DOT Returns Revised Transportation Wish List to Atlanta Region (Boston: rail, relocation to)

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Let me get this straight: Some people are opposed to the referendum BECAUSE it dares to include funding for the Beltline? With voters like that, no wonder there's a real chance this referendum won't pass.

I think they are against it because there is little evidence that the Beltline does anything to address the city's transportation needs. It does do many positive things to spur development downtown and redevelop the interior of the city, but it really isn't going to help the region's transportation network. 30 years down the road it might be an integral part of the cities transportation grid (largely due ot the infill the Beltline stimulates), but do you really think it will help much in the first few years? I think that is the problem people have with the Beltline.

[arjay57]

Although I'm a huge fan of the Beltline I'd almost rather see it go its own way if it's going to be a show-stopper for the TIA.

The Beltline was planned and funding was supposed to be sufficient before the idea of a TIA came along. Hopefully sufficient funding can be raised via the TAD and through other sources to at least get the NE quadrant developed with transit. That's only 4.5 miles.

If it's successful, then it should spur further interest and allow the city to go back to the well with funding requests. Of course the Beltline has never been purely a transportation project. It's parks and trails components have always been big selling points.

And think about this. If this were being built in Alpharetta or Perimeter, would City of Atlanta residents be as eager about seeing that they get TIA money?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Let me get this straight: Some people are opposed to the referendum BECAUSE it dares to include funding for the Beltline? With voters like that, no wonder there's a real chance this referendum won't pass.

A real chance? Let's not kid ourselves. There 's NO WAY this thing will come anywhere close to passing.

I say that as a pretty strong supporter.

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by gtcorndog

I think they are against it because there is little evidence that the Beltline does anything to address the city's transportation needs. It does do many positive things to spur development downtown and redevelop the interior of the city, but it really isn't going to help the region's transportation network. 30 years down the road it might be an integral part of the cities transportation grid (largely due ot the infill the Beltline stimulates), but do you really think it will help much in the first few years? I think that is the problem people have with the Beltline.

I think this transit initiative should put forward both short- and long-term solutions. Short term, we need more and bigger roads. Long term, we need to develop the city inward to address transportation problems because it becomes progressively more difficult to efficiently connect sparsely populated sprawl.

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by JPD

A real chance? Let's not kid ourselves. There 's NO WAY this thing will come anywhere close to passing.

I say that as a pretty strong supporter.

It will pass by large numbers as long as the city of atl, dekalb,Cobb, gwinnett comes out and vote. Anybody that thinks otherwise need to use common sense.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

It will pass by large numbers as long as the city of atl, dekalb,Cobb, gwinnett comes out and vote. Anybody that thinks otherwise need to use common sense.

Do you like cash bets?

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by JPD

Do you like cash bets?

$106.43

deal?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

$106.43

deal?

Looking forward to collecting.

[K-SawDude]

The penny tax proponents also need to explain that, just like in each suburban county, they have to fund projects in Atlanta that will get voters here to the polls. That doesn't mean it has to be the Beltline, specifically, but that seems like a project that will assist city residents, tourists, and even some commuters from the suburbs into the city (for work or shopping or play). So to me that seems as "regional" as any particular road-widening project within each individual county.

As I've said elsewhere, I'm certainly not voting for a tax that's almost entirely going to be roads. There's already a funding mechanism in place for that (gas tax), and politicians in this state have already been too cowardly to raise the darn tax themselves rather than drag all of us through all of this bickering. Personally, if the Beltline and/or Cobb train lines leave the list, I'm back to being an undecided-leaning-towards-NO vote.

And I think other transit advocates (among the public, not just the politicians and civil engineers) need to push back against these people complaining about EVERY. SINGLE. RAIL. PROPOSAL. They shouldn't get to have everything their way (roads, roads, roads) just because they're the loudest voice in the room.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

It will pass by large numbers as long as the city of atl, dekalb,Cobb, gwinnett comes out and vote.

During the primaries when we have an incumbent Democratic president? FAT CHANCE.