MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Roswell: centers, estimated)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Are people seriously using isolated incidents like a random fire to make a point against expanding transit? What a joke. Let's just ignore the everyday gridlock and traffic accidents that occur on Atlanta's interstates every got damn day.

I don't believe these isolated incidents make a case against transit.

On the other hand, what's the evidence that public transit will improve traffic on the interstates?

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by arjay57

On the other hand, what's the evidence that public transit will improve traffic on the interstates?

Oh it won't, and that's exactly the point why we need transit. That sh*t will never improve no matter what we do, it will only ever get worse. So how about we have some different options, to completely bypass the car gridlock. MARTA NOW.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I don't believe these isolated incidents make a case against transit.

On the other hand, what's the evidence that public transit will improve traffic on the interstates?

If it means people have a choice between car and transit, then that makes it worth it alone. Cities will always have traffic. Paris, London, and NYC all have heavy vehicular traffic everyday at rush hour, but many workers can also use subway to get to their homes or destinations. They have a choice.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by skbl17

The AJC published another MARTA expansion piece. It's largely the same as previous articles on the subject, but has some added encouraging quotes from important General Assembly politicians, both Republican...



...and Democrat...



...while also noting that it's still an uphill battle:



That's not to mention the fact that every single municipal jurisdiction in the affected county must approve of a 1% sales tax making it to the ballot.

(Just as an aside, AJC comments are the worst.)

- skbl17

That's why I suspect that the transit referendum will fail in Fulton and pass in DeKalb. Which would mean that the next MARTA rail expansion would most likely be into South DeKalb.

[primaltech]

West Atlanta/Fulton needs some MARTA rail love. It's the only leg of the plus sign that still doesn't even reach 285.

At least put a station at Boulder Park/Brownlee @ 285, which has been the plan for ages. With ramp access directly from 285.

And the poor Green line is like a dead stub line, with only one unique station on it.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

West Atlanta/Fulton needs some MARTA rail love. It's the only leg of the plus sign that still doesn't even reach 285.

At least put a station at Boulder Park/Brownlee @ 285, which has been the plan for ages. With ramp access directly from 285.

And the poor Green line is like a dead stub line, with only one unique station on it.

Proposed Boone Station and BeltLine link. FIB needs rail access and BRT running along the corridor, but we should not be extending lines just for the sake of doing it. There must be ridership and data to show FTA that projects are a good ROI.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Yeah blame MARTA because the roads were jammed and the employees couldnt get to work

They could have had the employees come in early, you know, before the roads were jammed? Or are you saying that MARTA listened to the same politicians the school did which still makes it their fault?

[primaltech]

I think the ridership would be there for the one stop extension on Blue, especially for a particularly key location, right on the highway. All the bus routes from SW Atlanta could be routed to go directly from 285 into the Boulder Park station loop.

As for Green, I'd like to see the Boone infill, but I'd more like to see an extension up the growing Marietta Blvd corridor. The next station would be right on the Beltline, near the future park, plus would finally directly serve the Perry Blvd corridor, like they were promised in the early 90's.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by MattCW

They could have had the employees come in early, you know, before the roads were jammed? Or are you saying that MARTA listened to the same politicians the school did which still makes it their fault?

I think everyone was listening to the governor. If MARTA would have had those operators on stand by then would have to pay them and if the winter weather didn't materialize, they would be left with a lot of extra labor costs. You know MARTA employees have lives outside of transporting citizens,

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

If it means people have a choice between car and transit, then that makes it worth it alone.

Well, that begs the question: What's the evidence that it's worth it?

Even in the areas of Atlanta that have public transit, not very many (of those who have a choice) use it.