"The Braves, Cobb County, and the debate over expanding mass transit" (Atlanta: vs., move)

[glovenyc]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sounds like the Braves are okay with not having rail transit.

Once again the Braves and Cobb County being extremely short-sighted. Why create policy based on questionable models from the past, instead of the public needs of the future.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by glovenyc

Once again the Braves and Cobb County being extremely short-sighted. Why create policy based on questionable models from the past, instead of the public needs of the future.

So many of us keep assuming that the professionals don't know what they are doing and the we, the novices for the most part, know far better than do the folks who have consulted with experts. I'm not pointing a finger at you, glovenyc - don't take me wrong. But, I have to think that perhaps we don't have all of the data.

[primaltech]

If the answer is always, "Atlanta/the region has a car culture, nobody uses MARTA, etc", then that's the way it's going to stay.

The people who could change things don't do so, because of how the status quo is now? How about having some vision.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

So many of us keep assuming that the professionals don't know what they are doing and the we, the novices for the most part, know far better than do the folks who have consulted with experts. I'm not pointing a finger at you, glovenyc - don't take me wrong. But, I have to think that perhaps we don't have all of the data.

I didn't realize the Braves leadership were professional city / transportation planners. I would not be surprised if there were not many on this forum with much more professional expirence in this area than the Braves.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by jsvh

I didn't realize the Braves leadership were professional city / transportation planners. I would not be surprised if there were not many on this forum with much more professional expirence in this area than the Braves.

I can guarantee you that no one from GDOT, ARC, Cobb DOT, etc. was consulted about this project until after it was announced.

[primaltech]

OK, so 8% of people going to the Braves game use the MARTA shuttle from Five Points?

I want to see a (hypothetical) stat of where that number would be, if MARTA heavy rail lines went deep into Cobb, Gwinnett, and North Fulton. Even without a station near Turner, relying on just the shuttle, I bet it would be at least 30% or more.

Especially if you live in Cobb, there's little way to make use of the shuttle. So the fact that the number is 8% is still pretty big to me. It's not that people prefer to bypass transit- it's that they don't have any f'ing transit options.

If there was a rail line (or at least a good MARTA BRT line), between Arts Center and Cumberland/Suntrust Park area, yeah that wouldn't do the Cobb county or Cherokee county or rural people any good, but at least you could get transit access for North Fulton, Gwinnett, OTP east, OTP south, and of course the city itself.

They're saying there aren't many Braves fans who live ITP. Well, there's definitely going to be less of them now. This whole thing is like sports team segregation. The powers that be are basically saying that the Braves are for the white people, OTP, conservatives. And the Falcons and Hawks are for the opposite crowd. I think that's a bunch of divisive BS.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Gulch

I can guarantee you that no one from GDOT, ARC, Cobb DOT, etc. was consulted about this project until after it was announced.

Oh no, you are wrong. Cobb DOT was consulted.

[-thomass]

Originally Posted by primaltech

OK, so 8% of people going to the Braves game use the MARTA shuttle from Five Points?

I want to see a (hypothetical) stat of where that number would be, if MARTA heavy rail lines went deep into Cobb, Gwinnett, and North Fulton. Even without a station near Turner, relying on just the shuttle, I bet it would be at least 30% or more.

Especially if you live in Cobb, there's little way to make use of the shuttle. So the fact that the number is 8% is still pretty big to me. It's not that people prefer to bypass transit- it's that they don't have any f'ing transit options.

If there was a rail line (or at least a good MARTA BRT line), between Arts Center and Cumberland/Suntrust Park area, yeah that wouldn't do the Cobb county or Cherokee county or rural people any good, but at least you could get transit access for North Fulton, Gwinnett, OTP east, OTP south, and of course the city itself.

They're saying there aren't many Braves fans who live ITP. Well, there's definitely going to be less of them now. This whole thing is like sports team segregation. The powers that be are basically saying that the Braves are for the white people, OTP, conservatives. And the Falcons and Hawks are for the opposite crowd. I think that's a bunch of divisive BS.

If Marta went to Cumberland, it'd be a win win for everyone. I honestly don't care where they put the stadium, but it should be assessable by transit. Cumberland, with its business district, mall and now stadium needs a rail transit option.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by primaltech

They're saying there aren't many Braves fans who live ITP. Well, there's definitely going to be less of them now. This whole thing is like sports team segregation. The powers that be are basically saying that the Braves are for the white people, OTP, conservatives. And the Falcons and Hawks are for the opposite crowd. I think that's a bunch of divisive BS.

I don't think it's ITP/OTP thing. We've got a lot more than just white folks and conservatives living outside the perimeter.

[primaltech]

True, and maybe it's less about race, more about the culture of car-dependent suburbia vs. urban and transit. They're saying "it's for these people, not for those people".

Baseball is for everybody. This is supposedly the Atlanta team, and they're more or less saying this move and stadium (and this team) is not for the people of Atlanta.