ATLANTA TRANSIT (Marta, Beltline, Peachtree Streetcar, LovJoy Commuter, etc...) - Page 137

cybele · #**2721** Posted **Feb 22, 2010, 4:49 PM**

Well they had those old trackless trolleys on up to the 60s as I recollect, it was a big spiderweb of wires everywhere you looked. They were just like a bus except they ran on electricity instead of gas. My wife has still got some of those brass things they run on.

cybele · #**2722** Posted **Feb 23, 2010, 3:55 AM**

Well the GDOT says we're in good shape on the high speed light rail thing.

All is well with rail in Georgia

Pompuss · #**2723** Posted **Feb 23, 2010, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Well the GDOT says we're in good shape on the high speed light rail thing.

All is well with rail in Georgia

Well, that does make me feel a little better I guess.

On another subject one question I was thinking about: Why can't MARTA run articulated buses up and down Peachtree Street. I know they use to run these buses in the 70's and 80's. What happened?

reet · #**2724** Posted **Feb 23, 2010, 4:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pompuss

Well, that does make me feel a little better I guess.

On another subject one question I was thinking about: Why can't MARTA run articulated buses up and down Peachtree Street. I know they use to run these buses in the 70's and 80's. What happened?

Cool looking bus! I didn't know Atlanta used to have these. As to why MARTA isn't running them on Peachtree, my guess is that it has to do with funding.

I would be happy if they could run the #110 Peach Bus up and down Peachtree more frequently -- without the detour to the Arts Center station -- and with the additional covered (and generally modern and nice looking) bus stops. I think that if the Peach Bus was more reliably frequent and if waiting for it involved some attractive, comfortable bus stops it would get higher usage. Of course, nicer looking buses like these cool bendy one wouldn't hurt either.

WestsideATL · #**2725** Posted **Feb 23, 2010, 5:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pompuss

Well, that does make me feel a little better I guess.

On another subject one question I was thinking about: Why can't MARTA run articulated buses up and down Peachtree Street. I know they use to run these buses in the 70's and 80's. What happened?

I don't think MARTA's maintenance facilities have the necessary equipment to work on those 60-footers anymore.

Pompuss · #**2726** Posted **Feb 23, 2010, 7:30 PM**

Quote:

I don't think MARTA's maintenance facilities have the necessary equipment to work on those 60-footers anymore

I was in San Francisco recently and they worked great there. I just don't see why they aren't used on something like Peachtree St. It seems to me that they went out when MARTA converted to the natural gas buses in the early 90's but does that mean articulated buses can't run on natural gas?

When I was in about the 1st grade (1987/88) MARTA brought one of their articulated buses to our school to take a tour of (one of our students' father was a treasurer for MARTA, still is actually.

WestsideATL · #**2727** Posted **Feb 23, 2010, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pompuss

I was in San Francisco recently and they worked great there. I just don't see why they aren't used on something like Peachtree St. It seems to me that they went out when MARTA converted to the natural gas buses in the early 90's but does that mean articulated buses can't run on natural gas?

When I was in about the 1st grade (1987/88) MARTA brought one of their articulated buses to our school to take a tour of (one of our students' father was a treasurer for MARTA, still is actually.

No, fuel isn't the issue. It's the length of the vehicles that's the problem. MARTA doesn't have the bays, vehicle lifts, etc. required to work on them. Sure, that could probably be remedied, but that's going to require money that MARTA doesn't have. Re: corridors that could use the bigger buses, both Buford Highway and Campbellton Road have routes that are frequently overloaded. I'm sure there are others...

sunking1056 · #**2728** Posted **Feb 25, 2010, 12:49 AM**

From MARTA's Facebook page:

"COMING TO A BUS STOP NEAR YOU! We're happy to introduce the 101 New CNG-powered buses to MARTA's fleet! These new buses will replace current buses scheduled for retirement. Some special new features include curved doors, rounded fronts, newly styled seating, and improved HVAC ventilation. Funded with American Recovery ...& Reinvestment Act funds (18 buses), and 80% grant from U.S. Congress & U.S. DOT FTA, with 20% from the GDOT and MARTA."

There's a picture too but I can't get it on here for some reason. Just fb MARTA

smArTaLlone · #**2729** Posted **Feb 25, 2010, 4:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunking1056

From MARTA's Facebook page:

"COMING TO A BUS STOP NEAR YOU! We're happy to introduce the 101 New CNG-powered buses to MARTA's fleet! These new buses will replace current buses scheduled for retirement. Some special new features include curved doors, rounded fronts, newly styled seating, and improved HVAC ventilation. Funded with American Recovery ...& Reinvestment Act funds (18 buses), and 80% grant from U.S. Congress & U.S. DOT FTA, with 20% from the GDOT and MARTA."

There's a picture too but I can't get it on here for some reason. Just fb MARTA

Uptowngirl · #**2730** Posted **Feb 25, 2010, 5:37 AM**

Might be nice if they kept off the massive advertising wraps.

SteveD · #**2731** Posted **Feb 25, 2010, 4:41 PM**

I didn't know MARTA had a FB page...I'll have to check that out.

TarHeelJ · #**2732** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uptowngirl

Might be nice if they kept off the massive advertising wraps.

...but that wouldn't help with MARTA's budget issues.

cybele · #**2733** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 4:16 PM**

It's a darn shame the buses have to be plastered with advertising just to pay the bill. You can't even read them unless you are stuck behind one in traffic anyway, telling you to go sign up with some 1-800-lawyer.

SteveD · #**2734** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 4:34 PM**

I think they look fine wrapped in advertising. I think they look better wrapped in advertising than they do without advertising. No, I'm not joking.

reet · #**2735** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 4:42 PM**

If the advertising dollars keep the buses on the road, then I can put up with the ads -- even if it means occasionally being stuck in traffic behind a bus with a law firm's ad that features a goofy-faced lawbot grinning at me with bleached teeth. It's just the little pains of funding transit.

TarHeelJ · #**2736** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybele

It's a darn shame the buses have to be plastered with advertising just to pay the bill. You can't even read them unless you are stuck behind one in traffic anyway, telling you to go sign up with some 1-800-lawyer.

So...other large cities don't plaster their buses with advertising? I really can't remember if I've seen it or not, but it seems like a harmless idea that can bring in loads of $.

cybele · #**2737** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 7:41 PM**

Well I reckon it's no big thing, just in my opinion they would look good if they were all the same color. However if they need the money so be it. Better than sticking it on the taxpayer.

TarHeelJ · #**2738** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybele

Well I reckon it's no big thing, just in my opinion they would look good if they were all the same color. However if they need the money so be it. Better than sticking it on the taxpayer.

...and we all know that MARTA needs money.

cybele · #**2739** Posted **Feb 26, 2010, 10:44 PM**

Well it seems like there's some mighty thin-skinned people when it comes to certain subjects and whatnot. Personally I'm as big a fan of the MARTA as you will find and have ridden on it thousands of times and have family who worked for it, but nothing's perfect and they would say so themselves. How can you make something better if you can't mention what the problems are.

Fiorenza · #**2740** Posted **Feb 27, 2010, 2:31 AM**

Andrea, you are absolutely correct.