Why all the opposition to MARTA and public transportation? (Atlanta: crime, home)

[spikeboy25]

This is my first post writing on the Atlanta forum, so forgive me for any lack of intimate knowledge I may have of the Atlanta area. Anyway, I'm currently a junior in college in Middle Tennessee wanting out of my area ASAP as soon as I graduate college. Atlanta is on the top for areas I would relocate to most when I get my degree, as I want to live in a big, virbrant city/large metropolitan area.

I had relatives that up until recently lived in Gwinnett County, more specificially Lawrenceville and also some close family friends who live in Marietta. One of my biggest gripes of the Altanta area is the absolute HORRIBLE traffic the metro area constantly has to deal with. BTW, I am someone who has family or close friends that live all over major metro areas in the Eastern US. So places like New York, Philly, Chicago, Charlotte, and Orlando are places I know how bad traffic can be and I can easily say that Atlanta is easily the worst out of these areas (with Orlando seeming to get worse with each time I visit).

Seeing as Atlanta's metro area is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) grwoing in the nation and it is becoming more urban, why is there such oppositon to MARTA and possibly extending rail services to immediate counties outside Fulton? When I go and visit family in New Jersey and want to go to either New York or Philly or go visit family outside Chicago, the public transportation available afforded to me is one of the biggest positives about visiting the area. My family that used to live in Lawrenceville (recently moved to Kansas City due to the nearby Gerneral Motors factory closing) originally lived in New Jersey for years and said that while they did like living in the Atlanta area, the lack of good public transportation was a major headache. They said that the highways were poorly planned and that getting into the city, which they liked to do, took close to an hour despite only living roughly 30 miles or less away. They never understood why so many were opposed when they said that was one of the biggest positives about living in the northeast.

I just would like to know why MARTA is so looked down upon by many of metro Atlanta's residents. I know there is talk of having government taking over becoming a disaster but other large public transporation systems across the nation are run by their respective state and/or city governments and do fine (New York and Chicago's subways are great, so was Philly's though I only rode their system on two occassions).

[JPD]

People feared that (and many STILL think) MARTA trains would deliver criminals to their neighborhoods.

As it turns out, despite keeping MARTA away, much of Gwinett County has turned into a crime infested hellhole.

It's one of the top stories in the AJC today:
http://www.ajc.com/news/drug-war-hits-home-257337.html

Conversely, most areas near MARTA stations are either thriving or are slowly but steadily changing for the better.

[Merin]

This should be fun

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by spikeboy25

Seeing as Atlanta's metro area is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) grwoing in the nation and it is becoming more urban, why is there such oppositon to MARTA and possibly extending rail services to immediate counties outside Fulton?

What opposition?

The last time residents of Gwinnett county were formally asked about it, the idea was voted against, but it was a pretty close vote.**

Residents of Cobb County haven't been asked in 20 years.

Have residents of any other metro Atlanta counties (besides Fulton) been asked about MARTA or the development of mass transportation anytime in the past decade or two?

I think most of the "opposition" you hear about is anecdotal, and in reality is little more than bitter memories of opposition which existed 20 years ago in what were then the still developing and partially rural (and rather conservative) outer regions of the metro.

Those former outer regions are now fully suburban and are demographically and politically quite different from their former selves.

When I've heard critical opinions, I've found that they are mainly directed at MARTA specifically, not mass transportation or rail systems in general.

Just my two cents. Note that I've only lived in Cobb for five years ... I have no memories of what the county might've been like before that...



** - I hope I'm remembering that correctly ... it was mentioned in this forum, but I have have no firsthand knowledge and am simply parroting what I remember hearing on C-D. For all I know it was another county!

[Brillemeister]

Historically, most opposition to MARTA has been related to white-on-black racism. Even my parents, who now wish they could catch a train in Stone Mountain or Snellville, were once that way.

[northstar22]

Also, Atlantans have a love affair with suburban sprawl and the suburban car culture. Many suburban residents would rather drive everywhere than take public transportation.

Another thing, I don't get this "public transportation will bring crime" argument. How will it bring crime? Can criminals not drive to 'safe' areas if they wish to commit crimes there?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by JPD

People feared that (and many STILL think) MARTA trains would deliver criminals to their neighborhoods.

As it turns out, despite keeping MARTA away, much of Gwinett County has turned into a crime infested hellhole.

It's one of the top stories in the AJC today:
Drug war hits home for Gwinnett residents *| ajc.com

Conversely, most areas near MARTA stations are either thriving or are slowly but steadily changing for the better.

I don't really see a MARTA connection in that article...? Oh wait. Duh. That was your point.

Nevermind.

[grneyedmustang]

Originally Posted by flyingwriter

Another thing, I don't get this "public transportation will bring crime" argument. How will it bring crime? Can criminals not drive to 'safe' areas if they wish to commit crimes there?

Because no one is going to notice you on the train with that 60" TV you just stole.

[jhtrico1850]

I don't think it's an opposition to the idea of rail itself but more so opposition to MARTA. A few of my gripes for example, a bum walked in as I walked out (lax enforcement bringing in strange creatures), gross bathrooms, morning delays as I freeze, etc.

That aside, yes more rail, it takes too long to drive from Suwanee to Doraville :-)

[Adric]

I think people are gung ho for transit until they realize they have to pay for it. Mention anything about a half cent tax increase and people revolt like you have just imposed a police state curfew.

Also, if and when MARTA does go to the burbs, I would like to see a more decentralized coverage area. I think tansit is most effective when A) people don't have to walk very far once off the train and B) you don't have to take a train all the way down 85 to downtown then all the way back up 75 to Cobb county. Have routes that go from Norcross to Roswell, Marietta to Woodstock, etc. Most Atlantans don't commute from the burbs to downtown but rather all over the place. Transit should cater as such to be successful in Atlanta.