Comments on: Georgia must focus on transportation and land-use by reviving Perdue’s IT3 http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/05/time-to-focus-on-transportation-and-land-use/ Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Thu, 17 May 2012 02:29:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jim Durrett http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/05/time-to-focus-on-transportation-and-land-use/comment-page-1/#comment-704 Jim Durrett Fri, 22 May 2009 18:20:35 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=855#comment-704 Good points from Maria and from those who have commented. Sam is absolutely correct that we need to come up with the proper implementation. Let's all keep pushing and contribute ideas. Good points from Maria and from those who have commented. Sam is absolutely correct that we need to come up with the proper implementation. Let’s all keep pushing and contribute ideas.

]]> By: Sam Williams http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/05/time-to-focus-on-transportation-and-land-use/comment-page-1/#comment-686 Sam Williams Mon, 18 May 2009 20:42:41 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=855#comment-686 Good observations by Maria. IT3 is based on actual research and shows the economic return on investment that transportation improvements would provide. Unfortunately the report's final recommendations were either not completed or not published that would show how to implement its findings. I know McKinsey's reputation for helping clients get from ideas and research to action. I'm sure if GRTA asked they would get the answer. Good observations by Maria. IT3 is based on actual research and shows the economic return on investment that transportation improvements would provide. Unfortunately the report’s final recommendations were either not completed or not published that would show how to implement its findings. I know McKinsey’s reputation for helping clients get from ideas and research to action. I’m sure if GRTA asked they would get the answer.

]]> By: ATLWestside http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/05/time-to-focus-on-transportation-and-land-use/comment-page-1/#comment-685 ATLWestside Mon, 18 May 2009 20:30:32 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=855#comment-685 David Allman is right, IT3 has given the state and the region its first opportunity to take a strategic approach to transportation planning. Unfortunately, the metrics developed by McKinsey to evaluate the projects were incredibly subjective and still allow the power brokers to manipulate the system to select their projects with little to no transparency. If Vance Smith is appointed DOT commissioner position, look for that list of projects he put together with the lobbyists for the statewide transportation sales tax bill to rear its ugly head again. While it is fortunate that there were some needed transit projects in that list, the whole process stinks of good 'ol Georgia boy cronyism. And not to be confrontational, but the three plans mentioned, Concept3, the Connect Atlanta plan and the BeltLine all need to be seriously vetted through an evaluation and prioritization process. Concept3 included "something for everyone" in order to gain regional support but you can't seriously tell me that we need light rail to Canton or a regional bus from Newnan to McDonough. For the Connect Atlanta plan, they ranked the Peachtree Streetcar from DT to Fort MacPherson and light rail on Campbellton Road as Tier 1 priorities. C'mon, those are really priority projects? For the BeltLine, while it's a great long-term project, I fear that it is stealing the spotlight away from other projects that deserve our immediate attention. The Clifton and Peachtree Corridors need transit improvements now and the BeltLine could potentially need transit in a decade. The ARC is beginning to develop their next long-range plan, and now is the time for the region to sit down and develop a coordinated systems plan that puts together divergent plans for managed lanes, transit, highway and freight capacity improvements, and land use. Only a holistic approach, based on good, sound planning instead of the politics of pandering and donation-seeking, will get us where we need to go. David Allman is right, IT3 has given the state and the region its first opportunity to take a strategic approach to transportation planning. Unfortunately, the metrics developed by McKinsey to evaluate the projects were incredibly subjective and still allow the power brokers to manipulate the system to select their projects with little to no transparency. If Vance Smith is appointed DOT commissioner position, look for that list of projects he put together with the lobbyists for the statewide transportation sales tax bill to rear its ugly head again. While it is fortunate that there were some needed transit projects in that list, the whole process stinks of good ‘ol Georgia boy cronyism.

And not to be confrontational, but the three plans mentioned, Concept3, the Connect Atlanta plan and the BeltLine all need to be seriously vetted through an evaluation and prioritization process. Concept3 included “something for everyone” in order to gain regional support but you can’t seriously tell me that we need light rail to Canton or a regional bus from Newnan to McDonough. For the Connect Atlanta plan, they ranked the Peachtree Streetcar from DT to Fort MacPherson and light rail on Campbellton Road as Tier 1 priorities. C’mon, those are really priority projects? For the BeltLine, while it’s a great long-term project, I fear that it is stealing the spotlight away from other projects that deserve our immediate attention. The Clifton and Peachtree Corridors need transit improvements now and the BeltLine could potentially need transit in a decade.

The ARC is beginning to develop their next long-range plan, and now is the time for the region to sit down and develop a coordinated systems plan that puts together divergent plans for managed lanes, transit, highway and freight capacity improvements, and land use. Only a holistic approach, based on good, sound planning instead of the politics of pandering and donation-seeking, will get us where we need to go.

]]> By: Richard E. Hodges http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/05/time-to-focus-on-transportation-and-land-use/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Richard E. Hodges Mon, 18 May 2009 14:23:17 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=855#comment-683 It's good to read that there are a few Atlanta leaders out there pushing to get transportation issues addressed sooner than later. The longer the wait the larger the cost. Why cannot those in leadership positions in Georgia exert some leadership?? What is required is knowledge, vision and courage--qualities that appear to be in short supply among many in this area that has so much going for it, excepting expanded and improved transportation systems essential to continue "going" and "growing". Thanks to Maria Saporta Report for bringing us up to date on IT3. It’s good to read that there are a few Atlanta leaders out there pushing to get transportation issues addressed sooner than later. The longer the wait the larger the cost. Why cannot those in leadership positions in Georgia exert some leadership?? What is required is knowledge, vision and courage–qualities that appear to be in short supply among many in this area that has so much going for it, excepting expanded and improved transportation systems essential to continue “going” and “growing”. Thanks to Maria Saporta Report for bringing us up to date on IT3.

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