MARTA News (Atlanta, Marietta, Decatur: universities, floor, delivery)

[primaltech]

Do people actually use that Barge Rd P&R?

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6899...7i16384!8i8192

[Datdudebrah]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Do people actually use that Barge Rd P&R?

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6899...7i16384!8i8192

I agree that Barge Rd P&R is just strange I mean it seems like there could be some sort of circulator bus to provide the connection without weighing down the BRT system, but ATL politics.

Center running BRT is a big win though, just need to make sure all parties involved commit to getting as close to gold standard as possible.

[Mossberg]

I'm ok with the switch to BRT for this corridor. I feel like Beltline rail should be a priority over this project anyway.

In a perfect world, we would be able to have rails everywhere, but we know that is not close to being the case here in Atlanta. It's hard to get "no-brainer" projects funded here.

[primaltech]

Just seems strange that that's the ultimate destination for the BRT, and every angle I look at it on Google Maps, including from satellite, it looks totally abandoned:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6890.../data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6893...7i16384!8i8192

Maybe someone uses it, I dunno. Just strange.

Anyway. I agree the BRT is probably more appropriate than LRT for this very quiet and low density Campbellton corridor, but, you also gotta admit, it seems like yet another instance of MARTA bait and switching like a used car salesman and letting their taxpayers down. Between Atlanta's "More MARTA" boondoggle which seems to include no actual rail, and Clayton's boondoggle where all they're getting for a full penny is a meandering, loopy, indirect "BRT" route, not even mostly in its own lanes, that no choice riders will ride.

I can understand that confidence is low. Personally I think it's time that they look at using that ATL to handle all the transit in the region (I'm still trying to figure out what it even is): https://atltransit.ga.gov/

Use that as the transit agency for the whole 13-county area that it serves, as maybe they'd be a better steward of funds. I know they don't currently do actual transit operations, but it seems like that could all be merged and absorbed and such.

Just seems like there is a growing desire in the suburban counties like Cobb and Gwinnett for transit, but still an opposition to MARTA, and every time MARTA gets a chance to do anything, they seem to drop the ball and reinforce the stereotypes. Regardless of how fair or unfair, it seems to be a toxic brand, with too much baggage and overall negative connotation. Even it's mostly the same people and assets, just re-organized, I think a total re-brand/total consolidation into the ATL brand would go a long way, and it would unify MARTA's transit with the transit that does exist now in the other counties.

It would still be a matter of each county determining how much they want to pay for what (and/or seeking P3 funds or whatever), but there would be a lot less culture war type conflicts if you got rid of that brand name.

[dtyfygiu]

MARTA should honestly get like Dallas with DART and just turn MARTA into commuter rail. Thats pretty much how DART works in Dallas, people use it to go to different suburbs and downtown once in a while. Atlanta doesnt have the population density to support comprehensive public transit. The problem tho is that the job market area is so spread out in ATL. Lots of people commute from suburb to suburb. I dont know...


It's just sad its been over 2 decades and MARTA hasn't updated their system despite booming population. Even declining cities like Detroit, New York, and Chicago are extending their systems currently. Charlotte, far smaller than Atlanta, is investing heavily in its light rail. At the least they could make the existing stations look nice. Almost every MARTA station is surrounded by blight, surface parking, vacant lots, or just simply looks uninviting. Ironically, the best looking MARTA station is in a suburb, Decatur.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by dtyfygiu

MARTA should honestly get like Dallas with DART and just turn MARTA into commuter rail.

DART is a light rail, but yes, I do wish that they could convert MARTA heavy rail into equivalent light rail, with overhead electrification instead of third rail.

Then they could actually afford to expand and extend it, with at-grade road crossings, and inexpensive and simple stations like Dallas/Seattle, all the metros with more modern light rail systems are able to do.

And then not only could it function as like a commuter rail for the historic downtowns like Norcross/Marietta/Stone Mountain, etc, but the same lines could run on the Beltline, and to Emory.

MARTA rail's airport connection is great, and the downtown stations are great, and Decatur and Lindbergh and such, but there needs to be like double or triple the number of stations, and with more lines, connecting the metro. And with that heavy rail outdated design they have, they can't even afford a single new station.

[LynnHarris1]

Councilmembers, former mayor critical of bus plans in SW Atlanta

MARTA’s recently unveiled plans for a bus-rapid transit system in Southwest Atlanta have encountered pushback from high places and will now be the subject of a communal discussion.

Four Atlanta City Councilmembers will be hosting a town hall this afternoon in response to MARTA’s $130-million BRT vision for a six-mile section of Campbellton Road. That plan, according to the councilmembers, represents a “lack of $200 million in promised [light-rail transit] investment” on the city’s Southwest side, as phrased in a city press release..."

https://urbanize.city/atlanta/post/c...apid-bus-plans

SOURCE: Urbanize Atlanta

[dtyfygiu]

Originally Posted by LynnHarris1

Councilmembers, former mayor critical of bus plans in SW Atlanta

MARTA’s recently unveiled plans for a bus-rapid transit system in Southwest Atlanta have encountered pushback from high places and will now be the subject of a communal discussion.

Four Atlanta City Councilmembers will be hosting a town hall this afternoon in response to MARTA’s $130-million BRT vision for a six-mile section of Campbellton Road. That plan, according to the councilmembers, represents a “lack of $200 million in promised [light-rail transit] investment” on the city’s Southwest side, as phrased in a city press release..."

https://urbanize.city/atlanta/post/c...apid-bus-plans

SOURCE: Urbanize Atlanta

I agree. First the whole Clayton county debacle now this. It seems like everywhere south of i-20 (the whole metro really, but especially south of i-20) gets the short end of the stick with MARTA.

[Born 2 Roll]

The non-profit group Black Male Initiative was among dozens of metro Atlanta pro transit-expansion advocates who rallied recently to mark Transit Equity Day, which is observed each year on the birthday of Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks.

Friday’s march was organized by the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council. For many Black residents in metro Atlanta, access to reliable transportation remains a barrier to employment.

For some, it takes hours to get across town on a bus. And for many outside the perimeter, public transportation is non-existent.

This disparity is leading to demands for more transit equity...

... Taylor and many others are calling for upgrades to MARTA inside the perimeter and the expansion of public transportation beyond it. They want residents of Clayton, South Dekalb, Gwinnett and Cobb to have an efficient way to commute to the city for work.

‘A good, fair ride’: Residents call for transit equity — in Atlanta and beyond the perimeter (WABE Atlanta)

[LynnHarris1]

MARTA Statement on the False, Irresponsible Statements by Councilmembers Marci Collier Overstreet, Andrea Boone and Antonio Lewis regarding the Campbellton Corridor Transit Project

Councilmember Overstreet has been closely involved with this project since its inception and is fully aware that light rail was never promised in this corridor..."

FULL STATEMENT: https://www.itsmarta.com/marta-statement.aspx

SOURCE: MARTA News