2012 Atlanta Region Transportation Referendum (Duluth, Decatur: safer, racism, engineering)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

Now that the T-SPLOST failed (as expected), it's time to proactively move with Plan B. Now that the city/metro government can't succesfully run a transit system, looks like the state gov. will have to step in and do it. As I said before, privatized transit is A LOT better than govt. run transit funded with tax dollars. It will be built a lot quicker and better quality. All the money the companies such as Coke, Delta, CNN, TBS, etc. funded for the T-SPLOST campaign, they could have just funded the projects directly. If I had to move back to Atlanta, I'm living ITP (Midtown to be exact). At least the decline in home prices will be to my advantage as I can purchase a luxury hi-rise for a low price.

The problem with MARTA is that the state HAS stepped in and dictated to MARTA how it can spend it's money. The state contributes nothing but marching orders. That fact has ham-strung MARTA from day one.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by JPD

The problem with MARTA is that the state HAS stepped in and dictated to MARTA how it can spend it's money. The state contributes nothing but marching orders. That fact has ham-strung MARTA from day one.

I do recall a few years ago when Purdue was still governer and he took over managing MARTA. Some thought he would go as extreme as to discontinue the existing rail lines. I thought a conservative state is supposed to believe in less big government control. Does anybody else see the irony in that?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

I do recall a few years ago when Purdue was still governer and he took over managing MARTA. Some thought he would go as extreme as to discontinue the existing rail lines. I thought a conservative state is supposed to believe in less big government control. Does anybody else see the irony in that?

Not ironic at all. Republicans will pay lip service to the idea of limited government until they get elected. At least the the Dems are more open in their contempt for those that elected them.

[Iconographer]

Kudos to the citizens that were not seduced into believing that this bill was a panacea for Atlanta's traffic woes. Even the Atlanta Regional Commission in meetings conducted 7/12 - 7/13 conceded that TSPLOST would do little to nothing to ease the metro's existing traffic woes. The officials involved in the pro-TSPLOST effort show a willful ignorance to the opinions of the citizens' desires and needs.

[brownhornet]

So much for Atlanta moving out of the stone ages.

[Atlwarrior]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

It's clear that you didn't even bother to check the links. The first one references Atlanta in regards to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The second references an employment study from Arizona State University.



What are you talking about? The fact that Atlanta has a lot of black people has not stopped numerous Fortune 500 companies from coming here.

That is such a stupid statement, where is your proof of that.

[Atlwarrior]

Originally Posted by Onthemove2014

That isn't the perception and that is what will kill Atlanta, not to mention those are local magazines. No one wants to live and bring businesses to a metro perceived as a "black mecca" that has bad traffic and no regional cohesiveness.

Why does the moderator allow such stupid statements like the one above.

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

Why does the moderator allow such stupid statements like the one above.

Because you all take the bait and respond.

[cqholt]

Plan B:
Commuter Rail system is the only way to run successful transit to the suburbs. Have stations at key MARTA stations, eg: Doraville, Lenox, East Point, Lindbergh so not everyone has to travel downtown to transfer to MARTA rail/bus.
Clayton County join MARTA and start running MARTA buses and plan for rail extension into Clayton County.
Bring up non-binding MARTA votes in Cobb and Gwinnett. I'm sure it won't pass in Cobb, but Gwinnett could be a swing. Need to present rail expansion projects with a timeline of completion for these non-binding votes so those residents know what they are voting for.
I guess GRTA is screwed. If the state will fund GRTA, then it should divert those funds to MARTA or have GRTA absorb MARTA, there is no reason why there should be 2 non-county, regional transit agencies. Talk about wasteful gov't spending. MARTA needs to trim the fat at the top. Agree to the terms of 2 North Fulton mayors taking seats from Fulton County so the state will end the 50/50 revenue split for MARTA.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

So much for Atlanta moving out of the stone ages.

I'm getting really tired over the dismissiveness of some towards those that voted 'no'. It certainly isn't as simple as you put it; many that have voted against it have been accused on here of being obtuse and lacking vision. IMO the opposite is true, and the lack of vision was on the other side...the voters saw through it. We were being asked to hand over a great deal of money for a plan that made no significant impact on our transportation woes.When I see a plan that incorporates alternative modes of transport (RAIL) and mandates that the state relinquish control over our transportation destiny, they'll begin to get my attention.