Comments on: Hello. Good-bye. Atlantans can only wave as rail car follows the future to Charlotte, NC http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/ Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:17:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Not a Street Car « MARTA Rocks! http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-4762 Not a Street Car « MARTA Rocks! Mon, 24 May 2010 02:16:07 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-4762 [...] can read more about it on the Saporta Report. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Can Mass Transit be [...] [...] can read more about it on the Saporta Report. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Can Mass Transit be [...]

]]> By: Scott http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3839 Scott Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:01:30 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3839 I'd rather Georgia build rail, but I couldn't give two ****s about this state anymore. Bye bye loser Georgia, HELOOOOOOOOOO Germany :-) I’d rather Georgia build rail, but I couldn’t give two ****s about this state anymore.

Bye bye loser Georgia,

HELOOOOOOOOOO Germany :-)

]]> By: BPJ http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3556 BPJ Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:32:00 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3556 No, Stephen, investment in the expansion of rail transit did not stop with Sam Massell leaving office (Jan. 1974). The first MARTA lines began running in the late 70s, and the construction of new lines and stations continued until the opening of the North Springs station in 2000. Federal funding was key to the construction of MARTA rail, and it stopped because of the Reagan/Gingrich/Bush II mindset that any federal spending in cities is "wasteful". The anti-Atlanta attitude of the Georgia General Assembly has also caused us to miss out on federal funding, due to the lack of a state match. Blaming the halt to MARTA's expansion on Atlanta's African-American mayors is lunacy. No, Stephen, investment in the expansion of rail transit did not stop with Sam Massell leaving office (Jan. 1974). The first MARTA lines began running in the late 70s, and the construction of new lines and stations continued until the opening of the North Springs station in 2000.

Federal funding was key to the construction of MARTA rail, and it stopped because of the Reagan/Gingrich/Bush II mindset that any federal spending in cities is “wasteful”. The anti-Atlanta attitude of the Georgia General Assembly has also caused us to miss out on federal funding, due to the lack of a state match. Blaming the halt to MARTA’s expansion on Atlanta’s African-American mayors is lunacy.

]]> By: Mason Hicks http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3506 Mason Hicks Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:12:56 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3506 Bob, (Comment no.22) Please explain this notion that in Charlotte, transit "was thrust down most citizen’s throats and most people still talk smack about and do not support it." Even the "Charlotte Observer" is available online; and some of us actually read it. In 2007, there was an effort raised by transit opponents to kill the 1 cent transit sales tax which had been approved by referendum in 2004, a made the development of the Lynx light rail line possible. The transit opponents succeeded in bringing their measure to a new referendum in November of 2007. If successful, this measure would have cut-off the transit revenue right at the same time that the light rail service would be first coming on-line. Their referendum FAILED (70% to 30%). This was NOT inconclusive! Charlotteans spoke loudly and clearly in favor of supporting transit, yet you, and the other opponents are still "talking smack", as you put it. If something was "thrust down their throats" it should have been the referendum results, because apparently, after reading Charlotte blogs, they, and you still haven't gotten it... To claim that most citizens of Charlotte do not support transit is disingenuous at best Bob, (Comment no.22)
Please explain this notion that in Charlotte, transit “was thrust down most citizen’s throats and most people still talk smack about and do not support it.” Even the “Charlotte Observer” is available online; and some of us actually read it. In 2007, there was an effort raised by transit opponents to kill the 1 cent transit sales tax which had been approved by referendum in 2004, a made the development of the Lynx light rail line possible. The transit opponents succeeded in bringing their measure to a new referendum in November of 2007. If successful, this measure would have cut-off the transit revenue right at the same time that the light rail service would be first coming on-line.
Their referendum FAILED (70% to 30%). This was NOT inconclusive! Charlotteans spoke loudly and clearly in favor of supporting transit, yet you, and the other opponents are still “talking smack”, as you put it. If something was “thrust down their throats” it should have been the referendum results, because apparently, after reading Charlotte blogs, they, and you still haven’t gotten it… To claim that most citizens of Charlotte do not support transit is disingenuous at best

]]> By: Frank http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3503 Frank Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:44:21 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3503 In the past year, I have made several trips to visit my parents on the SC coast and have made at least one leg of each trip on backroads between I-20 and I-16. I have been astonished by some wonderful roads in this sparsely inhabited area of our state. Every little town over 1000 population seems to have a divided four lane bypass around it. On one trip, I drove from Port Wentworth near Savannah to Waynesboro just south of Augusta on all four lane, mostly divided, highway. There was little traffic as it was a Sunday, but I can't imagine it being very busy at other times. A number of posts complain about badly maintained roads, but even several minor two lane highways on my routes had been freshly repaved. GDOT is certainly spending some bucks out there. Wish we could see more of it here in Metro Atlanta. In the past year, I have made several trips to visit my parents on the SC coast and have made at least one leg of each trip on backroads between I-20 and I-16. I have been astonished by some wonderful roads in this sparsely inhabited area of our state. Every little town over 1000 population seems to have a divided four lane bypass around it. On one trip, I drove from Port Wentworth near Savannah to Waynesboro just south of Augusta on all four lane, mostly divided, highway. There was little traffic as it was a Sunday, but I can’t imagine it being very busy at other times. A number of posts complain about badly maintained roads, but even several minor two lane highways on my routes had been freshly repaved. GDOT is certainly spending some bucks out there. Wish we could see more of it here in Metro Atlanta.

]]> By: downtown resident http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3499 downtown resident Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:45:39 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3499 Living intown/downtown is like the suburbs with skyscrapers. All bones,but no meat! Living intown/downtown is like the suburbs with skyscrapers. All bones,but no meat!

]]> By: Stephen http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3495 Stephen Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:27:58 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3495 When did the investment in the expansion of rail transit stop in Atlanta? Think about it a little while and you will come up with the answer. About the time Sam Massell left office that's when!! Read whatever you like into that coincidence, but be honest about your appraisal of who is at fault. Visionary leadership faded all to quickly in the late 70's. You can lay the blame at the feet of those political "leaders" in Atlanta that have been at the helm for the last 30 years and have all but ruined the potential of Atlanta to become a great city. When did the investment in the expansion of rail transit stop in Atlanta? Think about it a little while and you will come up with the answer. About the time Sam Massell left office that’s when!! Read whatever you like into that coincidence, but be honest about your appraisal of who is at fault. Visionary leadership faded all to quickly in the late 70′s. You can lay the blame at the feet of those political “leaders” in Atlanta that have been at the helm for the last 30 years and have all but ruined the potential of Atlanta to become a great city.

]]> By: art lee http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3492 art lee Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:52:11 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3492 Has anyone driven to Perry,Ga and just taken a look at the community? The city looks like a poorly designed train reck. It is everything that today's modern building design concepts says is WRONG. There is absolutely NO smart building, landscaping is from the seventies, building style is from the early eighties, roads cut everywhere,( and still SEGREGATED), it's a mess.......! This said, this is the area that is Sonny Perdue's home! What do you expect with "someone's",(legislators), that can live in such a poor example of smart design? This is the average "Joe" from this area of the state that thinks living like his father is good. Until peoples of this state realize the shift that took place politically in the eighties , this state is doomed to become Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc....All of the progresses of the last thirty years will evaporate, and you too, can live in the back woods! Let's study that! Has anyone driven to Perry,Ga and just taken a look at the community? The city looks like a poorly designed train reck. It is everything that today’s modern building design concepts says is WRONG. There is absolutely NO smart building, landscaping is from the seventies, building style is from the early eighties, roads cut everywhere,( and still SEGREGATED), it’s a mess…….!
This said, this is the area that is Sonny Perdue’s home! What do you expect with “someone’s”,(legislators), that can live in such a poor example of smart design? This is the average “Joe” from this area of the state that thinks living like his father is good. Until peoples of this state realize the shift that took place politically in the eighties , this state is doomed to become Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc….All of the progresses of the last thirty years will evaporate, and you too, can live in the back woods! Let’s study that!

]]> By: Scott http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3484 Scott Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:21:22 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3484 And the war between DOT and Governor continue...costing us 22 million. Punish the tax payers...always a good move Sonny http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/dot-turmoil-could-cost-286953.html And the war between DOT and Governor continue…costing us 22 million. Punish the tax payers…always a good move Sonny

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/dot-turmoil-could-cost-286953.html

]]> By: downtown resident http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/01/hello-good-bye-atlantans-get-to-wave-as-light-rail-car-boards-the-future-to-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-3482 downtown resident Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:39:30 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=3033#comment-3482 Atlanta talks a good talk, but thst's all it is! Just like the imagine downtown concept that CAP has been touting forever! Just imagine downtown as an exciting, vibrant destination cause that's all it will ever be. Atlanta talks a good talk, but thst’s all it is! Just like the imagine downtown concept that CAP has been touting forever! Just imagine downtown as an exciting, vibrant destination cause that’s all it will ever be.

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