Gwinnett votes "No" on MARTA vote... (Atlanta, Winder: sales, sales tax)

[RoslynHolcomb]

I have a fictional book planned where Atlanta is destroyed with anthrax and smallpox, I suppose I could just change it to an earthquake. If it becomes a bestseller, maybe it'll frighten enough people to go for mass transit.

I don't know that much about the 'brain train.' Doesn't it go to Athens? Are people in Gwinnett more in need of transportation to Athens than they are to Atlanta? Or am I missing something? (As usual)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

I don't know that much about the 'brain train.' Doesn't it go to Athens? Are people in Gwinnett more in need of transportation to Athens than they are to Atlanta? Or am I missing something? (As usual)

The brain train would connect Atlanta to Athens, with stops along the way at several colleges and universities (and some neighborhood stops). It's not about getting people from Gwinnett to Athens vs. Atlanta.

Georgia Brain Train Group - A Commuter Rail, passenger train, Atlanta rail, college connector rail

[RoslynHolcomb]

Aaah, that's brilliant. So what's the problem again? Especially if it can be done quickly and cheaply, and is something that the folks in Gwinnett actually want. Is it something that the people there want?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

Aaah, that's brilliant. So what's the problem again? Especially if it can be done quickly and cheaply, and is something that the folks in Gwinnett actually want. Is it something that the people there want?

Well, it covers portions of five counties, so even though Gwinnett would have the most stations and most riders would be from Gwinnett, it's not really up to them. (Gwinnett opposes MARTA, but I don't believe the Brain Train would be MARTA operated system. I've been following the Brain Train concept for a couple years and I don't recall ever hearing that MARTA would have anything at all to do with the Brain Train. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.)

I live in Tucker and work downtown. If they build the Brain Train, I will ride it to work. I would also ride it whenever I make a trip to Athens. Although it's called the "Brain Train" it isn't just for college students/professors. Anyone would be able to use it.

From the website:

"How the Brain Train will affect Gwinnett ?

Gwinnett stands to be a big beneficiary when the Brain Train Commuter Rail begins operations.

You may ask how. For starters, anyone of us who lives in Gwinnett and drives anywhere, knows that traffic is a huge problem. This is especially true of people commuting to DeKalb or Atlanta for work. We have the longest commute times of any county in the Southeast.

A recent survey bears this out with 87% of Gwinnett respondents saying that traffic congestion is a big problem with 87% saying that the problem will only get worse over time.

When the Brain Train is up and running, studies show that around 80% of the riders will come from right here in Gwinnett County. That will take over 10,000 people daily off of our already overcrowded roads. This will mean traffic relief for everyone, not just those riding the Brain Train.

Four of the proposed stops are here in Gwinnett, the most of any county along the route. They will likely be at Cedars Road, Lawrenceville, Reagan Parkway and Lilburn."

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by JPD

The brain train would connect Atlanta to Athens, with stops along the way at several colleges and universities (and some neighborhood stops). It's not about getting people from Gwinnett to Athens vs. Atlanta.

Georgia Brain Train Group - A Commuter Rail, passenger train, Atlanta rail, college connector rail

http://www.georgiabraintrain.com/graphics/jpgs/athens-atlanta-rail.jpg (broken link)

What about everything west of Fulton County(like Marietta,Kennesaw, Cartersville,etc.)?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

What about everything west of Fulton County(like Marietta,Kennesaw, Cartersville,etc.)?

Someone from that area needs to come up with their own concept.

Call your representatives. Maybe they know of something.

Or do what you can to support CFPT. They're the only organization I'm aware of that has transportation ideas that include the entire metro area (and beyond):

Citizens for Progressive Transit
http://www.cfpt.org/front.php (broken link)

http://www.cfpt.org/documents/worldclass_map.pdf

http://www.cfpt.org/images/wctv/lores.gif (broken link)

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by JPD

The brain train would connect Atlanta to Athens, with stops along the way at several colleges and universities (and some neighborhood stops). It's not about getting people from Gwinnett to Athens vs. Atlanta.

Georgia Brain Train Group - A Commuter Rail, passenger train, Atlanta rail, college connector rail

http://www.georgiabraintrain.com/graphics/jpgs/athens-atlanta-rail.jpg (broken link)

Has to go to Atlanta to pick up folks for Athens.
This route will be the best benefit as it was part of the 2006 study, which shows that the majority of gridlock on 85 comes south of Pleasant Hill, mostly from 316. This route includes Lilburn and Lawrenceville, along with Ceders.
You will find a huge decrease in 316 along with 85 traffic.
Also, I doubt that this idea would NOT be tied to MARTA, thus the ballihoo.
Instead, I will repeat, MATA wants to spend billions to lay 12 mile worth of track with the northern stop at Pleasant Hill. In short, higher taxation, overall no gridlock relief, and yet just another government beaucratic deficit boondoggle.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by Georgia

Has to go to Atlanta to pick up folks for Athens.
This route will be the best benefit as it was part of the 2006 study, which shows that the majority of gridlock on 85 comes south of Pleasant Hill, mostly from 316. This route includes Lilburn and Lawrenceville, along with Ceders.
You will find a huge decrease in 316 along with 85 traffic.
Also, I doubt that this idea would NOT be tied to MARTA, thus the ballihoo.
Instead, I will repeat, MATA wants to spend billions to lay 12 mile worth of track with the northern stop at Pleasant Hill. In short, higher taxation, overall no gridlock relief, and yet just another government beaucratic deficit boondoggle.

Bold Point one: I think this is incorrect, but I'm not 100% certain. Where are you getting that info? That makes no sense at all. A rider should be able to go in the direction of their choosing without any backtracking.

Bold Point two: Please show me where it has been proposed that MARTA would be associated with the Brain Train.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

What about everything west of Fulton County(like Marietta,Kennesaw, Cartersville,etc.)?

Now that I think about it, there was a recent thread on this website about a Marietta rail line.

//www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...usted-off.html

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

What about everything west of Fulton County(like Marietta,Kennesaw, Cartersville,etc.)?

We already have own own local brains.