The ATL: new regional transit system (Atlanta, Dallas: to live, move, association)

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Given a few more years, Cobb and Gwinnett would have probably joined MARTA exactly how it is. The state knows this, and is strategically pre-empting this by trying to quickly win over those counties into an equivalent system that doesn't have the MARTA name, and is less Democratic and in-town dominated.

So basically, this is all about screwing the people that actually put up the funding to build and operate the system (Fulton/DeKalb). We have to pay for the sins of Cobb and Gwinnett voters/politicians that spent the last 50 years bashing MARTA. F**k 'em. If they want transit, they can do so under MARTA's exisiting name/governance structure, which they would have power under anyway.

[primaltech]

This will be an epic battle over the next few years, for sure. And I'm betting the only real winner will be transit itself. (Which, luckily for me, is the thing I really care about.)

I still think Breeze would be a cool name/branding for the 5-county transit system. With the same MARTA colors, which I like.

*grabs 10 tons of popcorn, watches epic battle unfold over next 3 years*

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Gulch

A subway system can absolutely be destroyed (see the NYC system from 1950 to 1980). Even if destroyed is abit harsh, MARTA can easily be wrecked through deferred maintenance, draconian service cutbacks, misguided branding that confuses people, and political meddling by the state that screws one constituency (inner-city Democratic areas) in favor of another (exurban Republicans).

If B2R's "privatization"-ish scenario ever came to happen, you can bet a large number of the above would happen.

You and B2R make some great points. However, Georgia politics are dominated by the huge suburban counties and the exurban/rural areas. How can they be persuaded to buy into the existing MARTA governance structure?

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by arjay57

You and B2R make some great points. However, Georgia politics are dominated by the huge suburban counties and the exurban/rural areas. How can they be persuaded to buy into the existing MARTA governance structure?

By getting proportional (by population) representation on the MARTA Board of Directors and giving the heads of GDOT and GRTA full voting rights.

[AK141]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southe...an/7994756186/

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Gulch

By getting proportional (by population) representation on the MARTA Board of Directors and giving the heads of GDOT and GRTA full voting rights.

Is that politically doable? Sounds like a good idea to me.

[tikigod311]

"A new type of government structure, governing structure that would be brought to MARTA, maybe a new branding approach," Cagle said. "All those things would be on the table as the council takes a look at it."

Yeah, and I'm pretty sure taking over MARTA governance will come off the table when they realize how much of a fight this will be. There is cause for concern here, but my money is on it not happening.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Is that politically doable? Sounds like a good idea to me.

It should be, but we'd more than likely get something that favored the outer suburbs over the core metro.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

It should be, but we'd more than likely get something that favored the outer suburbs over the core metro.

Beats gutting MARTA alltogether.

[primaltech]

MARTA was always intended to serve the suburbs, as much as the city itself. It was originally envisioned as a macro commuter system, not an urban micro focus.

And that's because even Atlanta proper is hugely suburban. Nothing like NYC.