Who thinks the MARTA should be expanded to include Cobb,Gwinnett, and the other metro Atlanta counties? (Columbus: middle-class, apartment complexes)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by JPD

Is that a serious question? I know lots of people who pay that much or more due to where they live and work.

They've got more money than I do, then. :-)

I guess I'd be paying roughly that were my commute 30-35 miles/day, assuming similar levels of traffic, and I know folks here who drive further than that. I'm not sure that I'd consider that sane behavior, but everyone has their own set of priorities I guess. :-) Plus I realize that sometimes things just work out badly in terms of commute distance (companies move, people switch jobs, etc.).

When I did contract work and drove 59 miles each way (Eden Prairie, MN to Owatonna, MN) I also got mileage reimbursement which was considerably greater than my gas expenses, so that wasn't a bad situation in terms of net expenses. Without that, though...

[Merin]

Originally Posted by wxjay

You just can't compare the two unfortunately. The stench of racism here in Georgia is so horrible, whether folks want to admit it or not. That's not to say it doesn't exist elsewhere, but I have noticed it SO MUCH more here, particularly on issues of planned developments, transportation, etc.

As an African American woman I have actually found the Atlanta area has a bigger "classist" issue then racist. The only time I have issues with racism is when other African Americans react to my Caucasian husband.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by xxman777

I’m sorry but Atlanta is a major city. If you want your massive house with several acres of land, no poor people, no transit you need to be somewhere else.

Agreed. I think there's a few folks on here who think they're living in Orange County, California (and they're not - but maybe they should).

[green_mariner]

There are many people living in the metro Atlanta area who want it to be an Orange County. I wouldn't want it that way.

[gt6974a]

If you had a vote tomorrow with a rail that went from Acworth to downtown, with a stop at, or around, every exit (including park-n-ride), I'd be first in line to vote 'YES'.

However, the other 98% of Cobb Residents would be behind me voting 'NO'.

And it's not b/c of crime, it's b/c it still wouldn't be convenient for them to get to work and they don't want to pay taxes to support it. And I wouldn't blame them. Plain and simple.

I'll use my family (semi-extended) as an example

I'm 28, I have roughly 17 semi-direct relatives (parents, step-parents, sisters, step-sisters, step-brothers, and their inlaws) that all live in areas that are serviced by Cobb or Douglas express bus.

Of the entire ,none work directly downtown nor along the rail line that would run downtown, and therefore would vote 'NO'.

Including my friends, cousins, and other regular run ins, I can only count 2 others that could reallistically use the rail.

That's why I'd push the BRT w/HOV before rail aka(Shock and Awe Transit Plan) to
a) justify funding for some type of mass transit (exponentially cheaper than rail)
b) encourage the build up of transit infrastructure to lay the groundwork for rail in the future.
c) convince people it can work

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

However, the other 98% of Cobb Residents would be behind me voting 'NO'.

And it's not b/c of crime, it's b/c it still wouldn't be convenient for them to get to work and they don't want to pay taxes to support it.
I'm 28, I have roughly 17 semi-direct relatives (parents, step-parents, sisters, step-sisters, step-brothers, and their inlaws) that all live in areas that are serviced by Cobb or Douglas express bus.

Of the entire ,none work directly downtown nor along the rail line that would run downtown, and therefore would vote 'NO'.

Please don't take this as a personal attack on your or your family, it's meant for all of those who you say would vote "no" because as you say again, "it would not benefit them" personally. That's really a very selfish mentality. Again - for *anyone* - not directing it at you specifically.

There are a lot of things we pay taxes on that may not directly benefit us. Certain elderly programs that some of us may never use, our tax dollars on some level filter down to food stamp programs and public housing as well. The Fema trailers that got trashed ... who paid for those? What about sidewalks, or parks that are in another part of the county that we don't live in and get to use? What about particular roads that we don't drive on but were built with our tax money?

You get the point - just because YOU (you as in anyone) don't use something, doesn't mean that you should vote "no" on it so that no one can benefit from it.

People need to realize that while it may not directly benefit you personally, a transit system in Atlanta that is expanded beyond it's current boundaries *WILL* help a number of folks, and it WILL take cars off the roads. Less cars. Less exhaust. It's a trickle-down effect - you may not ride the trains, but in some way it will benefit the overall quality of life for everyone by simply taking cars off the roads. So I think all of these "no people" need to stop thinking just of themselves and vote "yes" instead simply because as a whole, the metro area DOES need it. If 1% is going to bankrupt someone, they need to move to Mayberry because they're teetering on the edge as it is.

Also - people should write in to MARTA and their elected officials touting the benefits of LIGHT RAIL. Light rail (similar to a trolley, but more modern), costs only about one-third to build as heavy rail does (such as MARTA). Light rail works extremely well in cities that have it - as a matter of fact, in Portland, their MAX service is in heavy demand - people are actually begging for it to be brought into their areas. If they switched their focus to light rail systems in the burbs, they could cover three times the areas for the same cost as just putting in 3 heavy rail stations.

Something to think about before voting "no" for the heck of it.

[JPD]

Greg's right. Unfortunately, we are part of a very selfish society. Everyone wants to talk about how America is the greatest country in the history of the universe, but when it comes to paying taxes (i.e. the DUES that are NECSESSARY to keep it as good as everyone says it is), people become loathesome stingy whiners.

[south-to-west]

Greg,

Great post.

I also think that development will eventually be configured around transit stations as firms would be demanding office space/facilities located near rapid transit lines. Also, there is a significant segment of potential homebuyers that would buy a townhome or condo built near a rapid transit station for the convenience. This is the same thing that happened with the proliferation of interstate highways in this country, and we're seeing the same thing now with transit stops--i.e. Lindbergh Center, Sandy Springs, Decatur, etc.

[JPD]

There may have been a time when MARTA stations were located in bad neighborhoods, but that is not the reality now. Look at the warp-speed increase in home values around Candler Park and East Lake (those homes seem to go up by 100k every year). Look at the condos that are sprouting like weeds in the vicinity of the King Memorial station...that was "the ghetto" two years ago. Chamblee station area has seen lots of new development, as well.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

If 1% is going to bankrupt someone, they need to move to Mayberry because they're teetering on the edge as it is.

That's the point, many Cobb residents moved here when it was 'Mayberry', including my family.

Yes, 1% won't bankrupt people, but like you said people already have to pay for stuff they don't use or see.......

...with the upcoming election it seems residents of Cobb (and everywhere else) are going to be paying more taxes as it is, assuming the Dems get in the house.

1% isn't much, but when it does get snowpiled in with other taxes, most residents won't use it, and if they can vote to turn down a tax....they will!

Cobb barely passed the last SPLOST which was to improve roads, courthouse, etc. They're not going to pass one for RAIL.