MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (cities, counties)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Once again, Reed has to represent the entire metro area and be it's leader. Where are the other mayors and county commissioners?

Reed is horrible. He is petty and immature and only represents himself and to some extent Atlanta. He should be running for president this year. He would fit right in.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by bu2

Reed is horrible. He is petty and immature and only represents himself and to some extent Atlanta. He should be running for president this year. He would fit right in.

Huh?

[TheTravelinMan]

This might be clawing its way out of the grave:

MARTA bill may be back from the dead | Spinning our Wheels

However it might be missing so many vital organs it might not really be viable.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by TheTravelinMan

This might be clawing its way out of the grave:

MARTA bill may be back from the dead | Spinning our Wheels

However it might be missing so many vital organs it might not really be viable.

Back from the grave! Maybe...

[primaltech]

You know what? This is actually probably for the best, better than the original bill. Screw stupid Fulton and DeKalb counties. Atlanta wants MARTA, they don't- so MARTA should just expand heavy rail within the city.

1. Blue line one more station west, to 285

2. Green line as many as 3 stations northwest, possibly, to Bolton Rd

3. Infill stations (Mechanicsville, Krog St, etc)

Plus expanded bus routes/ART, and hopefully MARTA taking over the streetcar operations and expanding that.

Then Atlanta itself is finally well served by rail, and then it makes that much more sense someday in the future for the suburbs to connect with it.

Also, you could still partially do the Clifton Corridor line, if the Emory area were to be incorporated into the city, which has been talked about. You just would have to stop at city limits instead of continue to Avondale. But that would be fine, and it would save money.

Or, better yet, that line could become heavy rail, and it could loop back down into Edgwood station, so the whole thing would be within city limits.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by primaltech

You know what? This is actually probably for the best, better than the original bill. Screw stupid Fulton and DeKalb counties. Atlanta wants MARTA, they don't- so MARTA should just expand heavy rail within the city.

1. Blue line one more station west, to 285

2. Green line as many as 3 stations northwest, possibly, to Bolton Rd

3. Infill stations (Mechanicsville, Krog St, etc)

Plus expanded bus routes/ART, and hopefully MARTA taking over the streetcar operations and expanding that.

Then Atlanta itself is finally well served by rail, and then it makes that much more sense someday in the future for the suburbs to connect with it.

Also, you could still partially do the Clifton Corridor line, if the Emory area were to be incorporated into the city, which has been talked about. You just would have to stop at city limits instead of continue to Avondale. But that would be fine, and it would save money.

From the article:

Chairman Robbie Ashe said lawyers for the transit authority are trying to figure out a way to introduce a separate bill that would allow just the city of Atlanta, and perhaps DeKalb County, to vote on whether to pay an additional half-percent sales tax increase.

I have a gut feeling that all the HRT that you're asking for would be much more than Atlanta could provide on its own. That's not to say that they wouldn't be wanted, or appreciated, just that they may not be practical to try and fund.

You bring up a good point about the Clifton Corridor, though. If Atlanta annexed the CDC / Emory, and DeKalb wasn't part of the deal, then the route between Lindbergh and North Decatur would be within the City. If MARTA had the funding, that section of light rail could be built.

Chances are, we'll see mostly BeltLine light rail and streetcars come out of this from the city, though. We could see a few ART routes set up, mainly the 110 since it's all within the city.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

From the article:


I have a gut feeling that all the HRT that you're asking for would be much more than Atlanta could provide on its own. That's not to say that they wouldn't be wanted, or appreciated, just that they may not be practical to try and fund.

You bring up a good point about the Clifton Corridor, though. If Atlanta annexed the CDC / Emory, and DeKalb wasn't part of the deal, then the route between Lindbergh and North Decatur would be within the City. If MARTA had the funding, that section of light rail could be built.

Chances are, we'll see mostly BeltLine light rail and streetcars come out of this from the city, though. We could see a few ART routes set up, mainly the 110 since it's all within the city.

Let's hope so.

[TheTravelinMan]

I think if this came to pass due to the shortsightedness of those yahoos up in N. Fulton MARTA should ditch the M and become ARTA

[primaltech]

Yeah, I mean if it funds the streetcar, Beltline LRT, and expanded and enhanced bus service within the city, that's all great too.

Point is, this is great because Atlanta wants the transit, will definitely vote for it in November, and will use it and appreciate it. Whereas the greater region just isn't fully there yet.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Yeah, I mean if it funds the streetcar, Beltline LRT, and expanded and enhanced bus service within the city, that's all great too.

Point is, this is great because Atlanta wants the transit, will definitely vote for it in November, and will use it and appreciate it. Whereas the greater region just isn't fully there yet.

I also feel bad for South-Fulton. They didn't seem to have any issue with the plans, even though it only brought them upgraded bus routes.

They really do need the service, and they might not get it because of the politicians that aren't even in their county (except Albers, or course).