Thinking big about transit: Would you rather ride MARTA or the ATL? (Atlanta: sales tax, move)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

MARTA is not being given the funds to grow.

That is the problem. And South Dekalb where I'm at has been denied a new rail station or two for a long time now.

South Dekalb was supposed to be given funds for a new rail station back when Roy was in. But when he was deep-sixed at the polls...so too, went our rail station.

That, amongst other items, are the crux of the issue.

That's part of the problem with rebranding. MARTA is RIGHT NOW fighting for a solid funding source for bonds. They are as close as they've ever been (that I can think of) to actually getting the required funding for expansions.

That's five new HRT stations in South-East DeKalb, and nine new LRT stations in Mid-West DeKalb.

When MARTA is as close as they are, with such renewed faith in their name as we've seen, any attempt at conglomeration or rebranding would, in my mind, throw a huge wrench into ANY plans for the future. Anything going on now, whether it be expansions, station upgrades, bus service rerouting, train replacements, etc. , would be stalled until the dust settled.

Depending on who ended up in control at the end of it all would determine what the long-term held for the new / rebranded agency. If Keith is still in charge, he's lost a few years of oversight for growth. If it's a new agency, the expansion priorities will most likely change, and render the current studies / work outdated soon after.

All for what, the possibility of maybe sorta winning people who never liked the agency to begin with? I much rather let the agency's actions speak for it instead of its name. If the people who don't support MARTA now can't see how it'd different from past years, then I hardly think they'll suddenly support it with a new name and paint scheme.

[cqholt]

I do not understand this thought that for the entire metro counties to be joined under 1 transit agency, it either has to be a new agency or renamed MARTA. Do they forget that MARTA is a state agency, originally setup to provide transit to the 5 core Atlanta counties? There is no need for a new agency or GRTA to take over, because MARTA was setup from the beginning to provide transit to all the counties. If Cobb or Gwinnett does not want to pay the sales tax to be part of MARTA, then let they sit in congestion and pay for half-a**ed transit from their general funds.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

That's part of the problem with rebranding. MARTA is RIGHT NOW fighting for a solid funding source for bonds. They are as close as they've ever been (that I can think of) to actually getting the required funding for expansions.

That's five new HRT stations in South-East DeKalb, and nine new LRT stations in Mid-West DeKalb..

You are going to have to cite the sources on that one.

Until I see a bill passed by the Georgia Senate and House and signed by the Governor throwing their full support behind MARTA, I ain't budging from my position.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Do they forget that MARTA is a state agency, originally setup to provide transit to the 5 core Atlanta counties?

Yes.

[rselah25]

Why not just call it the "Metro" like most places in the world do. Its pretty universal and well-understood.

Or ATL Metro, ATL MTR, or just leave it alone as Marta.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by rselah25

Why not just call it the "Metro" like most places in the world do. Its pretty universal and well-understood.

Or ATL Metro, ATL MTR, or just leave it alone as Marta.

This. Leave it the name Atlantans have known it as for 35 years.

[PDF]

ATL sounds better, but who cares about the name.

[rselah25]

marta is pretty catchy in itself.. I think if they 're branded' themselves, and to give off a new identity that could help (different color schemes, logo, intercom announcements on trains and buses).. It seems like they are this in some regards, but lacking in others.

Like some other posters have said, an 'all-in' push may be better and more advantageous than incremental over the "long" haul. Take China for instance, when they build infrastructure, they complete the whole thing on the front end, 'hoping' and 'knowing' residents and commuters will use it, because its there for the taking. From there, whereever populations and business centers shift, they add on. This may not be a good approach from a monetary / assets / debt standpoint, but like a Kevin Fostner movie once said, "if you build it, they will come"

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by rselah25

Take China for instance, when they build infrastructure, they complete the whole thing on the front end, 'hoping' and 'knowing' residents and commuters will use it, because its there for the taking. From there, whereever populations and business centers shift, they add on. This may not be a good approach from a monetary / assets / debt standpoint, but like a Kevin Fostner movie once said, "if you build it, they will come"

The Chinese do not mess around.

[BeyondInfinity]

[quote=cqholt;40582646]I do not understand this thought that for the entire metro counties to be joined under 1 transit agency, it either has to be a new agency or renamed MARTA. Do they forget that MARTA is a state agency, originally setup to provide transit to the 5 core Atlanta counties? There is no need for a new agency or GRTA to take over, because MARTA was setup from the beginning to provide transit to all the counties. If Cobb or Gwinnett does not want to pay the sales tax to be part of MARTA, then let they sit in congestion and pay for half-a**ed transit from their general funds.[/quote]

Read this column from the AJC (Cobb’s rapid transit bust | Kyle Wingfield). It is spot on. Cobb leaders are a bunch of morons! Only in Cobb and Gwinnett may follow (Shaking my head in disbelief).