Historic Gridlock a Rallying Call for Suburban Rail

Gridlock of historic proportions left much of Atlanta changing their tune on the benefits of MARTA. Cobb and Gwinnett commuters who had 3+ hour rides in bumper to bumper traffic are realizing the benefits of rail while commuters in town suffered waited 30+ min to travel ten blocks. According to the AJC 13 MARTA parking lots were over capacity yesterday "with some people creating their own spaces. Lines formed as infrequent riders waited to buy the new Breeze card needed for a fare."

I took MARTA on this epic morning. I park on the far side of an infrequently used MARTA lot and this was the first time someone was already in my spot. I barely caught my train on time running through half the station, but I still go to Five Points in time for my classes. However my teacher for my first class was 45 minutes late (never happens) and half the class was missing the start of class (also never happens). A blogger in the article said even MARTA wasn't prepared for such a busy day but I think that is because they haven't been allowed to expand into Cobb and Gwinnett to alleviate pressure on end stations like North Springs and Doraville. Incidentally her handle was MariettaGirl-hmm. Lee Biola, President of the nonprofit advocacy group Citizens for Progressive Transit, had this to say:

"Commuter rail from Athens to Atlanta to Macon would give Georgians a permanent choice about whether to sit in traffic. Commuter rail from Atlanta through Cobb County to Canton, Cartersville, Rome and Bremen, through Gwinnett to Gainesville, and south of Atlanta to LaGrange and Senoia are also desperately needed. While commuter rail may or may not reduce traffic, it would certainly let people choose whether to sit in it."

For now, all Gov. Sonny Purdue only cares about is his "Go Fish Georgia" initiative and doesn't even mention MARTA anymore, Mayor Shirley Franklin "was traveling and unavailable to comment (stuck in traffic?), her spokeswoman said. Another spokeswoman referred questions about whether the city was prepared for future traffic disasters to the Police Department (the APD, not the DOT? that bad?)." I foresee more of these "epic gridlock" days ahead without any changes being made. It is only a mater of time before Atlanta gets fed up and public opinion makes rapid transit the preferred mode of transportation and rail investment a financial priority. Ariel Hart - AJC (1/26/07-1:44am), Lee Biola - AJC Editorial (1/26/07-5:08am)

Mass Transit a Non-Issue for Perdue

Presenting his proposed budget for the FY2008 Governor Sonny Perdue did not even mention transit, let alone MARTA as being a part of the budget planning for next year. MARTA currently gets no state funding, a rarity and makes MARTA the largest light-rail mass transit system in the country to not receive state funding. Perdue's floor leader argues it's a question of expense and need.

"I have not seen any empirical evidence, again, personally, that would dictate that mass transit is a good expenditure of billions of dollars, ultimately, of taxpayer money"

For a counter argument, House Minority Leader, Rep. Dubose Porter said,

“You, at some point, are going to have to do something about mass transit. Mass transit is where people cannot get into Atlanta. I mean, it is a business problem for us in Georgia.”

As 11Alive's Denis O'Hayer puts it:

"The coming fight might not be Democrats versus Republicans, but urban versus rural."

Without the governor's backing in his Republican dominated state congress the future is grim for sweeping changes in the near future. Denis O'Hayer - WXIA-11Alive (1/18/07-11:12am)

Their own words...

Rep. Mike Jacobs, (D-DeKalb) :

"I look forward to continuing to work for fiscal restraint and accountability at MARTA, which hopefully will lead to making MARTA part of a larger, regional mass transit system that could include suburban counties such as Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton."

Mike Jacobs is on the House Transportation Committee and the MARTA Oversight Committee (MARTOC) which controls how state and federal funding is allocated for MARTA spending. His listed goals reflect the continued goals of MARTOC as defined by committee chair Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta). Ensuring MARTA's fiscal responsibility and eventually bringing all the regional transit systems under one organization have been the main goals of MARTOC since its inception. Jacobs has reaffirmed that these will be the priorities for the legislature regarding MARTA in the upcoming legislative session. Mike Jacobs - GoDekalb.com (1/16/07-11:44am)

Jesse Hill Jr., MARTA founder, hospitalized

Jesse Hill Jr. remains hospitalized tonight after suffering a heart attack last week when his appendix ruptured. An Atlanta civic leader, Hill, 80, was once chair of the bargaining committee which created MARTA. He was also the first African American member to sit on MARTA's Board of Directors. He is in our thought and prayers. Saeed Ahmed-AJC (7/15/07-9:36pm), Elizabeth Campell-GaTech.edu (3/14/06)


Update: Hill's oldest daughter Nancy Cook says, "he's fighting. He's a very active person normally. He wants to get out of the hospital but can't. [However] he's expected to make a full recovery." S.A. Reid - AJC (1/16/07-1:25pm)

Racing Under Tracks Leaves 2 Dead

A possible drag race on Lee Street in southwest Atlanta resulted in two fatalities when a car hit a concrete MARTA support rail and instantly burst into flames early this morning near the intersection of Donnelly Avenue. "MARTA service in the area was not interrupted by the accident," police said. Rosalind Bentley-AJC (1/13/07-9:25am)

Their own words...

Gwinnett County Chairman Charles Bannister:

"If we bring an organization like MARTA into Gwinnett County, people have to vote on it. Is there enough to approve it? I don't know. People who ride our buses like it, and that's probably a step in the right direction."

Looks like in the end, the decision to bring MARTA in to southern Gwinnett will again be in the hands of voters, not the electorate. Arielle Kass-Gwinnett Daily Post (1/12/17-1:29am)

Eyes and Ears...

"What topic would bring Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens (who also chairs the Atlanta Regional Commission), Clayton Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell and MARTA board Chairman Ed Wall together over lunch Tuesday at the Commerce Club?

Transit.

The three men huddled together over a long lunch to discuss possible transit solutions for the Atlanta region. Stay tuned ..." Maria Saporta-AJC (1/11/07-7:13am)

New MARTA Route for Atlanta History Center

MARTA will add new Route 38 for the new Atlanta History Center opening on Monday, 15th in celebration of Martin Luther King Day with the "I Have a Dream: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection". Mary Swint-GoDekalb.com (1/10/07-10:36pm)

MARTA takes a road-trip to Gwinnett

A group of MARTA officials and Gwinnett business leaders took a field trip today up I-85 on a MARTA bus to scope out the area in Norcross and around Gwinnett Place Mall. Local business associations and MARTA are splitting the cost of a feasibility study ($100,000) to extend the north-east rail line from Doraville up to Gwinnett Place Mall with three proposed stations at the intersection of Jimmy Carter Blvd. & Buford Hwy., on Indian Trail near I-85, and at the mall.

The route of the proposed extension is nowhere near finalized. It may get moved closer to I-85, but for now they are taking advantage of right of way under the giant power lines running north from Doraville Station.

Paul Donsky: "As the road trip wore on, the bus riders struck a cautiously
hopeful tone. They see the need for improved transit, but understand the
enormous political and financial hurdles that are in the way."

However, there is a lot of residential and commercial activity in this corridor. . It has been 16 years since the same plan was rejected by Gwinnett voters, but between the dramatic change in demographics and economic activity, there is a good chance the line will eventually be built. Paul Donsky-AJC (1/9/07-6:57pm), Camie Young-Gwinnett Daily Post (1/10/07-12:17am)

MARTA Board OK's Rail over Buses for Beltline

The MARTA board of directors passed a resolution today approving the "Locally Preferred Alternative" of light rail and "steel wheel" technology over the cheaper but less impressive Bus Rapid Transit option.

The decision was made after four public meetings this fall showed a significant preference for something cleaner and more permanent than buses.The route specified in the Beltline resolution will go through the Inman Park-Reynoldstown station on the east line and work its way around downtown ending/starting at Lindbergh station (MARTA Headquarters) on the north line.

"Next the Locally Preferred Alternative will be submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission and environmental impact assessment will be done. Financial and implementation plans will be developed, also." Mary Swint-GoDekalb.com (1/8/07-9:39pm)

In-Fill MARTA stations feasibility

news is going around on MARTA studying the feasibility of new stations going in between existing stations. Idea is in the very early phase of being looked at but already I can imagine the positive reception it is going to receive from commuters not wanting to walk ridiculous distances to board a train inside the perimeter.

Hodgson (MARTA "chief marketing officer") has suggested MARTA look at four gaps that could support a station: between the Garnett and West End stations just south of downtown Atlanta; between King Memorial and Inman Park stations just east of downtown; between the Arts Center and Lindbergh stations north of Midtown; and between the West Lake and Ashby stations on Atlanta's west side.

This is the first I'm hearing of MARTA infilling, but really this has been a long time coming with distances between stations stretching up to 3 miles. Donsky cites the average distance commuters are willing to walk to a station is half a mile and, when I can just drive and get there faster, that estimate seems fairly accurate. AJC-Paul Donsky(1/1/07-9:21pm), WXIA(11Alive)-Jon Shirek(1/3/07-8:32am)