House would let C-Tran join MARTA
The House overwhelmingly passed a bill to help Clayton County bus riders, who are about to see their transit service close down completely on Wednesday.
By a vote of 142 to 14, the House voted to raise the county’s sales tax cap, opening the door for the county to join MARTA by levying an additional 1 percent sales tax, if it chooses to do that.
Last year people took just over 2 million rides on the county’s bus service, C-Tran. The Clayton County board of commissioners, facing a budget shortfall for C-Tran as well as the overall county budget, voted 4-1 to shut the bus service down. About two-thirds of C-Tran riders say they have no access to a car.
Joining MARTA would require both a referendum and a county commission vote, said sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam (D-Riverdale). That commission vote might come from the same group of people who voted to shut down the service.
Abdul-Salaam has also introduced a bill (HB 1446) that would call for a non-binding Clayton County referendum on the issue, in order to gauge the people’s support. If both the bills passed, it was unclear whether the county would hold two referendums or one. Abdul-Salaam said she believed it was just one, but MARTA’s general counsel said it would probably take a second, binding referendum.
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65 comments Add your comment
Derek
March 26th, 2010
8:59 pm
The House, mainly, Abdul-Salaam, needs to let C-Tran die it’s pitiful, slow, painful death. The bus line has only been here for 7 yrs. We did fine before and will do better without it. We don’t want to be taxed anymore! They quote 2 million riders a year, but when you divide that per day, per route, per bus, it comes to 2 riders each! TWO !!!! The buses clog and block traffic by sitting empty at stops running continuosly leaking oil etc; It’s time to let it go, you can tell from the vents, blogs and comments that the majority doesn’t want C-Tran. It’s a money pit, funds we can use on other needs in the county.
P.S. > If you noticed , Coweta, Fayette, Rockdale are successful counties and NO Marta / C-Tran bus service. Don’t waste our “MY” money on a referendum that the outcome is already a forgone conclusion!
joe
March 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
Just when we think we’ve started to save the county, This happens, NO, We don’t want MARTA or any other bus service bringing the trash in.
House Approves CTRAN Bill « ACT Now!
March 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
[...] 1393, which raises the sales tax ceiling for Clayton County so the county can vote to join MARTA, passed the House tonight. This keeps the bill alive so it can move on to the Senate. If it passes the Senate and is signed [...]
joann
March 26th, 2010
9:06 pm
I bet these same people who voted to end the transit service are the same people who drive Mercedes
and BMW’S to their jobs and homes.How will the people who depend on C Tran get to school and jobs.
I am also afraid that with the bus service ending that we will see an increase in carjacking. Did anyone else think of this?
joe
March 26th, 2010
9:10 pm
Again, NO THANKS
kiljoy
March 26th, 2010
9:13 pm
Atlanta dumped its public housing problem into Clayton and now its about to dump the it’s transit woes into an already dysfunctional county. How long before Clayton is in recievership?
joe
March 26th, 2010
9:18 pm
How do people in Fayette, Henry, etc.. get to school and jobs, They don’t need bus service. Carjackers? C’mon! We all came into this world the same way, The ones driving nice cars worked hard to get where they could afford them. The carjackers, not so much, Maybe they will move away if they don’t have a bus to carry themselves around.
johnb
March 26th, 2010
9:21 pm
The problem with CC is the people vote on color not who can best serve the county. That,s why you have the problems SO , PD, County Commisioner
Obama
March 26th, 2010
9:22 pm
I took the 504 bus from the airport today and it is just nasty and packed , everyone is trying to get off the bus while everyone is trying to get on at the same time,everyone talking on the cell phones with no respect to others i seen trash thrown around the bus stops it was one big bad rap video experience and, i will never fly in to atl and bring my luggage on that bus again ..that bus is more for the criminal than the regular everyday going to work passenger….. get rid of it !!!!
johnb
March 26th, 2010
9:23 pm
Sorry ie Victor Hill etc.
John
March 26th, 2010
9:28 pm
Derek, You need to go back to school and learn math. 2,000,000 riders per year divided by 52 weeks equals 38,461 riders per week. Then take the total number of C-Trans runs on all the routes during the week = approx 2700. 38,461 divided by 2700 = 14 riders per run. That is just the average. Not quite the 2 you came up with. Just remember the next time you go to your favorite fast food place, or your favorite store, etc., that employee waiting on you might have taken the bus to work.
Tweets that mention House would let C-Tran join MARTA | Gold Dome Live -- Topsy.com
March 26th, 2010
9:29 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AJCGeorgia. AJCGeorgia said: House would let C-Tran join MARTA http://bit.ly/9U7W7V [...]
Mama Says
March 26th, 2010
9:29 pm
Why is the government, at all levels & both parties, so free with our money ? They will increase our taxes anyway they can anytime they want, at the blink of an eye, just to get votes. Everyone knows CTRAN is costing the county about 2 million a year that is roughly 7000 dollars per rider.
I am sick of busting my tail in order to maintain a balanced household budget while they take whatever they want. If it’s a financial hardship on the MAJORITY of the tax paying citizens ! cut the service !. It is sad that folks will not have a ride but we should not go bankrupt to provide that ride. Are we really looking at cutting fire and police service and firing teachers while at the same time funding a bankrupt transit system.
The county could not afford it so the legislature passes a special bill allowing more taxes to be imposed ? What are they doing ? They all need to go- they stopped caring about the realities of life long ago. They are all crooks looking for their collective paycheck while we bare the burden !
John
March 26th, 2010
9:37 pm
Why should I pay more taxes to support a service I don’t want nor can use!
If you don’t have a car, get a jobs closer to home or move closer to work.
Another option is a two-wheel peddle powered transportation unit!
Kymm
March 26th, 2010
9:38 pm
“Obama”… what does a rap video have to do with anything??? I don’t like the the being in an area where there is a bus system myself which is why I am looking to move which is what some of you need to do if you don’t like it! You all complain to much. Live life and be happy!!!
C-Tran To Cease Operation March 2010 - Atlanta - Georgia (GA) - Page 16 - City-Data Forum
March 26th, 2010
9:45 pm
[...] House would let C-Tran join MARTA | Gold Dome Live [...]
Tweets that mention House would let C-Tran join MARTA | Gold Dome Live -- Topsy.com
March 26th, 2010
9:48 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc Transportation. ajc Transportation said: House would open door for Clayton to join MARTA, as C-Tran prepares to shut down http://bit.ly/9LEHH9 [...]
Michael
March 26th, 2010
9:49 pm
I’m amused by how Derek says “we” did fine before C-Tran after the story says two-thirds of riders said they don’t have access to a car. So, yeah, YOU did fine, but those others didn’t.
I’m also amused by Joe assuming that people with nice cars “worked hard.” First, not everybody with a nice car worked that hard. I knew someone in high school who was given a BMW at age 16. Some people are born lucky, others aren’t. As for the bus-riders, do you think they all don’t work hard? A janitor works hard. A bus driver works hard. Those people taking your order at the drive-thru window work hard.
Daniel
March 26th, 2010
9:51 pm
I’m sorry that some people don’t have transportation, but levying additional taxes to support a transit system that can’t sustain itself is not the answer. Maybe the answer is to scale back the service to cut costs. But penalizing everyone else to support the few who use the service is crap. Give a 6 month notice that the service is ending to allow riders to come up with an alternative and shut it down or raise the fare to pay for the service.
If your ELECTED officials even give a hint that they will approve this and enact the tax, threaten to a) vote them out of office, and b) boycott buying taxable goods and services in Clayton County until such time as they repeal it.
Mass Transit
March 26th, 2010
9:55 pm
All progressive cities utilize mass transit. (Chicago, NY, San Fran etc.) When I drive in the morning I see a lot of riders on the CTRAN buses – obviously going to work because it is very early. These are people who are working and contributing to society – and it is unfair to call working people degrading names. To take away the bus would be like “kicking someone when they are down” clearly – any person riding a bus would choose a car if they could or had the means , I think mass transit should not be condemned nor the people who use it. Losing this will cause people great stress – people who are trying to work and keep it together during this terrible recession.
Daniel
March 26th, 2010
9:56 pm
Michael-”I’m amused by how Derek says “we” did fine before C-Tran after the story says two-thirds of riders said they don’t have access to a car. So, yeah, YOU did fine, but those others didn’t.
I’m also amused by Joe assuming that people with nice cars “worked hard.” First, not everybody with a nice car worked that hard. I knew someone in high school who was given a BMW at age 16. Some people are born lucky, others aren’t. As for the bus-riders, do you think they all don’t work hard? A janitor works hard. A bus driver works hard. Those people taking your order at the drive-thru window work hard.
You knew someone in high school that was given a bmw, huh? Well I’ve known many people who will ride a gravy train until the wheels fall off. What happened to teaching a man to fish? There are some people who legitimately need the service and there are others who can do for themselves when given sufficient motivation.
Daniel
March 26th, 2010
10:02 pm
Mass Transit
The difference between the cities you mentioned and Clayton County is that they have the population and structure to sustain mass transit services. For mass transit to work and sustain itself it has to operate in a densely populated area laid out on a grid. CC is NOT populated enough for mass transit and the business and residential areas are too sprawled to allow efficient routes. Sure, in Chicago there is ample mass transit. Same in New York, Seattle, Atlanta, etc. Clayton County is not the same as these cities.
Obama
March 26th, 2010
10:04 pm
Kymm, I was talking about all the pants on the ground and people snapping fingers and dancing to their headsets on the bus..while it is packed!!!
Derek
March 26th, 2010
10:19 pm
Actually John, your right. My math was wrong, I as actually giving them the benefit of the doubt, 2 mil divided by 365 = 5479 (of course you have to divide this down even more for those who make the return trip, the same person in other words) per day. Divide that by the number of buses (200) then stops 2700, you get 2.7 per. But that doesn’t matter, other than extreme north CC, there are no riders. As far as getting to work, those who would “serve” people, be real, all the fast food places and the mall and schools were here 7 yrs ago, before C-Tran. How did they get to work? and school? Oh wait a minute CC was a much better place to live then!
But the best reason is that it loses 10 mil a year, Clayton County can’t afford it
PS> Joann , what are you smoking? How does losing bus service increase car-jackings? Are you saying that thugs ride buses for rides, then all the more reason to shut it down, thanks for the additional confirmation that criminals ride buses! lol
Do your reseach, thieves don’t jack cars to go to work and home! Crime was lower before C-Tran was in CC….
Oh and by the way , Michael and Joann. If it wasn’t for the taxes the middle and upper class achievers pay for their homes , and other property (BMW’s and Mercedes etc) to CC, there would be NO money to pay for anything..Renters don’t pay home property taxes or school taxes, so you’d bette pray WE don’t leave the county and bankrupt it! As it is now CC can’t afford C-Tran , pay more and take the Express Bus….
Mama Says
March 26th, 2010
10:21 pm
Mass Transit,
I have worked and lived in Clayton County for 25 years. There has NEVER been a crowed CTRAN bus ! Never–I mean NEVER EVER ! Stop the political B.S.
I’ll do this —get on ANY CTRAN BUS you want at ANY TIME you want, take some pictures, if there are more than 10 people on the bus (that will hold about 30) I will pay your bus for one month. Post the pics or tell us where to go to see them ! I
do believe you are confused between the CTRAN buses and the park and ride state buses that serve Clayton to Atlanta riders—there are two services
Derek
March 26th, 2010
10:22 pm
PS> Progressive = Liberal and I doubt you could ever afford to live in NY! Thats why you live here! If you want bus service move back to Fulton or Dekalb
Derek
March 26th, 2010
10:27 pm
Mama is right, other than extreme N. Clayton, the buses are empty and sit on the side of the road (Mt. Zion, Fielder,etc;) since there are no designated areas to stop just roadside, blocking traffic, being a hazard, leaking oil and running all the time causing pollution (next to the closed On the Border). Don’t defend something that doesn’t work, A county bus service for handicapped or elderly is fine and can be run by outreach services.
joe
March 26th, 2010
10:42 pm
Hey Michael, You are an idiot, Your friend who was given the BMW when he was 16, gotit because someone in his family worked hard, If you work hard maybe someday you can buy your son a BMW Nobody gave those people anything I also reffered to Car jackers as the ones looking for a free ride, not bus drivers and janitors. I’ll bet your unlucky butt is unemployed and leaching off the working taxpayers right now
John The Revelator
March 26th, 2010
10:53 pm
Roberta Abdul-Salaam is a idiot. Why should we have to pay more taxes for a service that is not wanted by the majority of the people in the county, and is only utilize by a small few. If you need public transportation you need to live in the city of Atlanta or one of the suburbs that have it.
Free food in lobby
March 26th, 2010
11:09 pm
Abdul-Salaam has not paid her TAXES!!!!! She should help support the bus system with her own money,since she never pays her tax.
AtlantaPhotog
March 26th, 2010
11:21 pm
Folks should remember that is was the MAJORITY BLACK Commission that voted Ctran down. So unless the Black Commissioners are prejudice against other Blacks (let someone explain that) then the racism comment needs to just be dropped as there’s no intelligent basis behind it. It is though, a CLASS issue, as it’s been reported that some of the Commissioners have made comments about the “carless” people who ride the bus.
Just stop being politically correct, folks. Metro Atlanta has a huge ghetto community that rivals in number to Baltimore, Detroit, or New Orleans. Even the middle and upper class Black residents wall themselves off from them in semi-hidden communities. They’re shutting Ctran down because they want the ghetto out of there – not Blacks in general.
Michael
March 27th, 2010
12:01 am
Derek, FYI renters do pay property taxes. The person who owns the property pays taxes and therefore passes it on to renters. They also pay sales taxes in the county, which fund things like roads and schools.
Joe, you missed my point a little bit. The person’s parent may have worked hard, but that doesn’t mean that individual did. Also, the bread-winner was an accountant for Arthur Andersen. That company worked REALLY hard to fudge some books. I am far from unemployed and am nearly paid off on a Toyota. Maybe you should drop the “idiot” remarks and not make assumptions.
Tired of Ignorance
March 27th, 2010
12:15 am
Derek, first of all get your facts straight. Just because people need a service does not mean they didn’t work hard at achieving better. You think you got it going on right now because you have the ability to drive and accomplished what you feel is needed to be a decent citizen, but go to bed tonight and God forbid, have stroke or some type of life changing event that disables you from doing so. I know a lot of Clayton County residents who have cars parked in their garage that they cannot drive due to illness or sudden injuries. It is very costly to pay a private service to take you weekly to appointments and other needed resources. They say that Atlanta dumped all of their undesirables here in Clayton County but forgot to mention all of the money Clayton County received from the government to house lower income families like Katrina victims, and former Atlanta Public Housing families. Clayton County enjoyed absorbing the money to house these people, but now want to cripple them. This is a sad day when people think they have it going on because they don’t have a need in life, but you just keep on living and Karma is a serious boomerang when it comes back to your home. And by the way, Clayton County Public Transportation is not funded by Home Owner taxes.. I don’t know where you get that from, but your information is totally wrong. The 1% sales tax they are trying to introduce will be from sales taxes, totally different from Home Owner taxes. These people who ride the bus pay these taxes also just like you. When these people get paid, the government tax their pay checks just like they tax yours. It may not be as much, but it’s hard earned money “Just Like Yours”…
So people, let’s not be desensitized to the needs of others because we dont have a need as of “Yet.” One may never know what predictament they will arrive in thoughout life…just keep living and see.. Ctran needs better buses, more service, and nothing less….. We are a part of Metro Atlanta, and need to keep up with the times, get more people out of their cars, and catch up with other growing cities… We are way behind. Georgia is a big State… If people dont like the city… You can get a nice Country life in Newman or where ever you desire. But by all means stop trying to kick the lower income commuters down…
miss understood
March 27th, 2010
1:03 am
I CATCH THE 503 EVERY NIGHT HOME THE LAST BUS LEAVES THE AIRPORT AT 1210 IT IS ALWAYS PACKED. THESE TIMES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUSS MAY BE EMPTY WE DO WORK NOT ALL OF US ARE CRIMINALS. BEFORE THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF CTRAN I THOUGHT CLAYTON COUNTY WAS A NICE PLACE TO LIVE. MAYBE SOME ROUTES ARE EMPTY BUT NOT ALL.
Not Going To Use My Usual Name
March 27th, 2010
1:18 am
I agree. It’s time to stop subsidizing transit. And I don’t just mean *mass* transit… I mean roads. Let’s say that roads get what they can from gas taxes, and that’s IT. No more airline bailouts, either. I’m sure those working folks without cars are sick and tired of paying taxes that just go to the roads they can’t use.
You know, you’ll find out that gas taxes and car tag taxes alone do NOT fully support roads. So why is the expectation that mass transit will pay for itself?
I’ll tell you why: because YOU aren’t using it, therefore it shouldn’t be used… as opposed to roads.
It’s like the elderly marching against national health care. “No national health care! And keep your hands off Medicare!” Um… what do you think Medicare IS?
John The Revelator
March 27th, 2010
1:45 am
AtlantaPhotog is right. I’m young, black, male,home owner, long time CC resident,& I want C-tran gone. I also think that the county should really limit section 8 housing and tear down a great number of the apartments, and extended stay hotels in the county. Fayette,Henry,& Coweta don’t have public transit and they are doing just fine. It’s bad enough that the county let The city of Atlanta crap all over it when they closed all of it’s housing projects, now we may have to pay extra to be a part of Marta. I don’t think the BOC will approve this.
R M
March 27th, 2010
5:42 am
I wonder how many people know how ignorant the ” I don’t use it so why should I have to pay for it” argument sounds when discussing funding transit. I have never used roads in 150 of the 159 Ga counties, yet my tax dollar pays for them in all counties. I don’t fly, but my tax dollar subsidizes the infrastructure the airlines use from the property the terminals air built on to the people required to keep the airports in operation. How much do you think an airline ticket would cost If the airlines had to buy, build , and pay property taxes on what they need to operate as well as pay the salaries of all the people in the TSA and FAA? I don’t have children, yet my tax dollars fund schools.
Also, Public transit benefits everyone where it is present. C=tran and Marta’s daily ridership is ~247000 people a day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_rapid_transit_systems_by_ridership) not contributing to the already lousy traffic in Atl. Not to mention the millions in federal money Ga has lost to Fl and NC because the legislature and people of this state refuse to fund transit. FL got 1.25 Billion dollars toward its high speed rail corridor because their legislature in a special session funded public transit (trains magazine April 2010). NC got ~400 Millon dollars. Ga got $750,000 dolloars toward high speed rail. Federal highway money has also been lost in the past becdue to GA’s lack of transportation planning.
And people wonder why the rest of the country think GA is a backwards red neck state.
R M
March 27th, 2010
5:56 am
To add another note. The transit systems in NY, Chicago, NJ, San Fran, Phil, etc…… are heavily subsidized by the states where they run. Intercity public transit as rule is not a money maker which is why the railroads and private bus companies got out of it.
FYI: MARTA is the largest transit system in North America that receives no state funding.
i guess its what you would expect from a state where the seatbelt laws exempt pick-em-up trucks.
Winkasdad29
March 27th, 2010
9:07 am
It never ceases to amaze me. The NIMBY faction in the Atlanta metro area is at it again. It’s too bad Clayton County is in this situation, but for some of you to say C-Tran needs to go because you don’t have use for it is wrong.
My suggestion to those who don’t want to pay taxes and let there be an entirely free market is for you to find an uninhabited island or some other place when people don’t live. Then you can start your own country and try to run it as you see fit. Good luck in establishing a modern society with the same modern convieniences you have right now.
Here’s my suggestion for C-Tran: See if you can join MARTA. You know which routes are heavily traveled, so establish service for those routes only. I don’t know whether at this point Clayton County can support mid-day service, so rush hour service may be the way to go for now.
By the way, all of you naysayers who don’t want to pay for services you don’t use, YOU paid for the $4 billion expansion of our airport, which included a new runway which cost $1.5 billion alone! I don’t fly very often, but I paid for that expansion, too.
Learn to look at the big picture – not just YOUR part in the artwork.
Not Going To Use My Usual Name
March 27th, 2010
10:11 am
R M and Winkasdad29, well put.
GIVE ME A BREAK!!
March 27th, 2010
10:23 am
You people who say that “transit brings trash” are the biggest bunch of redneck racist backwards back-woods IDIOTS this world has ever seen.
Transit goes all over New York City, London, Paris, Milan… and all THOSE cities have much nicer neighborhoods than anything Clayton County has ever developed. Also… What about Buckhead? Sandy Springs? Ever been there? The MARTA stations there have not prevented those areas from becoming wealthy enclaves.
Folks, crime comes from when the residents don’t give a rat’s @$$ about crime prevention. Support your police, form neighborhood watches, get up off your FAT DUFFS and start caring about getting rid of crime… and the crime will come under control.
sam
March 27th, 2010
11:18 am
let c-train die. atlanta close down its projects and sent its poor to CC to be taking care of. thats a shame!we pay enough taxes here. no new taxes. to our commissioners stand strong you have my vote. other than, BELL!
M. Belyue
March 27th, 2010
12:28 pm
It is appearant by the blogs here that this County suffers from what the rest of the country suffers from that is a selfish, self-serving disreguard for their fellow man. In this So-Called Bible Belt what happened to compassion for ones fellow man. Without C-Tran countless amounts of families will loose the ability to support themselves. And what about the 3000 riders that use C-tran to get to Dialyssis treatments, that would surely suffer without transportation. Truely these are the least amongst us, spoken of in the bible. Have we become lovers of oneself rather than lovers of god? I have Transportation i pay a car note as well as i pay insurance but i welcome an increase in taxes to provide for those that would be negatively impacted by the ending of C-tran. It is our God given responsibility to help those in need.
R M
March 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
A note for you people that use the “I have a car argument” :
A 30 mile round trip to work per day w/ insurance costs of ~ $800 per yer and 3 weeks off in a vehicle that gets 24 mpg costs you about 22 cents per mile to operate that vehicle to get to your job and back. Thats $6.60 a day for those of you from GA that are unable to do the math. That does not include the costs of wear and tear on the vehicle, ad valorem every year, general maintenance, and depreciation.
Unfortunately the way the systems are set up in metro atl. its not convenient to ride transit in many places, and I can relate to that. I live 15 minutes from my job, and if I took what is available (c-tran or express transfer to marta) to me it would take me 2 hrs to get to work and I would be late every day. I could live w/ 40 min to an hour just to save the cost of driving my car if I had that choice. If Clayton were part of MARTA the routes could be streamlined and rail could be extended through clayton making it more convenient for people that use it, and it would make the county more attractive to new businesses locating there. Read somewhere recently that a major compny steered away from Cobb county because of its lack of light or heavy passenger rail. Its ok though w/ unemployment @ 10.4% Ga’s economy doesn’t need those jobs.
R M
March 27th, 2010
3:41 pm
For the record I don’t agree w/ the ” god given responsibility of people to help others by taking my money through taxes” argument. However I do believe the government needs to have a system of transportation available to those that can not operate a vehicle due to physical handicaps, aren’t competant enough to drive a car (seems to be most of metro atl to me), or can’t afford to operate a vehicle because the state has made it to expensive w/ insurance costs (litigation doesn’t help w/ this one, maybe we should tax lawyers to fund transit
), ad valorem, and environmental fees. The latter being my pet peeve. If the state is going to make it financially impossible for some to operate a vehicle legally, there should be a system in place to allow these people to go back and forth to work and be productive.
Rhonda
March 27th, 2010
4:11 pm
The recession has hit everyone hard. It has hit every county in this state hard. But Clayton County has been hit the hardest in the past couple of years due to the incompetent BOE that caused so many families to flee and so many business to close their doors. I’m not sure if we know the full impact that it had on CC. We do not want more taxes right now. Public transit is good for everyone if it gets cars off the road, and reduces pollution, but there are not enough riders, and never have been enough riders to justify it’s existence. I say we wait a couple of years until we get back on our feet a little bit and then try it again with less routes and smaller busses.
bagels vs bialys
March 27th, 2010
8:08 pm
Hey Jerkoff Joe! If a person steals cars for a living, why are they going to rely on public transit? If I were a carjacker, I’d just walk around the block and steal a car instead of paying a fee and waiting for the bus/train to come, etc…but you didn’t/couldn’t think of that because you’re slow so it all good, prick.
april jazer strozier
March 28th, 2010
3:28 am
ummmm excuse me mr racist Dereck but The Most Successful County of them all Fulton County has a bus service that way there citizens will not have an excuse for not going to work do me a favor if the C-tran is stopped I want you to pick everybody you see walking up off the street ok
Eric
March 28th, 2010
11:29 am
I find direct democracy (i.e. Referrendum) to be a good thing, especially when the cost of the service is paid for by the change being made in the referrendum. It should be up to the residents of Clayton County whether they want bus service or not.
M. Belyue
March 28th, 2010
2:10 pm
For those who that believe that the ending C-Tran they would not have to pay. Well here’s a revelation, You will have tp pay MORE if C-Tran is disolved. Those short sighted commissioners that voted for this failed to inform you that we will still be required to provide para-transit transportation. However instead of the $7.00 per round trip we pay now we will have to pay approximately $100.00 per round trip under private transportation that we all will absorb through our tax dollars. What about those that loose their jobs due to transportation. There will be definite spikes in Public assistance(welefare),and also food stamps. you do know all taxpayers provide those services now. With a tremendous State budget deficit Do we really need to increase these expendatures. Those of you that is so dead set against c-tran i hope you don’t work for the State for you will be the first to loose your jobs . With limited state funds it will affect teachers if the state cut budgets almost everyone that is employed in the public sector will be affected. And i haven’t commented on the spike in crime that goes hand in hand with ecconomic distress. So once again i say before taking any course of action be sure you have All of the facts
M. Belyue
March 28th, 2010
2:30 pm
For the Coward that used the cover of Obama to express antisemetic garbage , if you don’t care for the transit service than don’t ride you will in fact pay for it one way or another through State or County tax . I prefer to do so locally. If its done locally it will be less of a burden on the overall state financial deficit. So do the math stop listening to others and find the truth yourself. And for the person that believes it is not your god given responsibility to help those in need .”every good gift and prefect present comes from he who made us”. He said to”Take care of the widows and fatherless boys that it may go good with you”. But then again the word does say “in the last days men will become lovers of pleasures and lovers of money rather than lovers of god”. So where does your love lie?
tema
March 28th, 2010
11:26 pm
what are you talking about , this is a recession, and people are trying to work by any means necessary., i HAVE A HOME, ANd i am not giving it up, furthermore it is not that easy for people to move, you need money to move, to pack, truck, pay for new place, a deposit on utilities, it is not that easy , and yes i do depend on public transportation. everyone can not afford a car, i ride the bus every morning and evening, and it do be lot of people on the bus, everyone do not have a good paying job to take a taxi daily, then now there are people monopolizing off of this , they are starting van services , one for $3 and some other transportation service for as much as a cab , everyone cant afford it , what about people traveling with their family, this is criminal, and i am not saying they will be car jacking , but their sure will be alot of people acting up, because they will become homeless unable to live, the bus system do not make any area bAD, C/MON get outta here, if anything it will be worse, because people will not be able to live,
tevin
March 29th, 2010
8:52 am
@Derek dont be Snobbish u got to thank bout other people that ride now they going to have to move and may lose there job i know i am cuz i turn 18 and just now started working over there dont have a car . them buses be pack wit lots of people … since u said that how bout u get in your car and come and pick us up they us were we need to go if not dont come back on here thinking of yo self
Bryan
March 29th, 2010
10:51 am
It’s a shame how some people think when it comes to transit. I support transit but I think C-Tran should go…. only so Clayton can join MARTA like it should have already done a long time ago along with all the other counties in the Metro area. I think it is so silly to have 5 different agencies doing 5 different things and still all connect to the main one… MARTA! It’s know that the larger the agency the more federal money it will get. Plus with the entire region of 5 plus million supporting the sales tax ALL the time and not just when they come into Fulton or Dekalb would mean a lot more money for MARTA to operate efficiently. Everyone comes to Atlanta for something so you are paying and supporting MARTA anyway. There would be more rail stations closer for those who don’t do the bus. MARTA has one of the cleanest rail systems I have ever seen and all the trains are basically brand new after the major rehab that was done. More money also mean more buses to provide faster service and expand to areas that don’t have any service.
Clayton has itself to blame for the concentration of lower income people. They allowed more low income houseing and was paid by the gov’t as a way to generate more money for the county. The same people that were elected and are now trying to vote down the system. M. Belyue
March 28th, 2010 2:10 pm made a great point. When those people who lose their jobs can’t get another one who has to pay for them? The working tax payer. Now not only are you paying more in taxes but now they can’t contribute the taxes that they were because they are now unemployed. Does that make any sense? All this because some people don’t want a bus to come down the street but you’d rather deal with the increased traffic and the longer delays.
This is an issue of classism and racism. So many people look down at these lower income residents with their nose so high in the air and aren’t even rich themselves. Probably barely making it and one check from being on the bus themselves. You never know what may happen and when that service will come in handy for you. Even if you never use transit their still should be support. I’m sure their are roads that you pay for that you will never use but you still pay for them. Just like those roads that have to be paid for by everyone and don’t turn a profit transit is the same way. Even the great transit system in NYC doesn’t pay for itself and is heavily subsidized AND is also experiencing the same tough economic situation that we all are and had to cut bus service and even eliminate entire rail lines!
ray
March 29th, 2010
12:25 pm
All you opponents of C-Tran: So I guess it’s better if we just let it die so then the hundreds of thousands of riders will sit home, as opposed to going to school and work. Then, after they sit home, you redneck, neocon neanderthals will complain that they are shiftless and unproductive.
Boy, you guys never cease to amaze me with your infinite wisdom. I wish I could be like you, but unfortunately, I’m educated.
CliffATL
March 29th, 2010
2:07 pm
BRAVO BRYAN! – While Georgia’s Legislature debates a regional 1% sales’ tax for transportation improvements; for Metro Atlanta, that region and the regional authority has already been set up. That regional transit provider is MARTA!
Specifically, for Fulton, Dekalb, Clayton, Cobb and Gwinnett counties – this is the only transit system we should be encouraging, developing, and building in Metro Atlanta.
Once MARTA rail is in all 5 counties expand MARTA rail to the next 5 counties!
Stop debating – Start building RAIL! We’ve wasted enough time. Now, all of Metro Atlanta is falling behind economically, in part, because of a lack of public transportation (RAIL).
Name me one city with extensive rail transit systems that are currently as depressed economically as Atlanta… Feel free to search the entire globe – Rail Transit brings, Economic Development, Sustainability, Access to all, Economic Prosperity, Higher Property values, and just an overall better living environment.
Let’s make RAIL transportation for passengers a reality in Metro Atlanta and GEORGIA!
http://www.examiner.com/x-25727-Atlanta-Metro-Transportation-Examiner~y2010m2d23-MARTA–Secure-Your-Future-With-GROWTH
Ex-Clayton County Resident (YES!)
March 30th, 2010
3:47 pm
LOL @ MARTA bringing the trash to Clayton Co. Someone beat MARTA to that punch.
RT
March 30th, 2010
10:34 pm
A lot of the comments here talks about compassion and care for our fellow less fortunate neighbors and that to let C-Tran die is selfish, etc. I totally agree with your comments that we need to help our neighbors and our community, but we need to do it WILLINGLY! Taxation is FORCED! Tax does not come willingly! It’s no charity if it is FORCED! And the Bible doesn’t teach us to FORCE other people to be good! God told us to love and give with a willing heart! That is what we should do personally, with our churches and local community. C-Tran is bankrupt, that means it is not profitable to run as a business. If the local churches and local community decided to start their own bus company to replace C-Tran, go for it! I will support you, too! But don’t use the government to FORCE other people to do good! That is NOT what government is for. And that is not God has taught us in the Bible. So don’t use the compassion argument here. A failed business needs to go bankrupt! We don’t want to bail out ANY bankrupted business, be it Lehman Brothers, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, GM, Dodge, or CTran!
Andie1958
March 30th, 2010
11:00 pm
Just because you drive and others have to take the bus doesn’t make the car driver is any better than the bus rider. I have a car and had to take the bus when my car wasn’t working. And once my car got fixed, I didn’t turn my nose up at bus riders. It is too bad that there is very little compassion in Georgia. I do believe this is why Georgia has so many woes…. To all the people hoping that Fulton County not help Clayton County: Remember that although you don’t take the bus now, you will need it one day. So show some compassion on your fellow man, because one day you will need someone to show compassion on you.
Veronica
April 1st, 2010
1:02 pm
Wow! You people don’t even care about one another in Georgia. I can’t believe all of the people who are saying they don’t want to help pay for public transit – People who make minimum wage and can’t afford cars need a way to get to work, and WE ALL NEED the services of minimum wage workers – No one can logically make an intelligent argument against helping to fund a public service, – schools, police, fire, roads, etc are all in that same category – DUH! This is more proof that most of you all are just a bunch of backwards, small-minded, redneck, racist (although you’ll never admit it) who equate “public transportation” with “porch monkey vehicles.” You people are so weak, I’ll be glad when most of you “adults” just take your small minds and DIE OFF!
Rachelle
April 1st, 2010
1:06 pm
I used to ride the bus. I lost my job today. I cannot believe that so many people actually hate me so much that they actually want to see me fall and not be able to take care of my son. This really hurts, but I guess Ann Frank got it wrong, people are basically evil at heart. Yes – I actually know who Ann Frank was, with my bus riding, GED owning, poor, black self. This just breaks my heart.
CliffATL
April 2nd, 2010
9:05 am
To: RT March 30th, 2010 – 10:34 pm
A lot of the comments here talks about compassion and care for our fellow MORE fortunate neighbors and that to let Georgia’s Department of Transportation (GDOT) die is selfish, etc. I totally agree with your comments that we need to help our neighbors and our community by building more roads for the rich so that they are not inconvenienced sitting in traffic, but we need to fund ROADS WILLINGLY!
Taxation is FORCED! Tax does not come willingly! It’s no charity if it is FORCED! And the Bible doesn’t teach us to FORCE other people to build roads for rich car owners who pollute the air my children and I breath!
God told us to love and give with a willing heart! That is what we should do personally, with our churches and local community and ROADS (ie Institute tolls) .
GDOT is bankrupt, that means it is not profitable to run as a business. If the local churches and local community decided to start their own Road building company to replace GDOT, go for it!
I will support you, too! But don’t use the government to FORCE other people to do good by building roads for rich car owners! That is NOT what government is for. And that is not what God has taught us in the Bible.
So don’t use the compassion argument here. A failed business (GDOT)needs to go bankrupt! We don’t want to bail out ANY bankrupted businesses, be it Lehman Brothers, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, GM, Chrysler, or Georgia’s Department of Transportation with an additional 1% sales’ tax!
Jessica
April 2nd, 2010
11:21 am
To CliffATL
What about us poor people who do not have cars, but we have to help pay roads that we CANNOT USE WITHOUT PUBLIC TRANSIT? Clearly, your whole argument is flawed – if you can’t see that then there is something wrong with the way you and anyone else who thinks that way. If we are going to follow your fuzzy logic, then we can only make people with kids pay for public schools, and make only the people who utilize police services pay for it, and people who have house fires pay for firefighter services. We all help to pay for these things in part because it is available to the public if it is needed – you never know, you could get into an accident in your CAR and not be able to ever drive again – it happens – and one day, you might need the services of public transit, even though you think you’re too good for it. This is common sense, and if you cant get it then you’re just plain stupid
Sick of it all!
April 14th, 2010
9:05 am
Bottom line is that many people moved to Clayton County for a certain type of life style. Many of us chose Clayton because it had no transit system. Call me racist (I’m Black by the way), elitist, or whatever, Clayton County was a better place before the forced migration of the inner city project dwellers & CTran.
While I may feel sorry for the plight of those that need to use the bus system, I don’t feel it is my responsibility to help pay for their transportation. Clayton, along with the surrounding counties, didn’t have C-Tran a decade ago and we did just fine.
Clayton County can keep aggravating it’s tax base if it likes, sooner or later, we will get fed up & you will have nothing but a county of low income earners. What will happen then ? I for one, am on my last straw.
Rachelle, I for one in no way hate you. I don’t know you. I just don’t feel that because I made different decisions in life & am more financially stable, that I should be forced to assist you. I’m not responsible for your having a GED. I’m not responsible for your being poor. I’m not responsible for you having a son that you are having difficulty supporting. Those were choices that you made that unfortunately are hindering you now. In different circumstances, I would probably reach out to help you. I don’t mind helping VOUNTARILY. I am just sick & tired of my being taxed to death.
I know that there are many hardworking people who are trying to better themselves. I hope that they are able to. It’s nothing personal against them. I want my quality of living back. I’ve tried to hang on through all of this mess but if C-tran it brought back…..I am out. I have been trying to hold on because I don’t want to be part of the problem by renting my home out to section 8. Right now, who else would want to come to Clayton County?
Bubba
June 29th, 2010
1:05 pm
I called the Clayton County Board of Elctions 06/28/09 to find out why my absentee ballot did not have the nonbinding referendum listed on the ballot and was told that it would be on the November ballot. I said that I had just seen a WSBTV news item that said that it would be on this ballot. The lady said ‘No, it will be on the November ballot” I said so let me understand, the referendum will be on the November ballot as a nonbinding referendum. She said “I don’t know how it will be listed, either as a binding or nonbinding referendum”. Looks like Clayton County is up to it’s old tricks again!