Butts County senator seeks state takeover of Atlanta airport (Columbus: price, vs.)

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by JMatl

As long as Delta & the other airlines co-sign, and an independent commission runs it - deal.

But we both know it will never happen.

I don't have any doubts that the state would run it well, the airport is too much of an economic engine for the entire state for anyone to fritter it away. The big question would be the state paying the CoA what it is worth.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

What if the state paid the CoA enough for the airport to complete the Beltline (transit included) and doubled MARTA heavy rail lines? Then the state would have funded transit in the city, something everyone in Atlanta gripes about.

Set the price tag high enough that it is worth it. Then Mr. Butts County can run the airport. Deal?

Having the state pay the City of Atlanta enough for the airport for the CoA to complete the Beltline and double the amount of MARTA heavy rail lines is not at all a bad idea.

The only question is where would the state get the money from to pay for such a deal at this point in time where the state is desperately feening for money just to barely maintain its current road infrastructure?....Not to mention all of the additional road and transit needs that cost five times the amount that would take to maintain the current road infrastructure that the state currently cannot even fund?

Given the state's current extremely severe transportation funding challenges, the only two ways that the state most likely would be able to come up with the money to pay to acquire the airport from the City of Atlanta would be to either:

1) Raise taxes even more than the state currently appears to be trying to raise taxes just to meet minimal road infrastructure maintenance needs (...something that would likely prove to be very difficult to do politically)...

OR

2) Use money from private investors to buy the ATL Airport and turn revenue and profit collection rights to the airport over to private investors for an indefinite period of time (...something that the City of Atlanta would likely fight tooth-and-nail in what would likely prove to be a very long and expensive court challenge for the State of Georgia....The City of Atlanta most likely would not give up the very fat cash cow that is the Atlanta Airport without one heck of a court and public relations fight).

A course of action that potentially MIGHT be more plausible (...and even this most likely would be a stretch given how much the airport means to the CoA) would be for the State of Georgia to offer to partner with the City of Atlanta to fund airport operations and future expansions....If the State of Georgia can come up with the money in such a way that the City of Atlanta would be agreeable to legislatively, legally, politically and financially.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I don't have any doubts that the state would run it well, the airport is too much of an economic engine for the entire state for anyone to fritter it away. The big question would be the state paying the CoA what it is worth.

I have to say that you have waaay more faith in the state than I do. I no longer trust them to do anything they say, unfortunately. And it starts at the top.

[skbl17]

I still don't approve of the State of Georgia running Hartsfield-Jackson. Until the state government makes investing in ALL metro transportation (roads, the airport, MARTA, commuter rail, Beltline, Streetcar, etc.) a very high priority, the pro-takeover legislators can **** off and forget their fantasies of owning and operating Hartsfield-Jackson.

Until then, as I said, this is just a power grab. Hartsfield-Jackson is run very well by the City of Atlanta. If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

- skbl17

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I don't have any doubts that the state would run it well, the airport is too much of an economic engine for the entire state for anyone to fritter it away. The big question would be the state paying the CoA what it is worth.

Anything less that $3 billion is robbery.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

What if the state paid the CoA enough for the airport to complete the Beltline (transit included) and doubled MARTA heavy rail lines? Then the state would have funded transit in the city, something everyone in Atlanta gripes about.

Set the price tag high enough that it is worth it. Then Mr. Butts County can run the airport. Deal?

MARTA is a state agency not unique to CoA, but the BeltLine and streetcar network are city owned.
This is a ridiculous idea and this shows why some of the rural counties truly hate Atlanta. Never heard an Atlanta state Representative attempting to take the port of Savannah or anything other the the ridiculous annexation of Cumberland. Atlanta is the economic engine of the state, without it, GA would be another poor southern state.

[atler8]

Frankly, if the r's have proven anything in running Georgia since they completely took it over in increments after the 2000 election, it's that too often they lack a view of the big picture, are incompetent, corrupt, mean-spirited & liars to boot.
Allowing them to run & manage Hartsfield-Jackson Airport would be an invitation for an unmitigated disaster.
Paraphrasing the words of Republican beltway pundit Kate O'Bierne on Meet the Press during the disaster of the Bush second term, Republicans used to be known for disliking big government but at least they knew how to run it. This bunch have proven otherwise.
Ditto for here in Georgia.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by atler8

Frankly, if the r's have proven anything in running Georgia since they completely took it over in increments after the 2000 election, it's that too often they lack a view of the big picture, are incompetent, corrupt, mean-spirited & liars to boot.
Allowing them to run & manage Hartsfield-Jackson Airport would be an invitation for an unmitigated disaster.
Paraphrasing the words of Republican beltway pundit Kate O'Bierne on Meet the Press during the disaster of the Bush second term, Republicans used to be known for disliking big government but at least they knew how to run it. This bunch have proven otherwise.
Ditto for here in Georgia.

True, they have no vision for the future.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

What if the state paid the CoA enough for the airport to complete the Beltline (transit included) and doubled MARTA heavy rail lines? Then the state would have funded transit in the city, something everyone in Atlanta gripes about.

Set the price tag high enough that it is worth it. Then Mr. Butts County can run the airport. Deal?

That'll happen when the State of Texas buys out the interests of ownership of DFW Airport from the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Last time I remember Texas is just a trifling as Georgia on paying their actual cities not glorified suburbs but actual cities what they are worth in funds for mass transit.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by cqholt

True, they have no vision for the future.

There is a vision, and it is to spite as many people as possible for their own economic benefit.