Seattle's missed opportunity is Atlanta's MARTA. (Decatur: trains, ferry, approval)

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Many people feel like they are up to their necks in taxes and they don't trust government to be a wise steward of their money.

The TSPLOST vote reflects that in the context of transportation.

That wasn't the only, or even main, issue. What was just as much, or more, to blame was the lack of coordination and disjointedness of the projects that spanned entirely too large of a region. With MARTA, you're talking about one specific thing.

I think folks are willing to pay a bit more in taxes for transportation improvements (as many of the popular SPLOST initiatives all across the Southeast in particular demonstrate) but they need to know that the funds will go to something very concrete and beneficial. I think skbl17's analysis is pretty sound.

[arjay57]

I doubt that MARTA would want to run the risk of trying to get re-approved in today's world.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by arjay57

My guess is that a MARTA vote would be similar to the results on the 2012 TSPLOST, which went down in flames.

That was only for 10 years and it included roads as well as mass transit. However, we are in an anti-tax environment these days and a lot of people aren't willing to have 1% carved out of their hide. A lot of folks also have major issues with trusting the government to be a wise steward of their money.

With a few exceptions, metro Atlanta voters did not like the idea at all. Cobb, Fayette, Gwinnett and North fulton were strongly against it. Big chunks of Henry, Douglas, DeKalb, south Fulton and Clayton were agin it as well.

Interesting map. Looks like Briarcliff Road was the epi-center. As you got further away from there (at the Fulton/DeKalb County line), the votes in favor declined.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

That wasn't the only, or even main, issue. What was just as much, or more, to blame was the lack of coordination and disjointedness of the projects that spanned entirely too large of a region. With MARTA, you're talking about one specific thing.

I think folks are willing to pay a bit more in taxes for transportation improvements (as many of the popular SPLOST initiatives all across the Southeast in particular demonstrate) but they need to know that the funds will go to something very concrete and beneficial. I think skbl17's analysis is pretty sound.

That was why I voted against it. Theoretically I favored it, but not the mess they presented.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I doubt that MARTA would want to run the risk of trying to get re-approved in today's world.

Well it wouldn't make any sense to do so in the jurisdictions where it already runs. Who does that?

However, there's obviously growing support in other parts of the region; otherwise Clayton wouldn't have joined.

Originally Posted by bu2

That was why I voted against it. Theoretically I favored it, but not the mess they presented.

Right; that was the mindset of a lot of folks. I voted for it but I completely understood the reasons for people who didn't do so.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Well it wouldn't make any sense to do so in the jurisdictions where it already runs. Who does that?

It's a rhetorical question going to the current level of support for public transit.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by arjay57

It's a rhetorical question going to the current level of support for public transit.

Which is increasing. Again, ClayCo just joined MARTA and the northern Fulton 'burbs want rail extended up that way.

[Mutiny77]

Despite missing out on heavy rail, there seems to be a general consensus that Seattle does just as good as, or even outdoes, Atlanta considering PT as a whole: //www.city-data.com/forum/city-...a-seattle.html

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Despite missing out on heavy rail, there seems to be a general consensus that Seattle does just as good as, or even outdoes, Atlanta considering PT as a whole: //www.city-data.com/forum/city-...a-seattle.html

The clear advantage Seattle has over Atlanta is the frequency of the run times. My daughter never has to wait more than 10 minutes for the bus from Edmonds to Downtown.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

The clear advantage Seattle has over Atlanta is the frequency of the run times. My daughter never has to wait more than 10 minutes for the bus from Edmonds to Downtown.

Yes. Even as a casual visitor to Seattle I am impressed with the bus system.

I wish Atlanta would get over its busophobia. Quit dinking around with ultra expensive streetcars and focus on building a more robust bus system. You'd quickly have a transit network that serves far more people with much greater penetration, convenience and flexibility.

It works in cities all over the world.