MARTA News (Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Marietta: sale, air quality, housing)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Combine all those together, especially combined with #6 in my opinion, and Atlanta would have a better metro transit system in the making. But, I doubt anytime in our lifetimes it will even approach any of the fantasy maps (sadly). If ever. Commuter rail would be a huge one, but I see zero positive movement still on that. Even one step backwards, the one planned line (Clayton) getting cancelled, and watered down to bus routes as usual.

In the U.S., mass transit (especially rail transit) has become a multigenerational thing. It's not likely that anyone can expect to see significant changes within their own lifetime. However, in the short term, many studies can be done and taxes can be raised. This has the potential for creating change for our grandchildren and future generations.

primal, didn't you create an excellent future transit map a while back? If you still have that you should repost it.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by arjay57

In the U.S., mass transit (especially rail transit) has become a multigenerational thing. It's not likely that anyone can expect to see significant changes within their own lifetime. However, in the short term, many studies can be done and taxes can be raised. This has the potential for creating change for our grandchildren and future generations.

primal, didn't you create an excellent future transit map a while back? If you still have that you should repost it.

This is a load of bologna. When we look at how Japan and China handle fixing infrastructure and building rail, we look inept at best. We can build rail just like we can build freeways and roads.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

This is a load of bologna. When we look at how Japan and China handle fixing infrastructure and building rail, we look inept at best. We can build rail just like we can build freeways and roads.

That's just not how we roll here in the U.S. Americans love their cars and the ability to get up and go wherever they want on their own schedule.

Also consider the built cost. If we suddenly started putting trains everywhere, what would happen to our vast parking infrastructure?

[GreggT]

Just check out the Marta cars and the graffiti, give you an idea of the quality of service!

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by arjay57

That's just not how we roll here in the U.S. Americans love their cars and the ability to get up and go wherever they want on their own schedule.

Also consider the built cost. If we suddenly started putting trains everywhere, what would happen to our vast parking infrastructure?

And that's what makes Atlanta one of the most American cities in the U.S.

[T Block]

The BART heavy-rail system near SF has had a surprising amount of additional development.

But the MARTA train in Atlanta reached the airport and reached North Sandy Springs. Now it would seem be relatively easy to run the MARTA train from College Park to Palmetto, up on columns along the railroad tracks, such that commuter buses in Newnan could connect to it. Similarly the MARTA train could be extended to Clayton County, up on columns along the railroad tracks, from East Point.

Elsewhere, I suggest dedicated bus lanes, with a few sidetrack areas, such that buses could run in both directions in one lane. The dedicated bus lanes could have steering grooves, or electronic devices, for bus steering. But the buses could leave a dedicated bus lane at one point and re-enter at another point. And the buses could run hydrogen for zero local air pollution. Now there's really not much difference between running compressed-natural-gas at 3000 psi and running hydrogen at 5000 psi.

This idea of streetcars, with metal wheels on metal tracks and with overhead powerlines, seems to be an attempt to go back in time 100 years more. Metal wheels on metal tracks are noisy and overhead powerlines are contraption.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by GreggT

Just check out the Marta cars and the graffiti, give you an idea of the quality of service!

What graffiti?

[LynnHarris1]

MARTA's station development next to future Microsoft campus is a go

MARTA leaders are now officially summoning developers to what they describe as a unique opportunity in a growing but traditionally underserved Westside neighborhood.

The Bankhead TOD will consume about 5 and ½ acres in the 1300 block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway..."

https://urbanize.city/atlanta/post/m...crosoft-campus

SOURCE: Urbanize Atlanta

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by T Block

Elsewhere, I suggest dedicated bus lanes, with a few sidetrack areas, such that buses could run in both directions in one lane. The dedicated bus lanes could have steering grooves, or electronic devices, for bus steering. But the buses could leave a dedicated bus lane at one point and re-enter at another point. And the buses could run hydrogen for zero local air pollution. Now there's really not much difference between running compressed-natural-gas at 3000 psi and running hydrogen at 5000 psi.

That sounds like a durn good idea.

[primaltech]

This is fantasy for sure, but they should take every road or street ITP (if not the whole 5-county area) that has more than 1 lane for cars in each direction (like every main corridor basically), and only allow cars and private vehicles in the one lane. And, I mean, really enforce it. Have physical barriers and colored pavement and clear signage, and enforce it with big fines and such.

Then they could give the rest of the space to exclusively buses, and nice, permanent BRT bus station and related infrastructure (and emergency vehicles could use the lanes too, of course.) That would solve metro transit, by essentially adding a whole bunch of BRT lines overnight, basically. For minimal cost. Also it would make crossing streets so much easier and safer.

And anything that's currently more than 2 lanes each way, after the one lane for cars and one for buses only, give the rest of the space back to pedestrians. Extra wide sidewalks, almost like European-style pedestrian plazas, would be beautiful for Atlanta, and would promote a culture of walking and being more active and healthy.

Yes it would make car traffic worse, but that's exactly what needs to happen, in order to get more people out of cars. Car congestion is what should reasonably be expected with a large metro where almost everyone gets around by cars. But it would also give everyone a reliable, congestion delay-free transportation option. Therefore, all in all, it would make commuting and navigating the city/metro much better, along with beautification, air quality benefits, all that.

But of course, that'll never happen, because you know, myopia. Lack of vision.

Anyway, maybe I could make a new map that shows what could be accomplished if y'all would rethink the whole game, reduce the car lanes and give a portion of that precious transportation space to high frequency, reliable, high capacity BRT lines. Also, the buses could be futuristic, autonomous, attractive looking. Much like light rail on wheels.



If building new rail is going to continue to be an endless failure (and building new roads even barely happens around there), then I say rethink what you're doing with the existing transportation space that you already have.