MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Monroe: live in, transport)

[sumitsu]

Originally Posted by bu2

The disadvantage of this scheme is that people are voting a lifetime tax. Its effectively permanent.

True, but isn't that essentially what MARTA is asking for anyway? The aim here is to make said tax more palatable to parties which have been reluctant so far, but the duration is (roughly) the same.

It would be nice to see the state kick in some funds for MARTA expansion so that the onus doesn't fall entirely on sales taxation in Fulton and Dekalb, but it does not sound as though that's in the cards (at least to my knowledge).

[bu2]

Originally Posted by sumitsu

True, but isn't that essentially what MARTA is asking for anyway? The aim here is to make said tax more palatable to parties which have been reluctant so far, but the duration is (roughly) the same.

It would be nice to see the state kick in some funds for MARTA expansion so that the onus doesn't fall entirely on sales taxation in Fulton and Dekalb, but it does not sound as though that's in the cards (at least to my knowledge).

Yes, MARTA is talking 40. I think they need to look at 20.

They need to try to sell state participation in the extended lines, showing how Rockdale people may ride the east line extension and how Cherokee and Forsyth people may ride the north line....

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by bu2

Yes, MARTA is talking 40. I think they need to look at 20.

They need to try to sell state participation in the extended lines, showing how Rockdale people may ride the east line extension and how Cherokee and Forsyth people may ride the north line....

40 would make it easier for MARTA to sell 30-year bonds to finance the extensions. 20 wouldn't cut it.

[bu2]

Transit Down, Driving Up to Downtown Portland Jobs | The Antiplanner

Cycle fanatics may like this data for Portland. Shows that more people are driving to downtown Portland, fewer people are taking transit despite major investments, but a steadily increasing % are walking/biking.

The last chart shows the % living in the suburbs, other parts of Portland or downtown who work in downtown. The % living in the suburbs is growing.

What they are probably seeing (and Atlanta will as well) is that the planner's efforts are driving up housing costs close in which drives more people to the suburbs which increases people driving to work. That will tend to increase pressure to move jobs out of town which makes it more difficult for transit to serve people.

We need to encourage multiple (but not an infinite number of as ARC seems to be trying to do) job centers and deal with both roads and transit and to define transit as more than just rail. And we need more housing options close in than high rise condos/apartments and multi-million dollar mansions.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Gulch

40 would make it easier for MARTA to sell 30-year bonds to finance the extensions. 20 wouldn't cut it.

A permanent tax increase is a hard sell. This is supposed to be for expansion, not for infinity and beyond. Most toll roads are for 20 years. 400 paid for itself in 17.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by bu2

Transit Down, Driving Up to Downtown Portland Jobs | The Antiplanner

Cycle fanatics may like this data for Portland. Shows that more people are driving to downtown Portland, fewer people are taking transit despite major investments, but a steadily increasing % are walking/biking.

The last chart shows the % living in the suburbs, other parts of Portland or downtown who work in downtown. The % living in the suburbs is growing.

What they are probably seeing (and Atlanta will as well) is that the planner's efforts are driving up housing costs close in which drives more people to the suburbs which increases people driving to work. That will tend to increase pressure to move jobs out of town which makes it more difficult for transit to serve people.

We need to encourage multiple (but not an infinite number of as ARC seems to be trying to do) job centers and deal with both roads and transit and to define transit as more than just rail. And we need more housing options close in than high rise condos/apartments and multi-million dollar mansions.

Portland's sprawl isn't anywhere NEAR as significant as it is here. And even if more people do flock to the burbs, they STILL have to drive into the city to work. Also Portland's mass transit doesn't compare to Marta either. That article is talking about less than 50k people...not even remotely the same situation. Hell I live in the suburbs too but it doesn't mean that I wan't to have to drive everywhere.

[aries4118]

Track Twenty-Nine: Envisioning a New Rail Hub for Atlanta: Part III

[NorthernBornGent]

Wake me up when they start servicing more than 2 counties.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by NorthernBornGent

Wake me up when they start servicing more than 2 counties.

Time to wake up then, because MARTA runs buses in 4 counties, though the two special routes in Cobb barely count. MARTA also already has rail in 3 counties, since the airport station is in Clayton.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by NorthernBornGent

Wake me up when they start servicing more than 2 counties.

chicken and egg... that's kind of what this proposal is about.