ATLANTA TRANSIT (Marta, Beltline, Peachtree Streetcar, LovJoy Commuter, etc...)

[Julien]

Just a couple of tangential news articles from yesterday that are Georgia positive.

• Hyundai actually started production yesterday at the Savannah Factory
• Rivian applied for a Federal Loan yesterday to restart the Atlanta Factory construction

https://www.wtoc.com/2024/10/04/hyundai-produces-first-vehicle-ioniq-5-bryan-co-metaplant/

https://www.ajc.com/news/business/rivian...rgia-factory/AOZ67ACDRRAQ3IJ2EXMQQXFM5M/

[ATLMidcity]

FYI - Both Gwinnett and Cobb counties' transit initiatives were defeated. What a shame.

[edg1]

Originally Posted by ATLMidcity

FYI - Both Gwinnett and Cobb counties' transit initiatives were defeated. What a shame.

I recently moved to Cobb. I voted it down because it wasn't any light or heavy rail included

[shivtim]

New paved beltline section on the east side of Piedmont Park is now open.

[atlantese]

What are they doing at the 85/400 interchange with the crane?

[shivtim]

MARTA will be running increased train service for year end events.

"The Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will provide increased train service through downtown Atlanta for three upcoming events: the Peach Drop on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024; the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade & Game on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025; and the Polar Opposite Race on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025."

[shivtim]

Via Jerome Horne, updates on the Summerhill BRT

[smArTaLlone]

• Video Link

[smArTaLlone]

[Atlurbsandspices]

I was just trying to do some research on the old GRPP plans. I was looking through old comments on here to see if I could find any leads. I clicked through page after page after page before I realized I had only advanced a few months in 2007. And the discussions were basically the same issues we are having today. Nothing has been accomplished on rail, and what's more lots of potential programs have been chopped down.

While I think the nation as a whole has become more aware of transportation issues, in GA I fear we might be running on fumes. I know a lot of internet discussions have moved away from old forums like this, but even in the real world there seems to be less organization going on around than what I read about from 20 years ago. I fear transit advocates have been demoralized by lack of fruition on even the lowest hanging projects.

[RocketSurgeon]

MARTA is a useless and corrupt agency that people still defend for reasons I'll never understand. They last added a station 25 years ago when Bill Clinton was still president. For more than a generation they've been collecting special taxes and spending untold millions of our money on studies and the only thing that has changed is that the trains and buses run even less frequently than they did back then.

[Atlurbsandspices]

They "defend" it because it's them or nothing, at least inside their exisiting service area.

[Sojourner_Terminus]

My totally unfounded and completely speculative theories for Georgia, the metro and the city of Atlanta getting more public transit are as follows:

Option A, through some political reckoning in the future the State and City leadership become more aligned. Could be the state becoming more purple and eventually electing a democrat Governor, or CoA voters getting fed up and stop voting for the Atlanta mayor political machine.

I think 20-30 years for something like this to happen.

Option B, the state and cities populations continue to swell over the coming years pushing our infrastructure to a breaking point (think 2 hour commutes from North Gwinnett becoming normal.) This could force the State's hand to solve a problem they have so far been content to bandaid with deals for their buddies to build highways.

It would happen in 10-20 years if its ever going to happens in our lifetime.

[Atlurbsandspices]

Originally Posted by dante2308

is it just me or have none of the proposals panned out at all? Weren't we supposed to have a commuter rail network, and new high-speed line, a streetcar, and a MMT center in the works?

September of 2008! 2008!!!

[Atlurbsandspices]

Originally Posted by wxjay

The Beltline as a viable transportation option for commuters or for travelers is one of the worst ideas ever. Period. The idea behind adding transportation to the Beltline project was solely to claim federal funds for the project.

Sorry, but in the face of energy concerns, rising fuel costs, and growing traffic, having commuter rails and high-speed rail to connect major cities in the Southeast should take high priority over a light rail/trolley-like system that will transport few people.

This was 2009. I hadn't seen the federal funding funding talking pii t before, but good to know the claim that transit was some add on to the beltline path has been around since I was in middle school

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by Atlurbsandspices

This was 2009. I hadn't seen the federal funding funding talking pii t before, but good to know the claim that transit was some add on to the beltline path has been around since I was in middle school

I personally think the term ‘corrupt’ is really hyperbolic and not an accurate label for Marta. There budget is open for anyone to review. They have done a good job of keeping the system modern and updated, and in my opinion, outside Cumberland, west midtown, and Emory, there are few ‘dense’ areas outside what is currently covered by the current Marta rail network which warrant expansion currently. I think the state long term needs to focus on commuter rail as a solution. There is currently work and momentum for Amtrak to expand in Atlanta in multiple directions, and commuter rail is an obvious solution to piggy back on those efforts, using the same infrastructure. Add capacity to the current rail lines and cut a deal with NS and CSX (easier said than done I know) for commuter rail, and work with Amtrak to get the downtown station built. I have lived in Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York, and all three cities have significant usage of their commuter rail systems, which complement and expand reach of the existing heavy rail network. This would be an amazing addition for Atlanta.

[trainiac]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

MARTA is a useless and corrupt agency that people still defend for reasons I'll never understand. They last added a station 25 years ago when Bill Clinton was still president. For more than a generation they've been collecting special taxes and spending untold millions of our money on studies and the only thing that has changed is that the trains and buses run even less frequently than they did back then.

For the last 30 years I've made a point of living near a MARTA station and multiple bus routes. It works for me. Sorry you've been dissapointed

[Tuckerman]

It is not MARTA that is the problem. We have an ignorant State Legislature that for years has neglected public transit for a growing urban area. Georgia is not unique, it is an American problem. Stop blaming MARTA for the ignorance of politicians. We are the only major advanced economy in the world a that has an ancient idea of public transportation.

[Atlurbsandspices]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

It is not MARTA that is the problem. We have an ignorant State Legislature that for years has neglected public transit for a growing urban area. Georgia is not unique, it is an American problem. Stop blaming MARTA for the ignorance of politicians. We are the only major advanced economy in the world a that has an ancient idea of public transportation.

It's both. The state takes all of the blame for lack of intercity conmections, and most of the blame for lack of progress in the suburbs. But MARTA and the city aren't off the hook for the complete dearth of expansion within the exisiting service area this century, having completed zero major projects from the MoreMARTA vote, or for the way Clayton County has been cheated post joining MARTA

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

It is not MARTA that is the problem. We have an ignorant State Legislature that for years has neglected public transit for a growing urban area. Georgia is not unique, it is an American problem. Stop blaming MARTA for the ignorance of politicians. We are the only major advanced economy in the world a that has an ancient idea of public transportation.

MARTA isn't to blame for the lack of state funding but they're 100% to blame for what they do with the funding they do receive. They've been collecting special taxes and spending them on studies for decades without delivering a single meaningful project. No one will ever convince me that that's okay.