Conservative editors/radio people starting to speak up against commuter rail (Atlanta: mover, job market)

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by JPD

We'll get closer to being able to accommodate everyone's needs as time goes on and the various systems expand and interconnect.

Which was the plan when MARTA was built in the 70's and '80's. I used to take a bus from my apt in Stn Mtn to ride MARTA every day from Avondale to North Avenue to go to college (guess which one?), back when North Ave was the last stop on the N/S line. I took the subway in NYC to high school every day for 4 years, and rode the subway and bus all over the city. I took the "T" in Boston and have been a transit advocate for years. The key is that transit has to make sense, both from a route and a cost perspective.

I'm not against transit at all and probably have more rail and bus miles under my belt than most people weighing in on this subject. I don't want to make the perfect the enemy of the good, but building heavy rail is a long, and very expensive process. All I'm asking is whether or not that money is well spent or not. To connect existing lines such as the north line into Gwinnett County makes a ton of sense. To build new heavy rail lines from scratch, that only go downtown, to me may not make as much sense. I would welcome cross town light rail or expanded bus service that actually takes people places besides the rail station just to go downtown. These things can be done much more quickly and probably for a lower cost.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Which was the plan when MARTA was built in the 70's and '80's.

Yes, and they failed miserably at implementing that plan, which is why I am more excited by the prospect of non-MARTA transit options. The Brain Train from Atlanta to Athens is the one that would best suit my needs, but we're at the point where any step towards more mass transit is a step in the right direction. I would be thrilled to see ground broken on ANY rail project in the metro area, even one I would never use. I even support MARTA expansion, as it would probably force Gwinnett, and maybe the state (someday) to start pitching in some funding, as most other states with transit systems do.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by JPD

and maybe the state (someday) to start pitching in some funding, as most other states with transit systems do.

Agree with you 100% there. This sales tax based funding scheme is insane. It was implemented in the 70's when the surrounding counties and other parts of the state wanted no part of transit, especially in the "big city".

As far as building and supporting rail lines that I would never use, I agree with that too. However, the key is that it gets used and is worth the expense, and also that the funding couldn't have been used for another transit/commuter project that would possibly benefit more people or the same number of people for less money. Look to many cities (like Charlotte, Denver, Portland, San Diego, Buffalo, etc) to see that heavy rail isn't the only solution. Even a large part of the Boston and San Francisco systems is light rail. Even hugely expanding the current regional express bus system and HOV lanes (285 and GA 400 come to mind) would help and could be done much more quickly and for a lot less money. There could be impact almost immediately, not 10 years from now.

The object is to get cars off the roads and reduce overall emissions and fuel consumption, not have as much heavy rail to downtown Atlanta as possible.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Even hugely expanding the current regional express bus system and HOV lanes (285 and GA 400 come to mind) would help and could be done much more quickly and for a lot less money. There could be impact almost immediately, not 10 years from now.

The object is to get cars off the roads and reduce overall emissions and fuel consumption, not have as much heavy rail to downtown Atlanta as possible.

For a minute it looked like there was going to be an Express bus line from Tucker (where I live) to downtown (where I work). I was hoping to ride the bus to work, but Perdue killed funding for additional bus routes. Maybe it's back on the drawing board now that Sonny Perdue has had some sense beaten into him and/or flip-flopped on this issue.

I never use the highway during rush hour. Do people actually carpool and use the HOV laes as they are intended, or is it just a bunch of cheaters? I agree that more HOV is a good idea as long as people are using it as intended.

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by JPD

For a minute it looked like there was going to be an Express bus line from Tucker (where I live) to downtown (where I work). I was hoping to ride the bus to work, but Perdue killed funding for additional bus routes. Maybe it's back on the drawing board now that Sonny Perdue has had some sense beaten into him and/or flip-flopped on this issue.

I never use the highway during rush hour. Do people actually carpool and use the HOV laes as they are intended, or is it just a bunch of cheaters? I agree that more HOV is a good idea as long as people are using it as intended.

For the most part, HOV lanes are enforced and from a post on here earlier, the fine is $175.00. The problem with HOV lanes are that they basically end OTP. They should extend the HOV all the way out so that people who commute with multi passengers from Suwanee, Kennessaw, etc. should be able to ride all the way into the city. Now I wouldn't make it 24/7 like the current system.

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by neil0311

The object is to get cars off the roads and reduce overall emissions and fuel consumption, not have as much heavy rail to downtown Atlanta as possible.

I agree, I live downtown and transporation in the city is pretty efficient and the proposed beltline rail would intergrate the rest of the city. I do believe that the commuter rails should be a priority, but expanding MARTA to Gwinnet Place and North Point Mall should be fast tracked.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by onemanarmy

For the most part, HOV lanes are enforced and from a post on here earlier, the fine is $175.00. The problem with HOV lanes are that they basically end OTP. They should extend the HOV all the way out so that people who commute with multi passengers from Suwanee, Kennessaw, etc. should be able to ride all the way into the city. Now I wouldn't make it 24/7 like the current system.

HOV lanes seem to be enforced only at exit ramps. The ticket you're referring to...that was at the exit ramp onto Lindberg Rd. I got an HOV ticket at the exact same place when they HOV lanes were brand new (and the rules for HOV use on I-20 and I-85 were inconsistent, but that's a gripe for another day).

It seems to me people can hop in the HOV lane for several miles and then hop back into the regular lane, and as long as they don't try to exit using an HOV off-ramp there is little chance they'll get caught.

I could be wrong about this, but every HOV violator I've heard of has been caught when they used an HOV exit ramp. I've never heard of anyone getting caught red-handed in the HOV travel lane, yet I see violators every single time I use I-85.

I totally agree that HOV lanes should be extended much farther than they currently go.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by JPD

HOV lanes seem to be enforced only at exit ramps. The ticket you're referring to...that was at the exit ramp onto Lindberg Rd. I got an HOV ticket at the exact same place when they HOV lanes were brand new (and the rules for HOV use on I-20 and I-85 were inconsistent, but that's a gripe for another day).

It seems to me people can hop in the HOV lane for several miles and then hop back into the regular lane, and as long as they don't try to exit using an HOV off-ramp there is little chance they'll get caught.

I could be wrong about this, but every HOV violator I've heard of has been caught when they used an HOV exit ramp. I've never heard of anyone getting caught red-handed in the HOV travel lane, yet I see violators every single time I use I-85.

I totally agree that HOV lanes should be extended much farther than they currently go.

I've seen tickets at a non-exit ramp quite a few times on 75 South from Acworth, and especially at the 75/85 connector HOV lane where both lanes come together on the connector heading South.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

I've seen tickets at a non-exit ramp quite a few times on 75 South from Acworth, and especially at the 75/85 connector HOV lane where both lanes come together on the connector heading South.

Well good, I'm glad at least some of the selfish jackasses are getting busted.

[NSXV70]

As if we don't have enough cleaning up to do in Gwinnett County, especially the Norcross area, we will have more crime, graffiti, illegals, etc. to deal with if MARTA moves in.