Comments on: MARTA Beefs Up Its PR Effort

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:52:28 +0000

“This will require subsidies, at least initially”

MARTA is “subsidized” now, as is all public transportation including highways. But, it remains the largest public transit system in the country with no state support.

By: Brianc

Brianc — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:18:37 +0000

I ride Marta several times a week, bus and rail, and my biggest complaint by far is the wait times, especially on the weekends. I think in order to get people out of their cars, Marta needs to run trains every 5 minutes, all the time. This will require subsidies, at least initially, but a “make it faster and they will come” argument will eventually prevail.

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:56:26 +0000

MARTA goes somewhere. Its travels between lots of parking lots!

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:04:55 +0000

Yes, more density would be great, Rick. I think the bottom line is that MARTA needs state support. In order to get that support, they need to prove themselves useful. In order to be useful, they need to address the larger population group that works and plays all over the city. I don’t think MARTA needs a PR campaign. They have what many advertisers consider a dream scenario. Atlanta area residents see “MARTA” everywhere! A huge component of advertising is visibility and MARTA has that in spades. I would take an “if you build it they will come” approach to the system.

And, I can understand getting one’s dander up. I’m an easy target for that. I do, however, ride MARTA occasionally when it makes sense for me to do so. Now, if they would only ask us how to fix their problems

By: Another Rick

Another Rick — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:12:23 +0000

I think you are making a great argument for more density in our development patterns, something Decatur and in town Atlanta, seem to be accomplishing, but the rest of Atlanta, and especially the suburbs, resist. For us in town residents, MARTA bus schedules and routes are not that bad. I have not owned a car since we invaded Iraq. I get pretty defensive when I hear people slamming MARTA, who sound like they have never used it.