Comments on: State of Georgia is stuck in the mud while Atlanta region moves forward on transit http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/ Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:18:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dose of Reality http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/comment-page-1/#comment-2340 Dose of Reality Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:44:34 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=1936#comment-2340 I've been listening to these progress reports for over a decade, and have fallen too many times for the promise that expanded mass transit is just around the corner. Sorry, but I'm not buying it. You can make all the waves you want about who will control this board or that board, but it is still the state legislature that controls purse strings, and until they decide to allocate money to Atlanta's transit, there will be no real progress. Most federal money doesn't come without matching state funds. C-TRAN's shutdown is imminent, MARTA dodged a bullet - but only temporarily - earlier this year... and we think we're making progress? Atlanta's current transit is on life support because of this state's backward governance. Better hope we can maintain just what we currently have. I’ve been listening to these progress reports for over a decade, and have fallen too many times for the promise that expanded mass transit is just around the corner.

Sorry, but I’m not buying it. You can make all the waves you want about who will control this board or that board, but it is still the state legislature that controls purse strings, and until they decide to allocate money to Atlanta’s transit, there will be no real progress. Most federal money doesn’t come without matching state funds.

C-TRAN’s shutdown is imminent, MARTA dodged a bullet – but only temporarily – earlier this year… and we think we’re making progress? Atlanta’s current transit is on life support because of this state’s backward governance. Better hope we can maintain just what we currently have.

]]> By: Lee Baker http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/comment-page-1/#comment-2092 Lee Baker Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:29:29 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=1936#comment-2092 Are you kidding me? What makes you think that we are closer to a solution now than ever before. There are some fundamental flaws in the rhetoric about rapid transportation in Atlanta that seemed to be overlooked. In order for rapid transit to work, you need to have a large group of people moving from point A to point B. Name me those 2 points in Atlanta. The only consensus that is true is that transportation in Atlanta is terrible. The other problem is you have too many layers of government, agencie and interest groups that cannot get along. For a list of most of those, visit Get Georgia Moving web site. And to make matters worse, rather than having our ELECTED officials do their job, they are perfectly willing to create new organizations, agencies and boards to tackle the matter. Did you read Maria's article and count the number of entities that exist and continue to grow. Now we have the Regional Transportation Committee added to the mix. Most of us say we want less government but the actions of many indicate otherwise. Let's try a real novel approach, put people in office and let them do the job using common sense and using a simple guideline for decision making. If I, personally was spending money on this decision, would I make it? It appears that even the economy,as bad a shape as it in, is still not enough of a driving force to bring good judgement to decision making. Are you kidding me? What makes you think that we are closer to a solution now than ever before. There are some fundamental flaws in the rhetoric about rapid transportation in Atlanta that seemed to be overlooked.
In order for rapid transit to work, you need to have a large group of people moving from point A to point B. Name me those 2 points in Atlanta. The only consensus that is true is that transportation in Atlanta is terrible. The other problem is you have too many layers of government, agencie and interest groups that cannot get along. For a list of most of those, visit Get Georgia Moving web site. And to make matters worse, rather than having our ELECTED officials do their job, they are perfectly willing to create new organizations, agencies and boards to tackle the matter. Did you read Maria’s article and count the number of entities that exist and continue to grow. Now we have the Regional Transportation Committee added to the mix. Most of us say we want less government but the actions of many indicate otherwise. Let’s try a real novel approach, put people in office and let them do the job using common sense and using a simple guideline for decision making. If I, personally was spending money on this decision, would I make it? It appears that even the economy,as bad a shape as it in, is still not enough of a driving force to bring good judgement to decision making.

]]> By: Lonnie Fogel http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/comment-page-1/#comment-2089 Lonnie Fogel Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:30:05 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=1936#comment-2089 When the secretary of transportation has to gently scold Georgia about mass transit and rail, I do find that more embarassing than "reaffirming." The lack of rail, in a city built on rail and with one of the busiest airports in the rail, is astonishing. Perhaps a more-important issue is not intercity regional rail, but increasing the reach and number of MARTA lines and stations in the metro area. Depending on cars for commuting is simply foolish and increasinlgy old fashioned. Most of the finest cities in the world have rail systems to die for. When the secretary of transportation has to gently scold Georgia about mass transit and rail, I do find that more embarassing than “reaffirming.” The lack of rail, in a city built on rail and with one of the busiest airports in the rail, is astonishing. Perhaps a more-important issue is not intercity regional rail, but increasing the reach and number of MARTA lines and stations in the metro area. Depending on cars for commuting is simply foolish and increasinlgy old fashioned. Most of the finest cities in the world have rail systems to die for.

]]> By: juanita driggs http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/comment-page-1/#comment-2085 juanita driggs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:17:11 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=1936#comment-2085 There should be only ONE gubernatorial appointee if that. The DOT Chair or designee and the state Transportation Planning Director is adequate state involvement. Can someone explain why we need more than this? Let's start getting really real! There should be only ONE gubernatorial appointee if that. The DOT Chair or designee and the state Transportation Planning Director is adequate state involvement. Can someone explain why we need more than this? Let’s start getting really real!

]]> By: Dick Hodges http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/comment-page-1/#comment-2079 Dick Hodges Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:13:18 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=1936#comment-2079 Great reporting on some significant news that could lead to getting metro Atlanta (and Georgia) back "on track" for economic growth and progress in the months and years ahead. The formation of this organization is a tribute to citizens and metro Atlanta leaders with vision and courage, qualities that have been sadly lacking for much too long by our state government whether controlled by Democrats or Republicans. Hopefully, some of these folks will get the message and join the movement to "move ahead" with meaningful transit investments and political support. Great reporting on some significant news that could lead to getting metro Atlanta (and Georgia) back “on track” for economic growth and progress in the months and years ahead. The formation of this organization is a tribute to citizens and metro Atlanta leaders with vision and courage, qualities that have been sadly lacking for much too long by our state government whether controlled by Democrats or Republicans. Hopefully, some of these folks will get the message and join the movement to “move ahead” with meaningful transit investments and political support.

]]> By: ATL http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/09/state-is-stuck-in-the-mud-while-atlanta-region-moves-forward-on-transit/comment-page-1/#comment-2065 ATL Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:10:09 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=1936#comment-2065 It’s great to see the Atlanta region taking action with or without the state--- We can no longer afford the state governments lack of concern or competency when it comes to solving metro Atlanta's problems... let the smart folks in Atlanta take action while the state dithers (and withers)... It’s great to see the Atlanta region taking action with or without the state— We can no longer afford the state governments lack of concern or competency when it comes to solving metro Atlanta’s problems… let the smart folks in Atlanta take action while the state dithers (and withers)…

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