Atlanta Streetcar (Downtown Loop) progress (Marietta: hotels, homes, school)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by fzx

I totally agree with you. I really do not see the benefit of streetcars other than tourism. Ironically, tourists wont come purely to see the car.

That's a bizarre statement. Of course tourists won't come purely to see the streetcar. No more than people travel to DC purely to ride the Metro.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by readyset

At this rate Atlanta will have theirs up and running before D.C. Ain't that something.

I'm counting down how long it takes somebody from D.C. to come here and post that their system is far more extensive and that D.C. is just a heck of a lot more urban.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by fzx

I totally agree with you. I really do not see the benefit of streetcars other than tourism. Ironically, tourists wont come purely to see the car.

How about the fact that this streetcar line will be a secondary mode of transportation in a district with 150,000 office workers, a 40,000 student University, AND millions of tourists a year. Trains of all sorts always have more capacity than a bus. That's exactly what is needed there.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

How about the fact that this streetcar line will be a secondary mode of transportation in a district with 150,000 office workers, a 40,000 student University, AND millions of tourists a year. Trains of all sorts always have more capacity than a bus. That's exactly what is needed there.

...plus 30,000 residents.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

How about the fact that this streetcar line will be a secondary mode of transportation in a district with 150,000 office workers, a 40,000 student University, AND millions of tourists a year. Trains of all sorts always have more capacity than a bus. That's exactly what is needed there.

LOL, come on man, that thing goes all of a mile. Do you really think 200,000 people are desperate to spend 20 minutes waiting for and riding on a streetcar so they can avoid a 10 minute walk to see the MLK memorial during their lunch break?

I'm not saying we can't make use of streetcars, but don't pretend this particular one is anything but a dog and pony show. It doesn't go anywhere. Unless you're handicapped or want to go all the way from one end to the other, it's useless.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by erick295

LOL, come on man, that thing goes all of a mile. Do you really think 200,000 people are desperate to spend 20 minutes waiting for and riding on a streetcar so they can avoid a 10 minute walk to see the MLK memorial during their lunch break?

I'm not saying we can't make use of streetcars, but don't pretend this particular one is anything but a dog and pony show. It doesn't go anywhere. Unless you're handicapped or want to go all the way from one end to the other, it's useless.

Most tourists who use it WILL want to go from one end to the other. From one major tourist destination (MLK historic sites) to another (Aquarium/Coke/Centennial Park/CNN/Childrens Museum). That's the whole point. Obviously.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by JPD

Most tourists who use it WILL want to go from one end to the other. From one major tourist destination (MLK historic sites) to another (Aquarium/Coke/Centennial Park/CNN/Childrens Museum). That's the whole point. Obviously.

Right, tourists... waronxmas was saying there was a benefit besides tourism.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by erick295

Right, tourists... waronxmas was saying there was a benefit besides tourism.

There are benefits besides tourism. Think about it for a few minutes.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by JPD

There are benefits besides tourism. Think about it for a few minutes.

Yeah, I did dude. Refer to my original post, and the circle is complete

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by JPD

There are benefits besides tourism. Think about it for a few minutes.

Haven't we learned that the anti-train crowd will never be convinced? Gas-powered vehicles are the only acceptable modes of transportation.

Originally Posted by erick295

I'm not saying we can't make use of streetcars, but don't pretend this particular one is anything but a dog and pony show. It doesn't go anywhere. Unless you're handicapped or want to go all the way from one end to the other, it's useless.

One thing I will agree with is that the route was not well-chosen, in my opinion. It should have gone on baker street to hit right at the aquarium and world of coke, instead of on the opposite side of the park. But it's going to be just one part of a (hopefully, if we can ever pull our heads out of our asses) much larger rail network.