MARTA will set aside 1% of it's annual budget for public art (Atlanta: maintenance, tax)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

So wait, first people talk about how ugly the brutalist style of the stations are and then get upset when a transit agency that has made 3 straight years of budget surplus wants to integrate those stations into the neighborhoods more?
Nobody gets upset when GDOT builds an ornate bridge.
MARTA cannot win with some people. Personally this is a drop in the bucket from their budget and with go far beyond the $2.5 million/year spent on the project.

What is the purpose of the sales tax? Its transit, not art.

And the article says 1%, not 1/10th of 1%. That $2.5 million annually will grow over time.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

It doesn't matter anyway as neither of them have a vote in the CoA-ONLY sales tax increase.

But we both vote on any MARTA increase, which is the entity which thinks it needs more money.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by bu2

What is the purpose of the sales tax? Its transit, not art.

And the article says 1%, not 1/10th of 1%. That $2.5 million annually will grow over time.

Which is why the art projects come out of the GENERAL budget, not the SALES TAX. The purpose of the general budget is to provide for the agency as a whole, like increase the aesthetics and inviting nature of the system to improve its perception and use.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

What is the purpose of the sales tax? Its transit, not art.

And the article says 1%, not 1/10th of 1%. That $2.5 million annually will grow over time.

I never stated 0.1%, so you need to check your facts Jack. Yes, the $2.5M can grow or go down based off the operating budget. It can also be removed if MARTA board feels they need to end it for better flexibility, which they have now that the State removed it's talons from the agency.
People judge MARTA because of it's stations, which are not ornate like some of the Manhattan MTA stations or WMATA vaulted stations. Adding color and art to the stations will make the riders feel better about themselves and the agency. It will show the public and neighborhood that MARTA cares about them.

[Atlanta Scientist]

I think that it is a great idea. Giving MARTA an identity is good for Atlanta and the metro area. It should be inviting and even inspiring. Public transit is about the public which is composed of people and not machines.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

How dare an agency who is running at a budget surplus set aside some of that surplus to improve the aesthetic quality of their system?

Because they could use that $2.5 Million per year on something worthwhile, like FIXING THE SYSTEM! Seriously, an agency that's pulling a budgetary surplus should AT BARE MINIMUM not be getting worse, and should actually be getting better!

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by bu2

What is the purpose of the sales tax? Its transit, not art.

Originally Posted by bu2

But we both vote on any MARTA increase, which is the entity which thinks it needs more money.

This is a silly line of thought. This art adds value to MARTA and makes it a more attractive and interesting option to take. By your logic, no business should be spending money on any marketing / making the packaging of their product or building more attractive. And on top of that, many companies make donations with a share of their revenue.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Because they could use that $2.5 Million per year on something worthwhile, like FIXING THE SYSTEM! Seriously, an agency that's pulling a budgetary surplus should AT BARE MINIMUM not be getting worse, and should actually be getting better!

MARTA is much better now than under Dr. Beverly Scott.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Because they could use that $2.5 Million per year on something worthwhile, like FIXING THE SYSTEM! Seriously, an agency that's pulling a budgetary surplus should AT BARE MINIMUM not be getting worse, and should actually be getting better!

I would easily consider this part of getting better, especially if it includes cleaning the stations.

[ccdscott]

Part of getting more people to ride the system is running it efficiently *AND* making it appealing/safe/clean. There's always something!