MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta (Decatur: subway, finance)

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Tax the cars/roads/gasoline, to pay for transit. Toll roads, etc. It's like a win-win. It funds all the transit expansions we need, and it directly encourages people to choose those transit options, and therefore helping to minimize worsening air quality.

Folks are not gonna give up their cars in any appreciable quantity.

[sumitsu]

According to his website (Events | Senator AlbersSenator Albers), Senator Albers is holding a town hall this coming Saturday (2/6) at 10:30am at the Roswell city hall. Hopefully some residents of his district who support MARTA expansion will attend to urge him to let SB 313 go to the Senate floor.

Here's the text of a message I sent to him via Facebook. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to comment on his "Miami" post (even by following his page), so I just sent it as a direct message:

Senator Albers, with regard to SB 313: whether or not you personally support MARTA's expansion plans, as a public servant you should recognize that a decision this important for the future of the region *must* be decided by the voters, *not* solely by politicians at the Gold Dome.

Consequently, I expect that you will use the full measure of your influence as a member of the Senate and as chair of the State and Local Government Operations Committee to ensure that SB 313 (which provides for Fulton and Dekalb County residents to vote on the half-penny sales tax which MARTA has requested) passes the Georgia Legislature as swiftly and expeditiously as possible.

To do otherwise would be an abrogation of your responsibility as Senator to keep government responsive and accountable to the people. I urge you to uphold your responsibilities to democracy and good government, and do what it takes to give your constituents and all citizens of Fulton and Dekalb counties the opportunity to vote on these proposals to fund MARTA expansion. Thank you for your time.

[primaltech]

Great job, sumitsu. Thanks for your efforts.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by arjay57

There's no doubt that tax consequences can be a negotiated factor in major transactions.

However, in the vast majority of consumer purchases that's not the case. Try popping into Mickey D's or Target or Kroger and tell them you're not paying sales tax and if they don't lower their prices you're going elsewhere.

You don't literally tell them you're not paying the taxes. Just like "vote with your feet", you let them know their prices are too high by not purchasing. Toyota just killed off their Scion brand. It wasn't from people telling them about their product, it was from the low sales.

One person doesn't matter much, but thousands of families trying to feed or clothe their children will have a large impact. Abercrombie has had to lower prices because people weren't coming in. No it wasn't cause of tax but it shows that consumers do affect prices and companies will adjust.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by sumitsu

According to his website (Events | Senator AlbersSenator Albers), Senator Albers is holding a town hall this coming Saturday (2/6) at 10:30am at the Roswell city hall. Hopefully some residents of his district who support MARTA expansion will attend to urge him to let SB 313 go to the Senate floor.

Here's the text of a message I sent to him via Facebook. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to comment on his "Miami" post (even by following his page), so I just sent it as a direct message:

For anyone who's planning on going, here's a pile of ammo to take with you if you want:

Kennesaw State Study showing massive support amungst North Fulton Residents for MARTA Rail expansion. [Kennesaw State]

2015 material outlining the benefits of transit in the Atlanta Metro. [HNTB Corporation, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Transportation Alliance]

Infographic of Induced demand and how adding more lanes only temporarily reduces traffic.

Infographic of Induced demand and how adding alternate modes of transportation (bicycles in this case) can shift road usage over time.

Infographic comparing Cars to Bikes to Buses to Light Rail in Seattle [City of Seattle, Sound Transit]

Full MARTA Plan for expanded services within Fulton County [Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority]

MARTA trains have a rough capacity of 300 people per car, with normal 6 car trains, giving ~1800 people per train. A GRTA bus has a capacity of 85 people per bus, requiring ~21 buses full to match one full train. [Atlanta Regional Commission]

[fieldm]

^^^

I will be there

[Airforceguy]

Some good news potentially....

The new bill filed Wednesday afternoon, SB 330, effectively replaces SB 313, which Beach filed on Monday. The two versions are nearly identical, Beach said. The only real change is some added language that requires development around new MARTA stations to be subject to local zoning requirements.

The main reason for filing the new bill was to correct what Beach said was an error in the committee assignment. The former bill had been assigned to the State and Local Government Operations Committee. As AJC columnist Jim Galloway pointed out earlier this week, that committee is chaired by Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, who has been a vocal opponent of MARTA rail expansion in North Fulton. Transit supporters privately worried that it would not get a vote in that committee.

Beach said he expects the new bill will have a first read tomorrow, and then be assigned to the Transportation Committee. Beach said that’s where the bill always belonged.

“We definitely want to move it forward,” Beach said.

“It’s a transportation bill, I’ve been here four years, and every bill we’ve done related to MARTA is assigned to transportation (committee),” he added.

Lawmaker files substitute MARTA bill | Spinning our Wheels

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Some good news potentially....

Lawmaker files substitute MARTA bill | Spinning our Wheels

Excellent.

[primaltech]

^^ Nice. I like this Beach guy.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Some good news potentially....

Lawmaker files substitute MARTA bill | Spinning our Wheels

This is great news. Maybe now we can get some progress.