Who thinks the MARTA should be expanded to include Cobb,Gwinnett, and the other metro Atlanta counties? (Marietta: rental, prices)

[Derrick_TheRiskTaker]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

NYLATINQT and atlantagreg30127

Again, lets not make this personal but y'all are steering the thread towards politics. I'll repeat (as atlantagreg has pointed out) that most people in these outlining areas knew what they were getting into when they moved there, several people did move there when it was 'mayberry', and they don't want to be forced into paying for something they don't want and/or use.

If y'all are going to take pot shots then lets call a spade a spade. Most of the European countries would be under Nazi rule and they'd have Autobahns(aka Freeways) running everywhere. If it wasn't for the US's demand for oil, the middle east wouldn't have a pot to **** in.

I could address healthcare as well as unemployment rates in Europe and the middle east but this thread is about transportation.

Well spoken. I agree.

[richard112360]

Unfortunately Gov Roy Barnes had his head handed to him on a platter after supporting the removal of the confederate emblem from the Georgia flag. African American voters stayed home that year and he was kicked out of office. Can anyone here name anything of importance that Sonny our current Governor has done in his 6+years in office?

[JPD]

Didn't he make sweetened iced tea the official state drink?

That's pretty important.

He won a bet on a little league game against Texas a couple weeks ago.

That's pretty important.

Maybe he's been busy helping old ladys rake their lawns and weed their gardens after they sent him their "Sonny-Do" lists.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by backfist

But what's ironic is that the transplants who bring the increase in traffic, will also eventually bring the necessary votes to get this done.

They also are the one's selling their $hit box up in New York for $750K and coming down here and buying a huge, new house way out in the suburbs.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

They also are the one's selling their $hit box up in New York for $750K and coming down here and buying a huge, new house way out in the suburbs.

Eh, lots of NYC young professionals will move to Buckhead to take residence in a posh condo before moving out to the suburbs. I'm not saying what you are saying doesn't happen, but I would also believe that city center living is still on some folks' minds when they move down here.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by wxjay

Eh, lots of NYC young professionals will move to Buckhead to take residence in a posh condo before moving out to the suburbs. I'm not saying what you are saying doesn't happen, but I would also believe that city center living is still on some folks' minds when they move down here.

Then they don't have to worry about it b/c Marta is already downtown and funded by Fulton/Dekalb taxes.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by richard112360

Unfortunately Gov Roy Barnes had his head handed to him on a platter after supporting the removal of the confederate emblem from the Georgia flag. African American voters stayed home that year and he was kicked out of office. Can anyone here name anything of importance that Sonny our current Governor has done in his 6+years in office?

I can't. I wasn't old enough to vote in 2002 and my father's vote didn't seem to count as Soony Perdue won. I voted this past election. I didn't vote for Perdue. I voted for Taylor. I wanted Perdue out of office. Unfortunately, he still won. Apparently, it doesn't always matter who you vote for if there are many more people who will viote for the opposite candidate.

[BillWagner]

MARTA has always been a mismanaged government program. Poor management with corrupt politicans controlling the operation. In the first year a contract was assigned to a company in Italy to build the first trains for millions of dollars. The man that ran the purchasing had a relative that owned or was part owner of the company contracted. Within the first year the company closed down and left MARTA with no parts or trains to replace broken and trains that needed to be replaced. This type mismanagement is why Atlanta constantly turns down MARTA. When MARTA was building to the airport through East Point and College Park, which used to be a busy business district, the construction and congestion closed all the businesses up and down Hwy 29. Since this has become a very run down area and still is recovering from the construction raping of these two cities. Everytime they run out of money they look to expand to another county to suck up some of their money. Yes Atlanta needs a rapid transit system, but not another pork barrel project to suck up tax money and make politician relatives wealthy. MARTA is more of a reputable company now, but because of the corruption in the government, many people are still skeptical. Just a few months ago they wanted a rail system to Macon through Henry County to hook up to MARTA on the south end in College Park eventually and it was voted out. People here still remember. There has been talk of a rail system to connect MARTA on the nortside to run to Chattanooga and it was voted down. MARTA is the reason. Gwinnett and Cobb both run independent bus routes to meet up with MARTA. This is about as close as you will see it come for a while. MARTA has never been able to meet a budget, cost overuns have ment tax increases for Fulton County to bail them out for decades. MARTA needs to be outsourced for connection routes through bidding with transparent bidding (this is a joke for the local politicians, will never happen). Too many people wanting to jump on the money. To see an example of this just look at the HOV lane projects wanting to charge to use them or the toll they want to widen Hwy 316 to Athens. As an example Hwy 400 to Alpharetta was paid for decades ago and they are still collecting tolls everyday. Ga DOT is part of the problem. Too much money and can't fiqure a good way to spend it all. This is why all people do not want MARTA going anywhere else. Sorry, but that is the way it is and has been...

[green_mariner]

IN other words, if I want a city that is transit-friendly where I don't always need a car, I should live in another city. That is what I see. I'm only living here because I'm a college student with no car and, well, you get the picture. That is why I plan to leave Georgia after college.

[westboy33]

i think MARTA should b expanded because it cut down on traffic n the smog levels for sure. also it would b very convienent n NewYork,Chicago,Boston,etc. hve a good transit system n so should we!