Atlanta's second airport in Columbus? (Macon, Dawson: 2014, living in, light rail)

[nedergras]

Fulton County Brown Field Airport, realign the east-west runway to parallel the river (longer runway), and expand Marta links to the Airport.

[Columbus1984]

Regardless, Columbus should still move forward with expanding the airport and adding more flight destinations.

[cozzy]

The problem with the airport in Columbus is that it is more expensive than ATL. If so much money is spent and wasted to expand the Columbus airport, that money will have to be recouped somehow and I imagine it would be through taxes or maintaining high ticket costs.

Myself and everyone I knew just drove to ATL and flew out of there because it was cheaper, even if you threw in the additional cost of the shuttle bus.

[cdw1084]

It's a study and it will bring an economic boost to the area. Every other airport in GA is more expensive than Hartsfield-Jackson so that's not really a point. I think it's to lessen the air traffic at HJ and Columbus isn't in a bad spot.

[cozzy]

Yeah, but what is going to change? People will still drive to ATL because it is cheaper.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by cozzy

Yeah, but what is going to change? People will still drive to ATL because it is cheaper.

If Atlanta is looking at Columbus for a possible second airport then #1) Flight prices will most likely resemble the prices at HJ #2 It will bring revenue into the Columbus area. If the airport is bought to Columbus I don't think too many people will drive to Atlanta because the purpose is to keep air traffic down at HJ.

[cozzy]

Eh, that remains to be seen. Renovation money and overhead due to expansion has to come from somewhere.

I guess we will find out soon enough if Columbus just wasted $300,000 FOR A SURVEY of a high speed rail system to make this work as well.

[Columbus1984]

Flights to Columbus are not that much more than Atlanta. Direct flights to Dallas are about the same. Columbus is dreaming big and is really doing something to separate itself from the other 2nd tier cities in the Southeast. The amount construction that is already going on in this economy is crazy. With SPLOST passed, continued growth in the housing and retail market, and the potential for a major airport expansion and high speed rail, Columbus will be the city that all 2nd tier cities will envy.

[cozzy]

I searched a couple destinations and averaged about $100 more per person in Columbus than Atlanta. That can be significant if you have a family.

Remember, the main reason for the expansion is because of the military. Without them, Columbus would be nowhere, so it is not like the city has really done anything itself to create this. It is just expanding to meet the generosity of the government dropping a base there and needing troops for an Army.

I don't really sense the envy.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by cozzy

I searched a couple destinations and averaged about $100 more per person in Columbus than Atlanta. That can be significant if you have a family.

Remember, the main reason for the expansion is because of the military. Without them, Columbus would be nowhere, so it is not like the city has really done anything itself to create this. It is just expanding to meet the generosity of the government dropping a base there and needing troops for an Army.

I don't really sense the envy.

You apparently know very little about Columbus.