Comments on: Who Will Save MARTA?

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:59:17 +0000

Multitasking on MARTA is what I do to pass the time when I’m not enjoying talking to someone or just looking around at people and seeing what they are doing. One extra hour/day to use MARTA does not seem like a whole lot of time (nor “wasted”) if you take a book along, check cell phone messages, file your nails, review work papers, write someone a letter, etc. And, you are far safer on a MARTA train or bus than you would be driving your own car in traffic in all kinds of weather conditions. If your employer pays for your MARTA pass, you are ahead in an additional financial measure too — less gasoline, no parking hunt nor fee, etc. If you aren’t presently riding MARTA, please give it a try — you may get actual enjoyment out of it if you approach it as a win-win investment of your time and money. I am crossing my fingers that the Athens transit system + UGA buses will work out anywhere near as well for me!

By: Flaka

Flaka — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:56:56 +0000

Judging from the earlier postings, there are a lot of people far more knowledgeable on the funding intricacies of MARTA than I am, so I just wanted to post some comments from a MARTA rider perspective.
I commute on MARTA daily, and have been doing so for a couple of years. I get a monthly ticket (subsidized by my employer), and it’s a bargain, so there probably is room for fare increases. On the flip side though, to drive to my office would take me about 30 minutes each way, whereas I’m EXTREMELLY lucky to get away with an hour each way on MARTA. Hence, there’s a degree of sacrifice involved in using public transport, and I’m sure that if the fares changed too drastically I wouldn’t be alone if I switched back to driving.
Assuming there isn’t a cash injection from some external body, the solutions basically can be outlined as:
a) Increase passengers
b) Increase fares
c) Cut costs
Ideally, MARTA needs to achieve elements from all three areas, but in reality each goal negatively impacts the others. i.e., increasing fares and reducing service (to cut costs) will undoubtedly result in passenger declines.
Carolyn makes some excellent points on the hidden saving associated with increased public transportation usage, and I wish her well in any communication she has with the contacts Steve provided. I ultimately believe there should be some form of funding directed towards public transportation. The automobile (not to mention the giant SUV) reigns supreme in the US, and to get the public to consider alternatives isn’t easy. People constantly grumble about Atlanta traffic and pollution, but probably a miniscule number really do much about it. One of MARTA’s biggest boosts would have been from gas at $4 a gallon – only time will tell how many converts leave their cars parked now gas is back down.
If I had to go with a recommendation for MARTA I’d say to review the fare structure, and focus on increasing usage over cutting services. If I had to go with a recommendation to the public, I’d say try and use the service if you can (even if it means a little sacrifice).
Sorry for the long posting!!!

By: Tarnation

Tarnation — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:59:28 +0000

850 Billion…whew!

Those printing presses at the Treasury will be smokin’….

and the debt continues to rise like Momma’s yeast biscuits…

Otherwise, this was good information to read and digest…

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:50:33 +0000

Steve – Thanks for these names and suggestions for contacts who might listen to a faithful MARTA rider. I will carry through and try to talk to these people. Atlanta deserves to be a great city, and it can be that if proper attention is paid to infrastructure. And, Newbie, I am hopeful too that a big chunk of Obama’s proposed $$ will go to building/rebuilding infrastructure for cities, including mass transit needs. The next few years are CRUCIAL!

By: newbie

newbie — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:58:49 +0000

I read somewhere Obama was looking at 850 billion towards infrastructure. Hopefully that would include some money for Marta…since nothing is coming from the state

Maybe they could replace those darn tiles at the platforms and raised crosswalks that are as slick as ice when its wet. Someone was not thinking when they specked those things.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:23:03 +0000

Carolyn , you should be going straight to the Gov’s and House Speaker’s office to tell your story. And, talk to Rep Jill Chambers, the chair of the legislature’s Marta Oversight committee. The road builder’s lobby is a big reason that things are the way they are, so other points of view need to be heard. BTW, Reps Benfield and Oliver and Sen Adelman are squarely on your side – so consult with them also.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:57:33 +0000

The state of Georgia should be doing ALL IT CAN to encourage mass transportation, not only within Atlanta and other large Georgia cities, but also between cities. As an example, presently, there is only one van shuttle service between Atlanta and Athens, and it costs $90 roundtrip. UGA and the city of Athens both have bus services and various routes around Athens. In Atlanta, we have not only MARTA buses and trains, but also the Emory bus system (terrific service to our community!), the Buckhead neighborhood bus, and Georgia Tech buses. There are also special commuter buses from outlying cities that connect with various MARTA stations. There may be others of which I am unaware. People need and appreciate these “extra ways” to get to where they are going, and every car off the road just saves $$ and wear&tear on the streets and highways and thus future maintenance costs.
And, yes, the upgrade and maintenance of MARTA stations, rails, train cars, and buses ARE occurring, and I believe it is a safe system of travel for all. The drivers are all very professional and courteous, and will go out of their way to help passengers, especially the disabled. Yesterday, a bus driver got out of the bus and helped a woman in a motorized wheelchair to cross the street when he saw the traffic she was facing. The nearest stoplights available for her to use in crossing were 5 blocks in either direction, and no crosswalk light there on Clairmont, even though the YMCA is where the bus stop is on both sides of the street. The YMCA does not seem enthusiastic about requesting a crosswalk light there, for whatever reason.
I am a daily MARTA user, so I see all of its problems and I see some obvious solutions, but apparently the people in charge of $$ and criticism aren’t riding MARTA to see up close and personal what is going on. Just sayin’…

By: Joeventures

Joeventures — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:03:25 +0000

(Sorry – I hit submit prematurely)

…very complex deals. That MARTA is working so hard on the TOD projects is not something I would sweat over too much.