Comments on: Metro Atlanta could not survive or prosper without MARTA http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/ Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Tue, 22 May 2012 05:42:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: A great column by Michael Walls « MARTA Rocks! http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-4763 A great column by Michael Walls « MARTA Rocks! Mon, 24 May 2010 03:08:21 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-4763 [...] Metro Atlanta can not Survive or Prosper without MARTA [...] [...] Metro Atlanta can not Survive or Prosper without MARTA [...]

]]> By: Is MARTA listening to me?! | Atlanta Unsheltered http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-2633 Is MARTA listening to me?! | Atlanta Unsheltered Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:01:38 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-2633 [...] an opinion piece for SaportaReport (clearly the source of so many great things) Walls wrote the [...] [...] an opinion piece for SaportaReport (clearly the source of so many great things) Walls wrote the [...]

]]> By: Mark http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-2625 Mark Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:24:35 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-2625 For what it may be worth, when my late wife & I moved to the Atlanta area, she required a large home for entertaining and a large yard for gardening. I required walking access to a MARTA rail station. We both got what we wanted. Sadly, she did not get to enjoy our acquisition and benefits for long, but I continue to do so, and if I ever move elsewhere within the Atlanta area, my requirement will remain in place, and if anything, I'll want to be even closer than the one mile walk to a station. For what it may be worth, when my late wife & I moved to the Atlanta area, she required a large home for entertaining and a large yard for gardening. I required walking access to a MARTA rail station. We both got what we wanted. Sadly, she did not get to enjoy our acquisition and benefits for long, but I continue to do so, and if I ever move elsewhere within the Atlanta area, my requirement will remain in place, and if anything, I’ll want to be even closer than the one mile walk to a station.

]]> By: juanita driggs http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-2590 juanita driggs Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:11:28 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-2590 Okay, Mr. Walls. I'm with you on the points you made. Now you and the other board members need to get off your collective butts, walk over to the Lindbergh Station and plan to take the train to the state capitol to personally deliver your important, timely message to legislators when the general assembly convenes. Better yet, make sure to invite the media along, especially t-v, to heighten the visibility of your board member-to-legislator campaign. Then I'll feel a bit more comfortable that you guys are actually doing something a little more relevant for a change. By all means include GM/CEO Beverly Scott on the junket. Ms. Scott may be the best administrator to come along since the late Alan Keipper. She knows how to frame issues in a compelling way and speak truth to power which some of you board members seem to have trouble doing from time to time. This is what YOU should be doing instead of paying out precious funds to a p.r. firm that will not make the same impact or get the same respect downtown that you could if you just put your minds to it. This is the kind of proactive leadership that MARTA customers are looking for right now. Okay, Mr. Walls. I’m with you on the points you made. Now you and the other board members need to get off your collective butts, walk over to the Lindbergh Station and plan to take the train to the state capitol to personally deliver your important, timely message to legislators when the general assembly convenes. Better yet, make sure to invite the media along, especially
t-v, to heighten the visibility of your board member-to-legislator campaign. Then I’ll feel a bit more comfortable that you guys are actually doing something a little more relevant for a change. By all means include GM/CEO Beverly Scott on the junket. Ms. Scott may be the best administrator to come along since the late Alan Keipper. She knows how to frame issues in a compelling way and speak truth to power which some of you board members seem to have trouble doing from time to time. This is what YOU should be doing instead of paying out precious funds to a p.r. firm that will not make the same impact or get the same respect downtown that you could if you just put your minds to it. This is the kind of proactive leadership that MARTA customers are looking for right now.

]]> By: Jock Ellis http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-2589 Jock Ellis Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:07:14 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-2589 Cleanliness issues stem from MARTA's need to conserve resources. In over 50 years of riding Atlanta Transit and MARTA I have never had a worker be rude but statistics would say that some are. But statistics would also say that there are some rude riders, like the ones who sleep through their station stop, who get on the MARTA person's last nerve. Once again, if money were no object, more training and personnel could be assigned so that the guy on the floor would not be overburdened. Cleanliness issues stem from MARTA’s need to conserve resources. In over 50 years of riding Atlanta Transit and MARTA I have never had a worker be rude but statistics would say that some are. But statistics would also say that there are some rude riders, like the ones who sleep through their station stop, who get on the MARTA person’s last nerve. Once again, if money were no object, more training and personnel could be assigned so that the guy on the floor would not be overburdened.

]]> By: Phil Jones http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-2586 Phil Jones Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:58:43 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-2586 Couldn't agree more about the cleanliness issue. The dirty train stations and trains are such a turn off. Also customer service is a major problem. Have you ever witnessed a visitor to the city ask a question to the person in the booth at the airport? It is unbelievable how rude Marta employees can be. And for many, this is one of the first impressions they get of our city. Couldn’t agree more about the cleanliness issue. The dirty train stations and trains are such a turn off. Also customer service is a major problem. Have you ever witnessed a visitor to the city ask a question to the person in the booth at the airport? It is unbelievable how rude Marta employees can be. And for many, this is one of the first impressions they get of our city.

]]> By: Nicholas Wolaver http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/11/metro-atlanta-could-not-survive-or-prosper-without-marta/comment-page-1/#comment-2506 Nicholas Wolaver Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:41:57 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2391#comment-2506 I concur that MARTA provides a valuable and vital service for the city and the region, and also that without MARTA, Atlanta's Olympic bid would have been impossible (mass transit is a key part of the IOC checklist for host cities). I feel fortunate to have access to MARTA as there are stations within walking distance of home and work (and I use them a bit each month). One element of constructive criticism for MARTA regards cleanliness of the stations served by trains. When experiencing mass transit in Vancouver, Beijing, Munich, Chicago, Manhattan and other large cities, I've noticed consistently that many other cities keep their train stations consistently clean (and I mean spotless) with street life people at a minimum. Just this element of cleanliness and pride greatly improved the ride experience and comfort level on the approach to, time inside, and leaving the stations in other cities. MARTA has yet to be consistent in this approach, and it would be great to see this cleanliness issue higher up on the list of solutions to improve MARTA for all. I concur that MARTA provides a valuable and vital service for the city and the region, and also that without MARTA, Atlanta’s Olympic bid would have been impossible (mass transit is a key part of the IOC checklist for host cities). I feel fortunate to have access to MARTA as there are stations within walking distance of home and work (and I use them a bit each month).

One element of constructive criticism for MARTA regards cleanliness of the stations served by trains. When experiencing mass transit in Vancouver, Beijing, Munich, Chicago, Manhattan and other large cities, I’ve noticed consistently that many other cities keep their train stations consistently clean (and I mean spotless) with street life people at a minimum.

Just this element of cleanliness and pride greatly improved the ride experience and comfort level on the approach to, time inside, and leaving the stations in other cities. MARTA has yet to be consistent in this approach, and it would be great to see this cleanliness issue higher up on the list of solutions to improve MARTA for all.

]]>