DOT Returns Revised Transportation Wish List to Atlanta Region (Douglas: to live, statistics)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

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

I wonder if this referendum could pass in another comparable city or is the ATL just unique?

[testa50]

One passed in Denver.

But no, the ATL is not the only city that requires Herculean effort to get anything transit-related off the ground. Look at Orlando and Sunrail/high speed rail: after years of planning and millions in costs, one project is off the table and the other barely made it through and is delayed three years and counting.

They even built I-4 with an unobstructed median all the way from Tampa to Orlando to accommodate the HSR (at tremendous cost, presumably) and now the project has been shot down!

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by testa50

They even built I-4 with an unobstructed median all the way from Tampa to Orlando to accommodate the HSR (at tremendous cost, presumably) and now the project has been shot down!

Because it wasn't projected to have the ridership needed to make it worth the expense to build it.

[testa50]

Originally Posted by gtcorndog

Because it wasn't projected to have the ridership needed to make it worth the expense to build it.

My point is that weren't not the only ones with bumbling transit progressions that lead to big sunk costs and dead ends.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by gtcorndog

Because it wasn't projected to have the ridership needed to make it worth the expense to build it.

Do state officials didn't know this before building some of the infrastructure?

[K-SawDude]

Originally Posted by gtcorndog

Because it wasn't projected to have the ridership needed to make it worth the expense to build it.

Or from a different point of view, Florida's recently-elected Tea Party-backed governor (Rick Scott) tanked the project because of his extreme, anti-federal government views. He refused federal money that Florida initially had to compete for--and that several states including GA were begging for--simply because Tea Party Inc. doesn't like high speed rail projects funded by the government (which, keeping it real, are the ONLY high speed rail projects).

More here:

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida...-speed-railway

[jpatlanta]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

Or from a different point of view, Florida's recently-elected Tea Party-backed governor (Rick Scott) tanked the project because of his extreme, anti-federal government views. He refused federal money that Florida initially had to compete for--and that several states including GA were begging for--simply because Tea Party Inc. doesn't like high speed rail projects funded by the government (which, keeping it real, are the ONLY high speed rail projects).

More here:

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida...-speed-railway

Yep he is a totallly shortsighted teabag idiot. Downtown Orlando was actually on a roll before this decision, I was there last week and apparently already two large businesses have cancelled their relocation to the city for this reason as their bids were contigent on the project and will now remain in Boston.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by jpatlanta

Yep he is a totallly shortsighted teabag idiot. Downtown Orlando was actually on a roll before this decision, I was there last week and apparently already two large businesses have cancelled their relocation to the city for this reason as their bids were contigent on the project and will now remain in Boston.

What companies? I can't imagine why any company would view HSR between Tampa and Orlando as a contingency for a move. What value is it?

[bu2]

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.

As they say, its a local economic development project.

I'm not willing to be taxed to have 10% spent on a speculative economic development project that, if it even is beneficial, benefits only one area. $600 million is not insignificant.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I wonder if this referendum could pass in another comparable city or is the ATL just unique?

Atlanta is not united. Its got too many cities and counties and they all work only for their own ends, and the city of Atlanta is the worst of all.

There are also a bunch of corrupt, incompetent politicians. Other places figure out what they need, come up with a plan, figure out what $ they need and then sell it. Atlanta comes up with the $, then adds a wish list and tries to stuff it down people's throats with threats of doom and gloom.

I don't know anyplace that has done it the way Georgia has. Its just unbelievably incompetent and raises lots of red flags in anyone's mind who is the least bit suspicious of letting politicians have $.