MARTA Audit (Atlanta: buses, airport, authority)

[PKCorey]

I saw this on MARTA facebook page

A deep dive audit of MARTA’s operations offers great potential for metro Atlanta | SaportaReport

Scott described MARTA’s operations as “anemic” following years of service cuts.
“We are operating at less than 30 percent of our capacity,” she said. “We have the ability to run our trains every 90 seconds (at peak times, MARTA trains run about every eight minutes). We need to have travel times that are competitive.”

Interesting tidbit there.

But Scott also knows about “the MARTA factor” — an almost reflective act among some in the community who are all too eager to blast the transit agency for just about any reason — valid or not.
“I know that no matter our intentions, no matter what we do, we are giving fodder to our critics,” Scott said. “I’m not afraid of it. In fact, I rise above it. You can not let smallness, bigotry and negativity keep you from doing what you know is a good business practice and in the organization’s best interest. We can’t be afraid to embrace change, and we shouldn’t be afraid to look at our warts.”

[ATLTJL]

Should be interesting to see what this uncovers, if it is actually allowed to proceed. Seems a little odd that the study is going to take more than a year, though.

I found this interesting:

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the audit is that it can lay the groundwork for a true regional transit system that integrates the operations of MARTA, the Xpress buses of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority as well as the Cobb and Gwinnett bus transit systems.

I may be in the minority, but it is my view that many people can be persuaded to use rail when it is pleasant and efficient....but a significant number of people in metro Atlanta will never, ever, EVER ride buses no matter what you do to them. I think any investment in bus infrastructure is a complete waste of money. I know plenty of people who take MARTA all the time, but I don't know anybody who has ever set foot on a MARTA bus.

Maybe the study will show that, too. Or maybe I'm wrong.

[cqholt]

I know plenty of people who take MARTA all the time, but I don't know anybody who has ever set foot on a MARTA bus.

Unfortunately this is true. People would rather ride rail than buses. Me, myself I find riding buses quiet pleasant, until a jacka$$ Atlanta driver cuts-off the bus.

[arjay57]

Good for MARTA! Not many agencies would invite this kind of scrutiny.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Should be interesting to see what this uncovers, if it is actually allowed to proceed. Seems a little odd that the study is going to take more than a year, though.

I found this interesting:

I may be in the minority, but it is my view that many people can be persuaded to use rail when it is pleasant and efficient....but a significant number of people in metro Atlanta will never, ever, EVER ride buses no matter what you do to them. I think any investment in bus infrastructure is a complete waste of money. I know plenty of people who take MARTA all the time, but I don't know anybody who has ever set foot on a MARTA bus.

Maybe the study will show that, too. Or maybe I'm wrong.

The bus service is something that people seem to either use all the time or not at all.

I would imagine that it helps people too poor to afford a car. I've used the bus only once ever and it was when I was without a car for a brief period.

[bu2]

I may be in the minority, but it is my view that many people can be persuaded to use rail when it is pleasant and efficient....but a significant number of people in metro Atlanta will never, ever, EVER ride buses no matter what you do to them. I think any investment in bus infrastructure is a complete waste of money. I know plenty of people who take MARTA all the time, but I don't know anybody who has ever set foot on a MARTA bus.

Maybe the study will show that, too. Or maybe I'm wrong.[/quote]


Plenty of people will ride buses. They just won't ride slow buses or slow rail. Park n'ride buses in convenient locations with good schedules and HOT or HOV lanes will do just fine as they have elsewhere in the country. Now if its a local bus that takes 3 to 4 times as long as driving because of all the stops, noone with a choice will ride it.

[tonygeorgia]

I only use marta when I'm going to the airport. There is nothing like leaving work 2 hours early,hoping on marta, eating soul food at the airport and getting on a direct flight to my destination