- DeKalb breweries empowered by new craft beer law [AJC]
- Streetcar operators off the rails after investigation [WSB]
- Dish Dive now open for lunch in Kirkwood [Next Stop…Decatur]
- National design competition launched for pavilion along Beltline’s Westside Trail [CL]
- Georgia Considers Joining Southeast High-Speed Rail Pact [WABE]
- The mass-transit system Seattle might have had [Seattle Times]
Photo courtesy of Atlanta Downtown
Streetcar and Seattle links appear to be broken.
Sorry about that. Should be fixed now.
In other words, the streetcar continues to perform as poorly as many expected.
I’ve ridden a couple of times now and it was SRO, but still a pleasant ride. I’ll be curious to see if the MLK site sees an increase in visitors due to the streetcar.
SRO = Standing Room Only, right? In other words, the streetcar is attracting riders that many said it wouldn’t.
Hate to admit it, but I have lived in Atlanta for over 20 years and I finally decided to visit the MLK site because of the streetcar.
Vive la Streetcar!
Same here, Curious, with the exception of a barely remembered school field trip over 30 years ago.
Is there more there than there used to be? I took my grandmother there once ages and ages ago and, other than the MLK home, which was interesting, there wasn’t much to see and no where for her to sit. So we didn’t stay long. The Civil Rights Museum, on the other hand, is awesome to visit.
I don’t think there is anything new ( though some of the famous footprints in concrete are likely new since you’ve been; Ted Turner has really small feet) , but afterwards we enjoyed a nice walk along Auburn over to Highland Ave. Some lovely houses along the way.
As an everyday MARTA commuter who had to drive to Norcross for work two days this week I can tell you our multi-billion dollar highway system performs poorly as well.
I am going to adopt this response when I hear complaints about MARTA.
Good idea. The scariest part of what I learned about traffic is that one of the worst spots was getting out of little old Decatur. Making a left from Scott eastbound to Clairmont northbound at 8:00 am requires some patience.
GREAT response!
Our roads don’t turn a profit either, which is a common requirement put on transit. Roads are of course important to transportation, commerce, and modern life in general, as is transit. Just hate the double standard…
+1.
And don’t forget the airline “subsidies” in the form of airports that they don’t build and air traffic control that they don’t pay for.
I’m not claiming the streetcar needs to turn a profit, and I doubt many people would hold it to that standard. But it also shouldn’t be sold on a pack of lies about costs and ridership, which it was. It’s bleeding money, serving fewer people than expected, and now bears all earmarks of the unaccountable bureaucracy it will be. And the fact that roads have their flaws doesn’t make the case for the streetcar.
Responding to other comments generally, let’s not forget that the problems with roads are largely a function of huge demand. The problem with transit is a lack of demand. As a user experience, driving beats trains all day long, all else equal.
Speaking of the flaws in our roads, I’ll borrow the standard progressive line for all other public shortcomings: they are simply underfunded. Throw a few billion more at the problem and all will be well. Amrite?
Well we are about to throw $1 billion at the 285 400 interchange. Any predictions on how that will turn out?
The problem, really, is the extent of the network compared to the density of population. If MARTA or the streetcar were a true network that connected the city with stops that most people could walk to easily, then the story would be really different for Atlanta. Do you really think “the problem with transit is a lack of demand”? Do you think that the same type of public transit system that works in Berlin and Paris and New York City and Seoul would, if transplanted here, suffer from lack of demand?
Don’t agree that there is a lack of transit demand here. MARTA trains are full at all hours of the day, and at certain times beyond seating capacity.
” As a user experience, driving beats trains all day long, all else equal.”
Completely disagree. The driving experience in this city is wretched, even if you’re driving a fancy German car.
But all else isn’t equal, and I don’t agree that car travel beats trains if it were. Our transportation universe has been skewed to favor auto travel for quite some time, a system held up by laws that limit the expansion of transit to areas where more demand lies (laws often so laughably blatant in their attempt to do so). It worked to limit our choice.
It’s like asking people to bet on two race horses: one with 4 legs and one with 2 legs. Which one do you think people will choose?
I think that’s changing though. MARTA has a long way to go, but their ridership is up. They are looking to rework all their bus routes soon, as buses are still too empty. I hope the stigma of riding the bus goes away as the rail stigma appears to be.
I agree the roll out of the streetcar has been a cluster. I have issues with its route, the fact that it mingles with traffic, etc. But I like that there’s some choice. I hope MARTA is able to successfully expand into Clayton and eventually Cobb and Gwinnett. I think your assumptions about demand will prove to be wrong once their are more options.