Comments on: House GOP Threw MARTA Under Itself

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:14:27 +0000

Creative Loafing excerpt: “Even during the nation’s current economic disaster, other metro areas are growing and improving their mass transit networks.
Meanwhile Atlanta’s economy is held hostage by the city-hatin’, parochial idiots who run the state government.”

I’m glad people are waking up to this. Perdue and his clan are a big part of the problem. Who are these people and what type of society created them? Yuck. They are like walking human caricatures. Its bizarre.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:12:07 +0000

And, someone took Jay Bookman’s advice and tried calling some heads at the Gold Dome. Here’s the result:

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/04/09/meet-i-dont-know-i-dont-care-its-someone-elses-fault/

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:29:18 +0000

Here’s what some other places are doing while Georgia has its head in the sand:

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2009/04/09/transit-other-cities-build-while-atlanta-rots/

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:06:46 +0000

I think state funding should be allocated according to population, i.e., number of people served. Thus, the Atlanta area should receive MUCH more funding to serve the number of people who live and/or work in and near Atlanta. This includes public transportation (MARTA), of course. Don’t we pay our share of taxes? Why should we be taxed without the incentive of receiving our fair share of those tax revenues? “The two Georgias” – it is pretty much the status quo way of governing in states whose legislatures are dominated by the rural representatives. The rural representatives fail to see the “connection” between a prosperous and well-serviced Atlanta and their own small towns and districts. Somehow, this relevance must be demonstrated to them. Without employed and employable people in Atlanta, much MUCH of the state revenues would dry up and then there would be even less to “go around.” They should consider whether or not they are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs when they withhold deserved and necessary funding from Atlanta’s infrastructure and services.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:44:09 +0000

They will be raising rates, but it isn’t enough. Plus when you raise rates, ridership drops – so its not all profit.

From what I’ve seen, MARTA is trying hard to solve its long-term budget shortfall under new governance. But like everyone else, they’re deeply affected by this recession since they’re mainly funded by a 1-cent DeKalb and Fulton sales tax. Its a temporary solution because the immediate shortfall is due to a (hopefully) temporary recession.

Making it a pure “if people want it they will pay for it argument” ignores the fact that government subsidies have favored highways and sprawl for over 50 years. Like everything else, the “free market” isn’t nearly as “free” as we think it is.