The ATL: new regional transit system (Atlanta, Alpharetta: averages, timetable, congestion)

[autolycus25]

I cannot go to any of these sessions, unfortunately. Can someone (or many someones) please go and tell him our thoughts on transit expansion?

I think the following points would be a good starting point for discussion:

--Why was the provision added to HB930 to prohibit additional Fulton County taxes from being used on heavy rail expansion? Did he ever support that inclusion? Who (else) is responsible for its inclusion?

--Remind him of the various surveys done by ARC (a scientific survey supporting transit expansion generally as a fix to traffic problems) and during the Fulton County Transit Master Plan (supporting more than 1/4 cent tax and specifically supporting those potential plans that include Red Line extension, although it is admittedly not a statistically-valid sample).

--Discuss "BRT creep" and how it diminishes the ridership and value of investment in bus vs. rail transit. Note the guaranteed BRT creep associated with the most critical routes along GA400 and Holcomb Bridge Road where "BRT" everybody knows "BRT" will never be anything remotely resembling actual rapid transit.

--Advise him that the heavy rail prohibition could likely be a poison pill that will diminish support for additional taxes much in the same way that certain provisions in the original 2012 TSPLOST plan killed it.

Fulton County Commission Vice-Chairman Bob Ellis will host a series of meetings with constituents around Commission District 2. The "Commissioner Conversations” are an opportunity to ask questions and share comments and concerns about issues that are important to residents of Fulton County.

Topics to be covered during the upcoming sessions include information on 2018 property tax assessments, a discussion of possible expanded transit options in North Fulton, and steps Fulton County is taking to combat the opioid epidemic.

The "Commissioner Conversations" are being offered on three different dates at three different locations:

Saturday, April 28, 2018
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Milton Library
855 Mayfield Rd, Milton GA 30009

Thursday, May 3, 2018
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
North Fulton Customer Service Center
11575 Maxwell Road, Alpharetta GA 30009

Wednesday, May 9, 2018
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Sandy Springs Library
395 Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by autolycus25

I cannot go to any of these sessions, unfortunately. Can someone (or many someones) please go and tell him our thoughts on transit expansion?

I think the following points would be a good starting point for discussion:

--Why was the provision added to HB930 to prohibit additional Fulton County taxes from being used on heavy rail expansion? Did he ever support that inclusion? Who (else) is responsible for its inclusion?

--Remind him of the various surveys done by ARC (a scientific survey supporting transit expansion generally as a fix to traffic problems) and during the Fulton County Transit Master Plan (supporting more than 1/4 cent tax and specifically supporting those potential plans that include Red Line extension, although it is admittedly not a statistically-valid sample).

--Discuss "BRT creep" and how it diminishes the ridership and value of investment in bus vs. rail transit. Note the guaranteed BRT creep associated with the most critical routes along GA400 and Holcomb Bridge Road where "BRT" everybody knows "BRT" will never be anything remotely resembling actual rapid transit.

--Advise him that the heavy rail prohibition could likely be a poison pill that will diminish support for additional taxes much in the same way that certain provisions in the original 2012 TSPLOST plan killed it.

Better question, why don't they and every other elected official subscribe to City-Data?

[tikigod311]

Ahhh, just think at how much better this city and metro would be run

[autolycus25]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Better question, why don't they and every other elected official subscribe to City-Data?

Well... it certainly might help if they did listen to all the wisdom on here, but I'll settle for just answers to some specific questions.

[SEAandATL]

Better yet, why don't a bunch of C-D members run for office?

[primaltech]

CEO Jeffrey Parker talks about MARTA expansion and "The ATL" - Atlanta Magazine

MARTA CEO Jeffrey Parker weighs in on the branding and other stuff:

How do you feel about the system being rebranded to “The ATL”?
I think that it’s a clear recognition that we need to build a transit network that is easy to use and understandable across the region by the people who use it. There’s good examples around the country. Phoenix has this model where individual counties own their own transit service, but it’s branded under a single name. The average [Phoenix resident] probably doesn’t even know that. I think the value here is that we’re trying to make transit more attractive to the people who can use it. I think that’s critically important to the success of not only transit but transportation in the region.

Do you think intowners will say “MARTA” regardless of what it’s called?
You know, who knows? I’m not going to predict. MARTA is a recognizable brand. People used it. And the legislation really calls for almost co-branding—clearly the important issue around the brand is making it easy to use.

[primaltech]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Metro

"Unified public brand". ATL will probably be something like this.

And there will probably be co-branding w/ MARTA and ATL, like NYC subway setup.

[alco89]

Originally Posted by primaltech

CEO Jeffrey Parker talks about MARTA expansion and "The ATL" - Atlanta Magazine

How do you feel about the system being rebranded to “The ATL”?
I think that it’s a clear recognition that we need to build a transit network that is easy to use and understandable across the region by the people who use it. There’s good examples around the country. Phoenix has this model where individual counties own their own transit service, but it’s branded under a single name. The average [Phoenix resident] probably doesn’t even know that. I think the value here is that we’re trying to make transit more attractive to the people who can use it. I think that’s critically important to the success of not only transit but transportation in the region.

I don't know if Phoenix is the best example to use. Pretty much all the public transit there is in one gargantuan county: Maricopa (heck, their metro area is just 2 counties). Doesn't compare at all to what's going on here where you cross into a different county every 5-10 miles in spots. Perhaps he meant "individual cities" which would be wild.

Luckily, Cobb and Gwinnett's "systems" aren't so prevalent that it would be hard to mesh all together.

Edit: This a good read

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Metro

"Unified public brand". ATL will probably be something like this.

And there will probably be co-branding w/ MARTA and ATL, like NYC subway setup.

Isn't that what I've been saying?
//www.city-data.com/forum/51494235-post964.html

[primaltech]

Yes, cq. I'm aware.