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Old 12-10-2013, 06:47 PM
 
Location: Atlanta
5,242 posts, read 6,238,885 times
Reputation: 2784

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I know this has popped up in a few threads, but I think it is worthy of its own.

MARTA’s new momentum | Atlanta Forward

Talk about impressive. One man has taken a failing transit agency and seems to have completely changed its course. Turned a $33 million deficit into a $9 surplus, while increasing train frequency, restoring bus service, canceling a planned fare increase, and having a much more visible police presence. Talk of the future includes reopening more bathrooms in stations, upgrading buses, increasing train frequency, and FIXING THOSE SIGNS in the stations!


The change is so significant that words of praise concerning MARTA is coming from the Republican MARTOC Chairman Mike Jacobs.
Quote:
The Legislature and MARTA, a state-created authority, historically have had a chilly relationship. Listen closely, however, and you will hear the dripping of thawing ice.
...
Clearly, Keith Parker understands what needs to be done. Hopefully, the revolving door will stop spinning for a while. I am glad Mr. Parker arrived in Atlanta.
This is not to be taken lightly. While I don't expect the floodgates of funding to be opened up to MARTA from the state, this is a huge step in the right direction. MARTOC and MARTA haters have said in the past that the agency shouldn't receive state funding because it would be squandered. Sounds like they were probably right. Hopefully, a well run transit agency will lead to more respect and possibly funding from the state.

It really seems like Atlanta is truly lucky to have Keith Parker. What in the world was going on before? Was this agency this poorly mismanaged or is this guy just that good? I have to believe it is both. As a huge fan of this city, I am so excited to see that one of our greatest infrastructure assets is finally being treated as it should.
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Old 12-10-2013, 06:56 PM
 
2,406 posts, read 3,351,441 times
Reputation: 907
Perhaps now MARTA can't start to pay for their $500 million in deferred maintenance.
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Old 12-10-2013, 07:25 PM
 
Location: Kirkwood
23,726 posts, read 24,866,786 times
Reputation: 5703
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtcorndog View Post
Perhaps now MARTA can't start to pay for their $500 million in deferred maintenance.
Arajay quoted it was $1B. Which is it?
This is great news. Parker has it going in the right direction. Next stop Gwinnett County!
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Old 12-10-2013, 07:56 PM
 
32,026 posts, read 36,788,671 times
Reputation: 13311
Quote:
Originally Posted by cqholt View Post
Arajay quoted it was $1B. Which is it?
$2 billion, according to MARTA's general manager. "According to Beverly Scott, MARTA's rock-star general manager, the agency has a backlog of more than $2 billion in such needed repairs."

But maybe they are making some headway in paying that down?
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Old 12-10-2013, 08:37 PM
 
1,637 posts, read 2,630,536 times
Reputation: 803
How much money can Marta make from TOD's potentially?
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Old 12-10-2013, 08:53 PM
 
9,008 posts, read 14,057,844 times
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Quote:
Was this agency this poorly mismanaged or is this guy just that good?
I think it's the first one.

Nobody is single handedly so good they can turn a $33 million deficit into a $9 million surplus in a year if things were already being run decently prior. A lot of stuff must have been serioulsy f'd up and relatively simple to fix to see a gain that big that fast.
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Old 12-10-2013, 09:03 PM
 
2,406 posts, read 3,351,441 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cqholt View Post
Arajay quoted it was $1B. Which is it?
This is great news. Parker has it going in the right direction. Next stop Gwinnett County!
I guess I'm an optimist... but it turns out MARTA is even more poorly managed than I expected. the mismanagement is borderline criminal... but this level of ineptitude is sadly the norm in COA and Dekalb. The level some go to in order to try to defend this atrocious management is pathetic.
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Old 12-10-2013, 09:06 PM
 
Location: Kirkwood
23,726 posts, read 24,866,786 times
Reputation: 5703
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtcorndog View Post
I guess I'm an optimist... but it turns out MARTA is even more poorly managed than I expected. the mismanagement is borderline criminal... but this level of ineptitude is sadly the norm in COA and Dekalb. The level some go to in order to try to defend this atrocious management is pathetic.
I think CoA has turned itself around. You may wanna look at your countycomissioners and the braves deal for criminal activity, eg: cobb. The past is over and MARTA is moving forward. She is now MBTA problem.
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Old 12-10-2013, 09:09 PM
 
2,406 posts, read 3,351,441 times
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So how long until that maintenance backlog is fixed?
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Old 12-10-2013, 09:15 PM
 
Location: Kirkwood
23,726 posts, read 24,866,786 times
Reputation: 5703
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtcorndog View Post
So how long until that maintenance backlog is fixed?
Its non esstenial, so who knows?
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