I-85 bridge near Piedmont Rd Collapses. (Atlanta, Decatur: furniture, removal, highways)

[cqholt]

If something falls across a rail anywhere, that part of the system can't be bypassed.

We have seen where disabled trains and other mechanic issues have effected the system, in which time MARTA single tracks around the issue or establishes a bus bridge. Neither lasts the duration as I-85 bridge repair.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by cqholt

We have seen where disabled trains and other mechanic issues have effected the system, in which time MARTA single tracks around the issue or establishes a bus bridge. Neither lasts the duration as I-85 bridge repair.

Already talked about this. If a road becomes impassable, you usually have other immediate options. If a track becomes impassable, then single tracking might be an option, which of course usually slows the system down. If not, then a bus bridge is something, but don't pretend it's just a quick work-around. It likely adds substantial time and multiple transfers to the commute. Fact remains: our rail is subject to the same issues. There's nothing beyond the simple cross. No way to re-route your commute. A metro like ours should have at least three times the rail we do.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

Already talked about this. If a road becomes impassable, you usually have other immediate options. If a track becomes impassable, then single tracking might be an option, which of course usually slows the system down. If not, then a bus bridge is something, but don't pretend it's just a quick work-around. It likely adds substantial time and multiple transfers to the commute. Fact remains: our rail is subject to the same issues. There's nothing beyond the simple cross. No way to re-route your commute. A metro like ours should have at least three times the rail we do.

I thought you and others have brought up the lack the redundant arterial roads and freeways? Even the other transit systems, not NYC, lacks express tracks; WMATA, BARTA, SEPTA, CTA, MTBA.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I thought you and others have brought up the lack the redundant arterial roads and freeways? Even the other transit systems, not NYC, lacks express tracks; WMATA, BARTA, SEPTA, CTA, MTBA.

There is a lack of direct, same alternatives, but they are there. I can go from an interstate to a two-lane neighborhood road and still get somewhere. A train can't just pull off at the next exit and hop to a different rail. But keep in mind that some MARTA stations are miles apart, and the bridge will put the bus in the same traffic, so it's not like a bus bridge is an immediate, quick alternative that involves little effort for the passenger. It's not exactly convenient.

[cqholt]

So what happens after improper storage of combustible material under a freeway viaduct causes the freeway to collapse? You give the boss a $100K/year rise.

On Tuesday, the State Transportation Board will consider a 40 percent raise for Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry. Under the proposal, his pay would rise from $250,000 to $350,000 a year – far more than top transportation officials in other states examined by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

It would be the second big raise in a row for McMurry, who was hired for the job in 2015 at a salary of $185,000.

But the extra take-home pay is just part of the benefit. McMurry would also get a big boost in his state-funded pension, which is based in part on his top two years of earnings. If he retired after 30 years with the state with a top salary of $350,000 for two years, he’d make $210,000 annually in pension benefits.

That’s an extra $99,000 annually more than the pension he’d have earned if he’d retired at a top salary of $185,000, according to AJC calculations.

Georgia official may get big pension boost to go with raise

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by cqholt

So what happens after improper storage of combustible material under a freeway viaduct causes the freeway to collapse? You give the boss a $100K/year rise.

Georgia official may get big pension boost to go with raise

Sounds like they're trying to keep him from bolting to the private sector. This was also interesting:

However, McMurry would make less than MARTA CEO Keith Parker, whose base salary is $369,220. Several state university administrators and other state officials also earn more than $350,000.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Sounds like they're trying to keep him from bolting to the private sector. This was also interesting:

Pay KP whatever we need to keep him. Also, MARTA did not catch fire and collapse due to poor storage.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Pay KP whatever we need to keep him. Also, MARTA did not catch fire and collapse due to poor storage.

No, they caught on fire due to poor maintenance. That's why the south line was closed during Snowmaggeddon.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Pay KP whatever we need to keep him. Also, MARTA did not catch fire and collapse due to poor storage.

But you have to give McMurry major sleaze points for deflection of culpability. Throw a few homeless guys under the bus and you're good to go!

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

But you have to give McMurry major sleaze points for deflection of culpability. Throw a few homeless guys under the bus and you're good to go!

Hard to throw them under the bus when they've burned down the bridge that the buses were going to be driving on.