, and green light syncing.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Well then they need to do so, fast, in order to get into the good graces of public opinion.

And honestly, these modifications to the current route should be made right now, regardless of expansion.

And all expansions from here out should have them built in from the beginning. Mostly dedicated ROW, and green light syncing.

So, if they tried to do this now business owners would be up in arms. Instead they wait and let ridership build to where the business owners are happy, then come back and make the retrofit. This is a starter line, what works in other cities may not always work here, but learn from the feedback and yes, mistakes.

City Council passed legislation requiring that as much as the expansion as possible use dedicated lanes and ROW. So that is something that is considered as these extensions are studied and LPAs released.

[MikeHonchoATL]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Agreed, though he's seems to be inferring that it's not fixable which is untrue.

It was pure stupidity not to be done correctly from the start.

The idiots who made that decision are the same caliber of idiot you are putting your faith in getting the next phases correct.

This problem was obvious even during development. Instead, they ignored the problem, pumped out ridiculously inflated ridership projections and the system got off to an awful start. This is incompetence of the highest form.

We don't need to blindly accept the CD mantra of "well when we expand it everything will be better." You need people to demand better from the government agencies building the system. Call them out for being idiots. Demand better solutions. Demand accountability for 1,000 daily rides on a $100 million taxpayer expense. That is entirely unacceptable. Giving these same unaccountable, buffoons more money to waste is damn near a crime. I'm a critical thinking transportation amateur and I forecasted all of the system's problems. Why could these 'experts' not do the same. While I'm certainly smarter than they are, the failure to properly project these problems and address them ahead of time is so egregious it is either criminal, or one of such massive incompetence that everyone associated with the project to be investigated, fired and banned from public service.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by MikeHonchoATL

It was pure stupidity not to be done correctly from the start.

The idiots who made that decision are the same caliber of idiot you are putting your faith in getting the next phases correct.

This problem was obvious even during development. Instead, they ignored the problem, pumped out ridiculously inflated ridership projections and the system got off to an awful start. This is incompetence of the highest form.

We don't need to blindly accept the CD mantra of "well when we expand it everything will be better." You need people to demand better from the government agencies building the system. Call them out for being idiots. Demand better solutions. Demand accountability for 1,000 daily rides on a $100 million taxpayer expense. That is entirely unacceptable. Giving these same unaccountable, buffoons more money to waste is damn near a crime. I'm a critical thinking transportation amateur and I forecasted all of the system's problems. Why could these 'experts' not do the same. While I'm certainly smarter than they are, the failure to properly project these problems and address them ahead of time is so egregious it is either criminal, or one of such massive incompetence that everyone associated with the project to be investigated, fired and banned from public service.

Actually, $6M came from businesses via ADID, $32.6M from a bond and DWM Clean Water program, and $12.7M from grants.
Funding - Atlanta Streetcar : Atlanta Streetcar

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Actually, $6M came from businesses via ADID, $32.6M from a bond and DWM Clean Water program, and $12.7M from grants.
Funding - Atlanta Streetcar : Atlanta Streetcar

And the $47.6 Million from TIGER can just be seen as returning our own tax dollars to us in the form of infrastructure.

Obviously brilliant Mr.Honcho knew that. Surely, though, he could link to where he predicted exactly those problems he claims to have to show how clever he is, without pointing to various, banned, members of this board.

Otherwise, how would we know that he really did predict anything?


Oh, and yeah, the math that has prevailed as accurate, or conservative in its estimates to date, show that ridership will increase with expansion. Given that we're doing better than the predictions even with these problems, I'm not too worried about meeting the other projections.

[arjay57]

I'd love to see us get back to the ridership level we had in 2015. Granted, it was free in those days but surely one measly dollar isn't a major deterrent. That's like 1/2 of a small cup of coffee at Starbucks.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I'd love to see us get back to the ridership level we had in 2015. Granted, it was free in those days but surely one measly dollar isn't a major deterrent. That's like 1/2 of a small cup of coffee at Starbucks.

The $1 fare is more to keep the homeless off.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The $1 fare is more to keep the homeless off.

Right, the fare shouldn't be a factor in ridership numbers.

[MikeHonchoATL]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Actually, $6M came from businesses via ADID, $32.6M from a bond and DWM Clean Water program, and $12.7M from grants.
Funding - Atlanta Streetcar : Atlanta Streetcar

Where did those government agencies get the money?

So almost all of it came from the taxpayers... Like I said.

Come stronger than that, son.