Henry County Wants MARTA (Macon, Dunwoody: how much, construction, buses)

[chuckshere]

Originally Posted by GA5mom

Henry County is a large county with 5 commissioners + 1 chairman. Commissioner Holmes only represents north Henry (Fairview, Ellenwood, & north Stockbridge areas). I have no doubt the other remaining commissioners would oppose MARTA. One Commissioner broaching the subject of Marta does not = Henry County wants MARTA.

You're correct. The thread title is misleading.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by GA5mom

Henry County is a large county with 5 commissioners + 1 chairman. Commissioner Holmes only represents north Henry (Fairview, Ellenwood, & north Stockbridge areas). I have no doubt the other remaining commissioners would oppose MARTA. One Commissioner broaching the subject of Marta does not = Henry County wants MARTA.

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Exactly. This means nothing.

We very likely won't hear anymore about Henry and MARTA for many years to come.

Originally Posted by chuckshere

You're correct. The thread title is misleading.

Well, it depends on how the service would be built out I think. If the county commissioners saw an opportunity to mirror Clayton and secure commuter rail or get their money back, it might be enough to swing the vote.

I would like to a rough plan and some polling with it before I count anything for or against.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

They are tired of traffic on 75.
They want access via MARTA to the jobs/etc ITP.
They want access to the airport.
They want to be apart of our regional transportation system

Who is this THEY you are talking about? The lone BLACK DEMOCRAT on the Henry County Board of Commissioners met with the CEO of MARTA and expressed HIS desire to eventually see service in northern Henry County "to serve the residents in his district." I guarantee you he DOES NOT have the support of the other 5 members of the board, the county manager, or the overwhelming majority of Henry County voters!

Henry County wants MARTA?! What are you guys smoking?

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Exactly. This means nothing.

We very likely won't hear anymore about Henry and MARTA for many years to come.

Indeed. All these folks jumping up and down and shouting for joy are totally missing the fact that MARTA has no interest in going into areas that area NOT potentially profitable. Why on earth would they even consider spending BILLIONS to extend bus and rail to a couple hundred thousand people down in Henry County when they have MILLIONS of people in Cobb, Gwinnett and the far reaches of North Fulton who need it more -- and the tax base to pay for it!

Commissioner Holmes did this for his own political gain, and MARTA's CEO was polite enough not to laugh him out of his office.

[arjay57]

Sounds like Henry is jumping on the MARTA bandwagon.

[afdinatl]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Indeed. All these folks jumping up and down and shouting for joy are totally missing the fact that MARTA has no interest in going into areas that area NOT potentially profitable. Why on earth would they even consider spending BILLIONS to extend bus and rail to a couple hundred thousand people down in Henry County when they have MILLIONS of people in Cobb, Gwinnett and the far reaches of North Fulton who need it more -- and the tax base to pay for it!

Commissioner Holmes did this for his own political gain, and MARTA's CEO was polite enough not to laugh him out of his office.

Dude Clayton County population is about the same as Henry County.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

Dude Clayton County population is about the same as Henry County.

Clayton County has a MUCH bigger economy / tax base than Henry County, almost twice as many jobs, the LARGEST single employment center in the state (Hartsfield-Jackson), and a built urban environment that's more than 3 times as dense in an area that's less than half the size.

But again ... how would it benefit MARTA to go into Henry County? It would not. The end.

[tikigod311]

I mean, I could see rail coming down if there already is some sort of passenger service to Macon.

But there is going to be a LOT of resistance to MARTA in Henry. It's one of those places where the word is toxic.

If the whole Macon thing becomes a reality, it will be interesting at what point MARTA ends and GRTA Rail starts. My bet would be the Henry County line. Not defending it, just sayin...

[afdinatl]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Clayton County has a MUCH bigger economy / tax base than Henry County, almost twice as many jobs, the LARGEST single employment center in the state (Hartsfield-Jackson), and a built urban environment that's more than 3 times as dense in an area that's less than half the size.

But again ... how would it benefit MARTA to go into Henry County? It would not. The end.

Im not the type that likes going back and forth. If you think HC doesn't need MARTA then so be it

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

You are looking at one small portion of this matter.

They are tired of traffic on 75.
They want access via MARTA to the jobs/etc ITP.
They want access to the airport.
They want to be apart of our regional transportation system

He is looking long term. How many people suppose to move to the metro area in the next 20 years? All those people cant fit in ITP and on the northside Well he just wants to make sure when potential employers/residents decide on where to move to in the metro area that they can say HC because its cheaper and MARTA accessable.

Can you imagine a rail line from Locust Grove all the way to Alpharetta? That might be one of the longest rail lines in this county. This will also help put "pressure" on Cobb and Gwinnett to join MARTA.

"Move to HC where you can find homes for $130k and apartments for $700 per month that are MARTA accessible"

Which is why I said Express Service. They can have busses that serve major roads and then takes the interstate to a train station. They certainly aren't going to fund an HRT or extensive bus line down there.