Why isn't there an interstate/large freeway that connects Mac/Aug/Col? Why does Columbus have limited interstate access? (cities, bathroom)

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by southgeorgia

Agree.

II've been persuaded to think we should start at home; first with education, second with quality of life, and then work on attracting new businesses last. Because who wants to move their facility into a town with little or no educated work force, and bring their existing management into a town they'll absolutely hate living in.

Like I said that still goes back to Infrastructure..... I know for a Long time now Cities Like Macon, Augusta and Columbus,has worked very hard to bring change and develop a new way of living in there cities..Like Improving dump areas and promoting DT living and etc.... But My point is If you do get these projects off the ground Atlanta still has a 30 year lead and you just can't compete unless you promote outside investors to come in and develop projects to promote and draw in Diversity, various life styles and the rest will come.... But first local and state leaders should promote more in the 2nd tier metro core cities and the surrounding counties will benefit from their growth.... Local leaders can't do it along the entire state should.... you are right small town does get some help from the state but the amount they are granted is not enough to bring in noticeable growth..... For Example Metro Atlanta can thank Atlanta for their growth.... look at Mc Donaugh Ga is was a town of less 5,000 people and in the last 10 years because of Atlanta it has the amenities of a city of 60,000.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by yerocal

Giving investors, companies and etc. a higher incentives to locate in these other areas....Combine with incentives and binds by local leaders in projects...

So you're essentially saying that if a company approaches the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce with a proposal to locate its headquarters with hundreds of jobs to Atlanta, the chamber of commerce should alert state economic development officials so that they can offer that company more incentives to locate elsewhere in the state?

They said in if Metro Atlanta's growth continues in 5-10 years its is projected to have at least 7.3 million making it the US 4 largest metro behind NY, LA and Chicago. Thats crazy!!!!

with Ga pop almost at 10 millions there no reason why at least all the 2nd tier metros pop shouldn't have at least 600k-1M pop....if not the CSA should.

Says who? That's certainly not the case in Illinois.

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

So you're essentially saying that if a company approaches the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce with a proposal to locate its headquarters with hundreds of jobs to Atlanta, the chamber of commerce should alert state economic development officials so that they can offer that company more incentives to locate elsewhere in the state?



Says who? That's certainly not the case in Illinois.

No What I'm actually saying is that the state of GEORGIA should Invest more in Helping other part of Ga build better infrastructures and become more marketable for Development and growth... If Georgia would provided more support in in other parts of Ga Especially in the 2nd tier Metros.... you would have more companies, investors and etc not only proposing big plans in Metro Atlanta but in the metros of Macon, Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah as well.

These cities also has enough colleges, technical schools and etc which draws a huge amount of students pop from all over that could be hired at these new companies and would help the 2nd tier metros retained these students instead of them coming there to complete there education and leaving Macon, Augusta, Columbus and Savannah for ATL because of the lack of professional and higher paid jobs.

Second Air travel should be promoted in the second tier Cities....Alot of Company want to be able to catch flights.....Each Second tier city should have a least 3 flights to other major cities other than Atlanta.... this would also help draw in growth and could serve as small reliever airports for Atlanta...Think about if you could travel to Macon, Columbus and Augusta and get a direct flight to DC, Birmingham or Orlando instead of going to Harts field dealing without the hassles, crowds, delays and etc; Do you know how much that would decrease the chaos at the Harts field. Especially for those in south Ga or who are 2 hours from Jacksonville and Atlanta and closer to One of the Second tier.....
Ga could offer airlines an incentive along with local incentives to operate a couple flights out of the these regional airports and from there they would increase depending on traffic. this would help a lot of this city to generate more revenue so they can stop penny and nickeling their local citizen to meet budget because there is no big revenue generating because of the lack of high revenue businesses and projects coming into the area. But No thats to much like right because they would be worried it might succeed and would take revenue from Harts field and Atlanta and it would no longer hold the name of the world busiest airport.....

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by yerocal

I said that Atlanta Infrastructure make it hard to compete against and what attracts so much Growth...

That's part of it. They have all the amenities of a large city, and a massive employment base.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Ga's leaders should work with local leaders to help build stronger, better and more attractive infrastructure in other parts of Ga; so that Investors, companies and etc has more options that just being drawn to Atlanta..

They're already doing that.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Giving investors, companies and etc. a higher incentives to locate in these other areas....Combine with incentives and binds by local leaders in projects...

Why? The state is strapped for cash already. My property taxes are about to skyrocket because the state took away our homestead exemption. I'm all about lower taxes, but I'm against giving money away.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Push hard for Commuter rail from ATL to Macon, Athens and Columbus.....

Its pointless. The state isn't dense enough for that. Why live in columbus if you're going to work in ATL? This just isn't making any sense.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Offer airline Incentives or tax breaks to operate at there the 2nd tier airports.....

No.

Originally Posted by yerocal

you are right small town does get some help from the state but the amount they are granted is not enough to bring in noticeable growth....

Several companies have moved into our area recently, and did so with great incentives from the state, specifically OneGeorgia grant money. A company that brings 200 jobs is noticeable growth for us, especially since we still haven't made up all the lost jobs in the aftermath of NAFTA.

Originally Posted by yerocal

For Example Metro Atlanta can thank Atlanta for their growth.... look at Mc Donaugh Ga is was a town of less 5,000 people and in the last 10 years because of Atlanta it has the amenities of a city of 60,000.

I don't think anyone has argued against the city of ATL being responsible for the growth of metro atlanta. I'm not following the point you're trying to make.

Originally Posted by yerocal

No What I'm actually saying is that the state of GEORGIA should Invest more in Helping other part of Ga build better infrastructures and become more marketable for Development and growth..

Why should my town be working to get your town new industry, when we're competing for the same things? If you want us to share ideas, strategy, contacts, etc. . , that's fine. But I wouldn't tell a potential employer, "hey, why don't you go look at macon before deciding to move here. Its a nice place." If your town has something specific that we can't offer, then I would see no problem in trying to help in some way. But as long as we're going after the same market, its all fair game between us.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Second Air travel should be promoted in the second tier Cities....Alot of Company want to be able to catch flights.....Each Second tier city should have a least 3 flights to other major cities other than Atlanta...

Its up to the airport to advertise and promote air travel from the city, and I think almost all regional airports in the state have some type of advertising budget. The airport managers have to request the additional flights, and have to show delta/asa there is a legitimate need for the increased capacity.

And where are they going to get all the extra CRJ's to add these flights? The airlines are trying to make a profit; not do what's convenient for a few. Valdosta's enplanement totals are very high compared to the number of available seats, and they still struggle to keep the available flights we have now. Again, the airlines aren't a charity. They fly where they make money.

Originally Posted by yerocal

this would also help draw in growth and could serve as small reliever airports for Atlanta..

No. Without spending too much more time on this, I'll just say it doesn't work like that.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Think about if you could travel to Macon, Columbus and Augusta and get a direct flight to DC, Birmingham or Orlando instead of going to Harts field dealing without the hassles, crowds, delays and etc; Do you know how much that would decrease the chaos at the Harts field. Especially for those in south Ga or who are 2 hours from Jacksonville and Atlanta and closer to One of the Second tier.....

It would be nice, but apparently there isn't a need for those flights or would already be a reality. The airlines do track where all these people are coming from and where they're going. In south georgia, you can fly from valdosta, albany, or brunswick to ATL and connect to another city. Lots of people do this, but we drive to JAX for commercial air travel. Its much more convenient than ATL; not only is it closer, but its less expensive to fly out of JAX, and the airport is not nearly as crowded. To fly from VLD to ATL, and connect to another city costs significantly more than to fly direct from JAX. We also have daily shuttles from valdosta to the jacksonville airport. Its not provided by the city or the airport; a capitalist saw a need and filled it.

Originally Posted by yerocal

Ga could offer airlines an incentive along with local incentives to operate a couple flights out of the these regional airports and from there they would increase depending on traffic.

Again, throwing money at something like this just doesn't make sense. I'm not interested in wasting tax money so only a few people don't have to be inconvenienced.

Even tallahassee has very limited travel. You can fly to ATL, miami, and they just started offering flights to DFW. They had them years ago but got dropped because they weren't filling the seats. I think you can fly to orlando also, but I'm not sure about that.

Originally Posted by yerocal

But No thats to much like right because they would be worried it might succeed and would take revenue from Harts field and Atlanta and it would no longer hold the name of the world busiest airport..

The atlanta airport doesn't have any control over where airlines want to fly to. Didn't the CEO of delta say he wasn't interested in a reliever airport for atlanta? He knows how much its going to cost them if they have to operate between two airports in the city, and they're not interested. It wasn't long ago we were bailing them out just like we're doing with detroit now. Hartsfield already added another runway to increase capacity, and the design of the airport allows them to be insanely efficient at moving planes in and out.

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by southgeorgia

That's part of it. They have all the amenities of a large city, and a massive employment base.




They're already doing that.



Why? The state is strapped for cash already. My property taxes are about to skyrocket because the state took away our homestead exemption. I'm all about lower taxes, but I'm against giving money away.



Its pointless. The state isn't dense enough for that. Why live in columbus if you're going to work in ATL? This just isn't making any sense.



No.



Several companies have moved into our area recently, and did so with great incentives from the state, specifically OneGeorgia grant money. A company that brings 200 jobs is noticeable growth for us, especially since we still haven't made up all the lost jobs in the aftermath of NAFTA.



I don't think anyone has argued against the city of ATL being responsible for the growth of metro atlanta. I'm not following the point you're trying to make.




Why should my town be working to get your town new industry, when we're competing for the same things? If you want us to share ideas, strategy, contacts, etc. . , that's fine. But I wouldn't tell a potential employer, "hey, why don't you go look at macon before deciding to move here. Its a nice place." If your town has something specific that we can't offer, then I would see no problem in trying to help in some way. But as long as we're going after the same market, its all fair game between us.




Its up to the airport to advertise and promote air travel from the city, and I think almost all regional airports in the state have some type of advertising budget. The airport managers have to request the additional flights, and have to show delta/asa there is a legitimate need for the increased capacity.

And where are they going to get all the extra CRJ's to add these flights? The airlines are trying to make a profit; not do what's convenient for a few. Valdosta's enplanement totals are very high compared to the number of available seats, and they still struggle to keep the available flights we have now. Again, the airlines aren't a charity. They fly where they make money.




No. Without spending too much more time on this, I'll just say it doesn't work like that.




It would be nice, but apparently there isn't a need for those flights or would already be a reality. The airlines do track where all these people are coming from and where they're going. In south georgia, you can fly from valdosta, albany, or brunswick to ATL and connect to another city. Lots of people do this, but we drive to JAX for commercial air travel. Its much more convenient than ATL; not only is it closer, but its less expensive to fly out of JAX, and the airport is not nearly as crowded. To fly from VLD to ATL, and connect to another city costs significantly more than to fly direct from JAX. We also have daily shuttles from valdosta to the jacksonville airport. Its not provided by the city or the airport; a capitalist saw a need and filled it.




Again, throwing money at something like this just doesn't make sense. I'm not interested in wasting tax money so only a few people don't have to be inconvenienced.

Even tallahassee has very limited travel. You can fly to ATL, miami, and they just started offering flights to DFW. They had them years ago but got dropped because they weren't filling the seats. I think you can fly to orlando also, but I'm not sure about that.



The atlanta airport doesn't have any control over where airlines want to fly to. Didn't the CEO of delta say he wasn't interested in a reliever airport for atlanta? He knows how much its going to cost them if they have to operate between two airports in the city, and they're not interested. It wasn't long ago we were bailing them out just like we're doing with detroit now. Hartsfield already added another runway to increase capacity, and the design of the airport allows them to be insanely efficient at moving planes in and out.

Well you have a lot of people that think like YOU and when a topic like this comes up there no need to even discuss any further because if you're not entering the conversation with an open mind and you already have you mind set on NO then, No matter what i say or how it sounds you still would be against it.... and that also one of the reasons why Metro Atlanta is so Successful is because there are less people who think like you and approach ever proposal with an open mind..... That Has been the case in a lot of the Smaller areas, where people are always against proposals and any successful business owner, entrepreneur or investor knows that it takes money to make it..... Nothing is free especially... So if it take more taxes to give incentive to bring in more revenue and improve the area as a whole then by all means do it; because in the long run it will pay off.......

For an example if Macon gains 10 new companies which is expected to bring about 800- 2000 jobs each that not only benefits Macon but the surrounding areas... Because most of the people will choose to live in the suburban counties any ways.... So it these companies continue to grown and more companies are attracted that will brings in more people who will build more houses, and neighbor hoods all round Macon in neighboring counties which would spur retail, and other commercial growth which would also generate revenue, diverse living and more amenities for those other cities and surrounding counties; eventually drawing other companies to locate in these counties as well. Which has been the same affect that has been happening in Metro Atlanta for years.... It all started with Atlanta.....

[Columbusattorney]

Originally Posted by southgeorgia

I disagree. Its 4-lanes all the way already, and there is always minimal traffic on the highway. The towns you pass through on the way are very small, so you're looking at one, maybe two, traffic lights to stop at. The speed limit is 65mph most of the way, and the top interstate speed limit (that i've seen) is 70mph; I don't think you can make an argument that it will get you from columbus to tallahassee faster (not substantially).


Albany has a limited-access bypass around the city, and thomasville has a bypass around it in every direction.

An interstate from columbus through macon, and on to augusta makes better sense.




Hard to say, really. I'm not an expert on the matter. But how would columbus benefit from a non-stop highway to tallahassee?

You would have to think there is minimal traffic from tallahassee to atlanta, so I don't see it as a major benefit for them; at least not one that is worth the cost.

My friends in TLH that have business interests in ATL fly anyway. Heck, delta's daily flights from valdosta to ATL are usually filled near capacity, and we have a direct route up 75.

I think our area is disconnected from metro ATL anyway; we don't need the direct access. I only travel to ATL for business, and the occasional friend/family visit.

tallahassee, thomasville, and valdosta are an independent economic area. and jacksonville is our major city hub.

Makes good sense to me and everyone else and of course no answer from original poster saying we are twisting things around again..lol

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by yerocal

Well you have a lot of people that think like YOU and when a topic like this comes up there no need to even discuss any further because if you're not entering the conversation with an open mind and you already have you mind set on NO then, No matter what i say or how it sounds you still would be against it.... and that also one of the reasons why Metro Atlanta is so Successful is because there are less people who think like you and approach ever proposal with an open mind..... That Has been the case in a lot of the Smaller areas, where people are always against proposals and any successful business owner, entrepreneur or investor knows that it takes money to make it..... Nothing is free especially... So if it take more taxes to give incentive to bring in more revenue and improve the area as a whole then by all means do it; because in the long run it will pay off.......

A lot...actually, most...of what you're saying just isn't economically feasible, which is what he's saying. You are really oversimplifying the way things should and are supposed to work. And tax breaks and incentives don't always pay off.

For an example if Macon gains 10 new companies which is expected to bring about 800- 2000 jobs each that not only benefits Macon but the surrounding areas

I think this is part of the problem right here. The focus should be on growing companies and increasing innovation instead of luring a company that will just leave for greener pastures in 20-25 years. And even for companies that do relocate, most of them are not going to create anything near 800-2000 jobs; that's probably 1 out of 10-15 that will.

You just need to go ahead and move to Atlanta.

[Columbusattorney]

I think this is part of the problem right here. The focus should be on growing companies and increasing innovation instead of luring a company that will just leave for greener pastures in 20-25 years. And even for companies that do relocate, most of them are not going to create anything near 800-2000 jobs; that's probably 1 out of 10-15 that will.

I agree with you.
That is what is happening in Columbus now and is totally overblown by Atlcol1.
Thanks for your honest post.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by Columbusattorney

I agree with you.
That is what is happening in Columbus now and is totally overblown by Atlcol1.
Thanks for your honest post.

This has nothing to do with Columbus specifically; I'm speaking in general. Don't try to pit me against anybody.

[Columbusattorney]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

This has nothing to do with Columbus specifically; I'm speaking in general. Don't try to pit me against anybody.

The thread is about Columbus limited access and not cities in general.
Not trying to make friends.......