Comments on: Atlanta leaders hope streetcar proposal will win in second round of U.S. TIGER grants http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/ 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: Atlanta Beltline: still 99% gravel paths | Atlanta Metblogs http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5346 Atlanta Beltline: still 99% gravel paths | Atlanta Metblogs Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:16:01 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5346 [...] for which the Atlanta streetcar project is applying – see the Saporta Report on their proposal here. Interesting. Can I sign something supporting [...] [...] for which the Atlanta streetcar project is applying – see the Saporta Report on their proposal here. Interesting. Can I sign something supporting [...]

]]> By: Yr1215 http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5055 Yr1215 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:18:28 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5055 Westside ATL, I agree with a lot of your points. Although, as I understand it, they do have an operating funding plan available. In regards to the shortcomings of the plan fundamentals, I guess from my perspective, if it gets funded by the feds, I feel like half a loaf is better than none. In other words, a project is a start. We have to get off the starting line. But you are absolutely correct that the route and plans display a lot of weaknesses on the fundamentals, and that is a cause for concern. Westside ATL, I agree with a lot of your points. Although, as I understand it, they do have an operating funding plan available.

In regards to the shortcomings of the plan fundamentals, I guess from my perspective, if it gets funded by the feds, I feel like half a loaf is better than none. In other words, a project is a start. We have to get off the starting line. But you are absolutely correct that the route and plans display a lot of weaknesses on the fundamentals, and that is a cause for concern.

]]> By: WestsideATL http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5053 WestsideATL Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:58:14 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5053 Local funding is an issue - particularly for operating. Mayor Reeds saying, "we'll find a way," is not going to satisfy the feds. Another issue could be that there hasn't really been any sort of alternatives analysis or systems plan (at least that was shared with the public) for the streetcar. Is Auburn/Edgewood really the best corridor to build our first streetcar line on (particularly when you want your first project to be a success that will compel action on future streetcar lines)? Does the alignment going over to the COP/Aquarium make sense? It appears that most of these decisions have been make in some smoky back room and not out in the public discourse. We'll see... I'm hoping for the best, but other cities seem to have their acts far more together than we do. Local funding is an issue – particularly for operating. Mayor Reeds saying, “we’ll find a way,” is not going to satisfy the feds. Another issue could be that there hasn’t really been any sort of alternatives analysis or systems plan (at least that was shared with the public) for the streetcar. Is Auburn/Edgewood really the best corridor to build our first streetcar line on (particularly when you want your first project to be a success that will compel action on future streetcar lines)? Does the alignment going over to the COP/Aquarium make sense? It appears that most of these decisions have been make in some smoky back room and not out in the public discourse.

We’ll see… I’m hoping for the best, but other cities seem to have their acts far more together than we do.

]]> By: cm http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5048 cm Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:27:01 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5048 Why not fund more...Minneapolis plans to fund 50-percent of their share. If Atlanta stepped up to the plate they might get more funding... http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/04/01/minneapolis-advances-streetcar-system-plan/ Why not fund more…Minneapolis plans to fund 50-percent of their share. If Atlanta stepped up to the plate they might get more funding…

http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/04/01/minneapolis-advances-streetcar-system-plan/

]]> By: Yr1215 http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5023 Yr1215 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:43:07 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5023 Agreed Agreed

]]> By: mark http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5022 mark Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:36:12 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5022 Yr1215, I was only talking about the current density limitations. Downtown/Midtown/Buckhead aren't really constrained significantly by what the city will allow for density. So, I was just saying other parts of the city where LRT would be proposed should have higher density allowed by right in their zoning code. I agree w/ you on the need to increase density in the central portions of the city still, but I believe that will continue to happen once the housing market settles down a bit. Yr1215, I was only talking about the current density limitations. Downtown/Midtown/Buckhead aren’t really constrained significantly by what the city will allow for density. So, I was just saying other parts of the city where LRT would be proposed should have higher density allowed by right in their zoning code.

I agree w/ you on the need to increase density in the central portions of the city still, but I believe that will continue to happen once the housing market settles down a bit.

]]> By: Yr1215 http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5007 Yr1215 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:36:38 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5007 Mark, I agree with your points. I would argue though, that even the broader downtown / midtown / buckhead areas need to increase density (including the beltline corridor) unless you're just strictly speaking of the Peachtree St. spine, which does have the requisite density. Mark, I agree with your points. I would argue though, that even the broader downtown / midtown / buckhead areas need to increase density (including the beltline corridor) unless you’re just strictly speaking of the Peachtree St. spine, which does have the requisite density.

]]> By: mark http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-5001 mark Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:39:27 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-5001 Wow, most comments ever! Ok, a couple of things to comment on. For InAtl: 1) the I-85 project (which I'm not a huge fan of until some redesign work is done & unfunded) is a pilot project funded by the feds, so I don't think they would think of using that against us. Plus, it includes a huge expansion of Xpress. 2) I agree w/ the need for light rail to Atlantic Station, but at least the last time I checked the city still has not taken ownership of the roads over from the developer. My guess is that you will not even hear discussion of light rail there until either the city has ownership or the developer does it themselves. And Yr1215, you are dead on with the density thing. Unless more density is going to be allowed upfront, then there may be no point in doing LRT outside of downtown/midtown/buckhead areas. The route I'd like to see would be down North Ave, take it from Northside thru Tech, tie into North Ave MARTA, then on Moreland Ave. It would be great for Tech, and it would work really well for expansions on the west side and east side down Moreland through Lil'5 and on to East Atlanta Village for a loop through it. Wow, most comments ever! Ok, a couple of things to comment on. For InAtl: 1) the I-85 project (which I’m not a huge fan of until some redesign work is done & unfunded) is a pilot project funded by the feds, so I don’t think they would think of using that against us. Plus, it includes a huge expansion of Xpress. 2) I agree w/ the need for light rail to Atlantic Station, but at least the last time I checked the city still has not taken ownership of the roads over from the developer. My guess is that you will not even hear discussion of light rail there until either the city has ownership or the developer does it themselves.

And Yr1215, you are dead on with the density thing. Unless more density is going to be allowed upfront, then there may be no point in doing LRT outside of downtown/midtown/buckhead areas.

The route I’d like to see would be down North Ave, take it from Northside thru Tech, tie into North Ave MARTA, then on Moreland Ave. It would be great for Tech, and it would work really well for expansions on the west side and east side down Moreland through Lil’5 and on to East Atlanta Village for a loop through it.

]]> By: atlantaphotog http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-4999 atlantaphotog Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:03:53 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-4999 Yr1215... you will most likely never see a change in MARTA management style unless the State actually took over the system and fired everyone and replaced them with competent people. It's like a little "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" mafia over at that place, very similar to the way Atlanta City government has been run the last couple of decades. Until change starts at the core, it will never be more efficiently run than it is today. Yr1215… you will most likely never see a change in MARTA management style unless the State actually took over the system and fired everyone and replaced them with competent people. It’s like a little “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mafia over at that place, very similar to the way Atlanta City government has been run the last couple of decades. Until change starts at the core, it will never be more efficiently run than it is today.

]]> By: Yr1215 http://saportareport.com/blog/2010/06/atlanta-leaders-hope-the-city-will-be-more-successful-getting-federal-funds-for-streetcar/comment-page-1/#comment-4997 Yr1215 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:20:35 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=4124#comment-4997 Sorry for the cynicism. I just returned from Portland, with a core population smaller than ours, and a metro population less than 1/2 our size, with a magnificent light rail transit system. Spotless, efficient, frequent service, good city coverage with continuing expansion. It just makes Atlanta and MARTA look downright pathetic. Oh, and they've even funded it so significant portions are even free (although I don't entirely agree with this idea). Sorry for the cynicism. I just returned from Portland, with a core population smaller than ours, and a metro population less than 1/2 our size, with a magnificent light rail transit system. Spotless, efficient, frequent service, good city coverage with continuing expansion. It just makes Atlanta and MARTA look downright pathetic. Oh, and they’ve even funded it so significant portions are even free (although I don’t entirely agree with this idea).

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