Transit investment a necessity for metro Atlanta
Based on the draft list approved earlier this month, 55 percent of the Atlanta region’s proposed transportation sales tax would be used to support mass transit, a fact that has generated considerable grumbling in some quarters.
Benita Dodd of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, points out that just 5 percent of commuters in metro Atlanta regularly ride a bus or rail system, concluding that with its emphasis on transit, “the project list ignores this reality.”
State Sen. Lindsey Tippins, R-Cobb County, believes the list should favor road projects that deliver more immediate relief than longer-term transit projects. State Rep. Sharon Cooper, also a Cobb Republican, argues that the bond between Southerners and their cars is so strong that transit might not work here.
All in all, there’s a sense among many in metro Atlanta that transit is somehow experimental and untested and represents too much of a risk. I’d argue that the exact opposite is true. The real gamble, the real experiment, would be in refusing to make major investments in transit.
Look at who we are. According to the 2010 Census, the 20-county metro Atlanta region has grown to 5.3 million people, an increase of 1 million over the 2000 Census. By 2030 — less than 20 years from now — the region is predicted to host 7.4 million people, which by any measure makes us a major metropolitan region.
So here’s a challenge: Name a major metropolitan region anywhere in the industrialized world that has not made or is not making a major investment in transit. I’m aware of none.
Some people might challenge that claim by pointing to the example of Los Angeles. However, given that region’s severe problems with congestion and air quality, I’m not sure that helps the anti-transit case much. And the truth is, Los Angeles is now trying to hard to retrofit itself, adding subways, light rail and high-speed rail to its auto-centric system.
In addition, Los Angeles already boasts an extensive bus system. According to a new study by the Brookings Institution, Los Angeles ranks second in the country in the percentage of its population within reach of mass transit, behind only Honolulu. Metro Atlanta ranks 82nd out of 100 U.S. metro areas in that category, and most of the areas ranked below Atlanta, such as Chattanooga, Augusta and Baton Rouge, are considerably smaller.
In every human endeavor, changes in scale force changes in systems. In business, for example, small companies are forced to go outside their comfort zones and adopt new ways of doing things as they grow. The systems that worked when you have 10 employees or 100 employees don’t work when you have a payroll of 1,000. The same is true of metro regions. If metro Atlanta chooses to try to grow without a major investment in transit, it takes a course that no other region on the planet has found workable.
Furthermore, the transportation sales tax is our only feasible source of transit investment. Under Georgia’s constitution, revenue from the state’s gasoline tax is restricted to use for roads and bridges and can’t be used to fund transit. The Legislature has made it clear that it has no stomach for altering that provision, and it is even less likely to fund transit directly through general revenues.
(In fact, state leaders are so fearful of transit and taxes that earlier this month, they balked at moving the date of the transportation referendum to an allegedly more favorable date, lest they be accused of supporting such a noxious combination.)
It’s also important to remember that gasoline-tax revenue will continue to be earmarked for construction of highway projects, such as the proposed new toll lanes on I-75 through Cobb County. Taking those projects into account, total transportation spending in the metro region would continue to be weighted toward asphalt over transit.
– Jay Bookman
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456 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
August 30th, 2011
11:22 am
“double decking 285 and portions of 75 and 85 would do a lot”
And gee, how much will that cost? Or is it just free cause the wingnuts want it?
Wooten was pushing for this a coupla years back. They are, of course, nucking futters.
jewcowboy
August 30th, 2011
11:23 am
Uncle Jed,
“how many points will I need to redeem for a Marta token? ”
MARTA doesn’t take tokens.
kayaker 71
August 30th, 2011
11:24 am
Denial…… it is such a wonderful thing. Says a lot about it’s advocates. And Al Bore says that all those who question his stand on global warming are Bull Conner racists. And he would have made such a memorable president.
Jm
August 30th, 2011
11:24 am
Bosch 11:19 no kidding it would cost a lot. You know, probably like 6 or 7 billion dollars, like the amount from the tax. Plus tolls. But it would get more people moving than transit
And thx, I’m not a wingnut
jewcowboy
August 30th, 2011
11:25 am
carlosgvv,
“I had to endure the cold, hard hate-filled stares of a great many “African-Americans”. All these people knew about me was that I was white. ”
And how much did you know about them other than they were “African-Americans”?
Bosch
August 30th, 2011
11:26 am
“But it would get more people moving than transit”
I disagree, there is really no evidence to suggest otherwise — we can look at other cities to see the success of mass transit.
Jay
August 30th, 2011
11:28 am
again, Carlos, I’ve ridden MARTA for 20 years and never experienced that.
Fresh sheets….
jewcowboy
August 30th, 2011
11:28 am
Jm,
“But it would get more people moving than transit”
In the short term…until traffic filled it in, and we were back in the exact same dilemma. Only now with more congestion and pollution. The golden rule of road building; Build it,and they will come.
Kamchak
August 30th, 2011
11:29 am
I had to endure the cold, hard hate-filled stares of a great many “African-Americans”. All these people knew about me was that I was white.
We will all now observe a moment of silence to memorialize the fact your tender fee-fees were hurted.
Joe Mama
August 30th, 2011
11:29 am
1811 — “Freedom of speech ? Only if “you” like it. HA !”
Let me familiarize you with what the Constitution says about freedom of speech. It says that Congress “shall make no law” regarding it.
So your bleating about having your free speech infringed is quite out of place. Jay’s sandbox, Jay’s rules. Maybe you could go start your own blog if you don’t like it — then you could censor all the folks you pleased over there.
Brosephus
August 30th, 2011
11:30 am
Tired 11:11 double decking 285 and portions of 75 and 85 would do a lot
I’m beginning to wonder about you, jm. In a state where the majority of bridges are rated as failing, you’re advocating creating what could possibly become the most heavily traveled bridge in the entire southeast region of the country? I know you could possibly think of something much better than that. The maintenance and upkeep of such a project itself would be self-defeating in the long term. There’s also the cost of replacement, as most bridges have a shelf life of around 50 years.
kayaker 71
August 30th, 2011
11:31 am
Bookman,
Tell all of us uninformed out here what you mean by your add on comment, “Fresh Sheets”.
real john
August 30th, 2011
11:31 am
I have mix feelings on this. While I think I’m probably going to vote for the tax because Metro Atlanta does need improvements, this pie in the sky transit utopia of liberals is crazy too me.
Its as if mass transit is the end of all problems. Jay, I would ask you, have you ever tried driving in NY, Chicago, D.C, Boston?? Its a complete nightmare in those places as well. The bottom line is when you have millions of people living in a relatively small space, guess what, you are going to have traffic problems.
Its not like we are riding horse and buggy to work taking hours upon hours to get someplace. I have lived in three different areas in Metro Atlanta. However, mostly it takes me 30-40 minutes to get to work. Some days it may take a little longer, but its not that bad. Its not like it is hurting my ability to make a living.
While I think Metro Atlanta certaintly needs to improve and expand Marta some, it cannot be compared to cities up north that are much smaller. Check the facts, the Atlanta Metro area in square miles is vastly more than most cities in the U.S. Its just not financially possible to have a system like NY or Chicago. We have to be realistic; some change, yes; but the pie in the sky changes, no.
Misty Fyed
August 30th, 2011
11:34 am
Only 5% use mass transit primarily because it is not convenient. People in my area have to drive 30 minutes to get to Marta which takes an additional 35 minutes to ride in. I can drive myself in 45 minutes. Add to that the frequent offers to buy perfume, the begging, the drunks, and the lack of visibility of any law enforcement and Marta just isn’t appealing.
I’m not against investing in Mass Transit. I’m just against giving Marta any regional money or control of any expanded system. They have had plenty of time to clean their system up but just haven”t done it. Mo money will just buy us mo of the same from that group.
Examine the proposals
August 30th, 2011
11:35 am
The devil is n the details. $7MM to fix the intersection at Ponce and Moreland? Really? Seven MILLION dollars? $100MM to study mass transit for Gwinnett County? Why? The intown Beltway is little more than a graft pool. Look at the insider profits that are being made on the sale of land along the route. And if you think that it will get built for $800MM, then you are a complete fool.
This is an issue of fiscal prudence, not transportation. Most f the items in the existing proposals simply don’t make sense.
Peadawg
August 30th, 2011
11:35 am
http://news.yahoo.com/why-drug-testing-poor-could-unconstitutional-081205581.html
LOL I’m missing how drug testing welfare recipients is unconstitutional. Hell, I say add in random drug tests as long as your on welfare. So, is drug testing for jobs unconstitutional as well?
I'm Rick James Wa-Itch!
August 30th, 2011
11:36 am
Blueprint for Deal?
Texas Governor Perry Becomes A Millionaire While Serving in Office”
Since his first race for office more than a quarter-century ago, Gov. Rick Perry has emphasized his roots as a rural farmer.
Yet Perry’s bank account no longer reflects those humble beginnings as his bottom line has soared in recent years, records show, thanks largely to a handful of real estate deals that critics allege were achieved through the presidential candidates’ political connections.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/29/2379942/texas-gov-perry-became-a-millionaire.html#ixzz1WWj7BBju
Jay
August 30th, 2011
11:36 am
kayaker, it’s a shorthand way of telling folks that there’s a newly cleaned hotel room upstairs, with fresh sheets on the bed and fresh flowers on the table, ready to be occupied.
In other words, a new topic has been posted.
Kamchak
August 30th, 2011
11:37 am
Tell all of us uninformed out here what you mean by your add on comment, “Fresh Sheets”.
New thread upstairs.
Aquagirl
August 30th, 2011
11:37 am
But was also really scary. I’d hate to be on Aquagirl’s wrong side.
Years of prejudice against us water-breathers takes its toll.
I’m so glad the Republicans have taken us under the big GOP tent. Their tireless work in wingnutty science denial means we’ll soon be ceded some major coastal cities when those glaciers melt.
Joe Mama
August 30th, 2011
11:37 am
kayaker — “Tell all of us uninformed out here what you mean by your add on comment, “Fresh Sheets”.”
What, for FREE?
Nope. You hafta pay. First.
TiredOfTheLies
August 30th, 2011
11:37 am
Sure, transit won’t solve all woes – but consider if something happens to a major section of our road system…. things that have happened in other places.
Say a truck accident causes a major fire on a bridge over the river – and closes that direction for many, many months – or a year! Without alternatives, commuters will be inconvenienced by not just a little bit.
Having choices and alternatives allow for a better transportation system.
Could you imagine NY or Chicago without transit – nobody could get anywhere…. Those cities were smaller years ago… ours will grow too, that is unless we strangle it.
Peadawg
August 30th, 2011
11:38 am
Sorry for my off-topic at 11:35…just thought that article was hilarious.
Doggone/GA
August 30th, 2011
11:39 am
“There is one aspect of riding MARTA that no one talks much about here. I, a white man, rode MARTA buses and trains for three years. I was never threatened or injured. However, every single day, I had to endure the cold, hard hate-filled stares of a great many “African-Americans”.”
And I rode it every working day for 5 years, including after midnight and never experienced any such “stares.” Had lots of interesting conversations though.
Brosephus
August 30th, 2011
11:40 am
Only 5% use mass transit primarily because it is not convenient. People in my area have to drive 30 minutes to get to Marta which takes an additional 35 minutes to ride in.
And, how much would that percentage increase if the rails were extended out to where the people in your area only had to drive 3-5 minutes? I can get to the closest MARTA station from where I live in 25-30 minutes. The problem is, however, that station is the airport station, and I work at the airport. If the rails extended down thru Henry Co, I would not flinch at paying $100-$150 for a monthly pass, because, even then it would be cheaper than paying $55 a week for gas. There would also be much less wear and tear on my car. Add the fact that I wouldn’t put 200 plus miles a week on my car, and I could probably end up with a higher resale value on my car if I decided to trade it or sell it later on.
If you don’t want to give MARTA control over the system, then simply make MARTA the operator of the bus system, and turn the rails over to GRTA. You kill two birds with one stone. GRTA already has parking facilities in the suburbs because of the park N ride buses, and they are much better funded and supported throughout the metro area as opposed to MARTA.
jewcowboy
August 30th, 2011
11:44 am
Doggone/GA
“And I rode it every working day for 5 years, including after midnight and never experienced any such “stares”
Yeah…me neither. And I wear bowties and fedoras.
md
August 30th, 2011
11:46 am
I just wish you folks would anti up the needed change so I can ride the train to where I want to go when I come visit……………………
Brosephus
August 30th, 2011
11:47 am
md
That’s not gonna happen with this upcoming vote. As the plan stands now, I’m a definite NO vote.
Road Scholar
August 30th, 2011
12:09 pm
Bosch @ 11:19; How would double decking I 285 be built? Close down I 285 for months? Ya’ know those bridge beams are heavy and would crush any vehicle flat if they fell!
sleestak
August 30th, 2011
12:13 pm
The Tax will be voted down.
1811/0311
August 30th, 2011
12:28 pm
Joe Mama:
Re: “Free Speech” in the Constitution ……………..
Yes, we all know that but those who “really” believe in it apply it to every situation ……….. government controlled or otherwise. It’s just the American thing to do.
Matthew
August 30th, 2011
12:29 pm
I would be all for this plan if there was a chance that it wouldn’t turn into a black hole with overspending, delays, corruption, kickbacks and you name it.
The leaders in the Atlanta region are just too corrupt and have not proven that they will spend the money wisely.
a reader
August 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
i think i’ve finally solved the problem. i am moving to tennessee. can’t wait to feel that door slam.
ken
August 30th, 2011
12:38 pm
Ask the Delta employees that were mugged how safe MARTA is !!
CobbwillkillTSPLOST
August 30th, 2011
12:48 pm
MARTA on the Cobb TSPLOST list is going to kill TSPLOST for the whole region. 88% of Cobb’s dollars go to MARTA, and the project is 90% in Fulton County. Who would vote for that?
With a better project balance you would get some Cobb “YES” votes, but the project list selected by Mayor Mathews and Commission Chair Lee you will get nearly all “NO” votes from Cobb.
You have six weeks to get Mathews and Lee to change Cobb’s list before you lose ALL your Atlanta projects.
Brosephus
August 30th, 2011
12:59 pm
You have six weeks to get Mathews and Lee to change Cobb’s list before you lose ALL your Atlanta projects.
As long as the list involves my taxes paving roads in Cobb or any other county that I never use, I will vote NO!! Until the list is only to expand rail throughout the metro area, my vote is NO!!!
Gator Joe
August 30th, 2011
1:09 pm
Jay,
Expanding mass transit for Metro Atlanta and adding feeder stations in the suburbs is logical for a city such as Atlanta. I don’t live or work there but I’ll be voting for the transit tax first because it will help solve some problems, and also because much of the Right wing here opposes it.
No artificial flavors
August 30th, 2011
1:15 pm
As one that has a heathy distrust of too much government in too many aspect of our lives (i should know i work for a government) I do not undertand why so many in our once great state of Georgia are so against proper infrastructure development. It is like the words “planning” and “future” are bad words. I used to support the original cause of the tea party uprising but the idiots have lost focus and turned to trying to make local and state governments into non-functioning entities, i.e. Anarchy. I am very disappointed in my fellow libertarian/conservatives. Educate yourselves on the issues before screaming no.
mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama - BEND OVER, Here comes the CHANGE!
August 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
TAX and SPEND, TAX and SPEND…..boy does that get old.
Common Sense
August 30th, 2011
1:37 pm
if the people that use it are unwilling to foot the majority of the bill for it, then it shouldn’t happen.
That includes highways as well as public transportation.
The true proof and value of any project is to see who is willing to actually pay.
So far, mass transit proponents have had the majority of the costs paid by the 90% that are not using it. That is a severe imbalance.
Steve - B.
August 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
When I was in college I used to ride the Paoli local into Philadelphia all the time. The Marta just doesn’t seem to be useful though. I am all for Mass transit but it has to be a system people will use. To me Atlanta is a strange city, most cities are more condensed but Atlanta seems spread out
Laurie
August 30th, 2011
1:53 pm
I would gladly pay a tax for better transit in our area if we had uncorrupt reliable people at GDOT that could actually do their job without wasting millions of dollars. But we don’t have that, so I’m voting no for the SPLOST.
Master Mothera
August 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
Breakin News! We have Breakin News!
We have discovered a tax Bookman doesn’t approve of. A tax on teleprompters.
Stay tuned for other developments>
Larbo
August 30th, 2011
1:58 pm
Jay, you have no argument here. However, the primary problem that will keep the majority of people off the trains is security, real and perceived. For it to work, there would have to be more visible policing of the system, and the whackos would have to be controlled.
sirwinston19
August 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
The only problem with Georgia mass transportations is; everything run’s right back into the same major highway, instead of going directly where drivers needs to go; and 18 wheelers constantly tie up major driving space with the rate of speed they must go. A good transportation officer would realize that an artery has to have major veins to circulate into and out-of; Georgia don’t have that type of system yet; and they are constantly spending money for the same major driving routes.
Adam
August 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
TAX and SPEND, TAX and SPEND…..boy does that get old.
False taglines usually do get old…..
TiredOfTheLies
August 30th, 2011
2:48 pm
…. and since most folks in the region think and act locally, only for the present… the chances of a true regional transit system are slim.
What will happen is that the folks in Atlanta will finish the Beltline, and living in the city will continue to get better and better. The usage of automobiles by city residents will become an option, and their lifestyle will be healthier.
History points in this direction, and it is happening in the city (that is if you ever venture there!)
It’s sure nice to hop in the car for a short shopping trip, not having to worry about traffic, and knowing you could walk if necessary. That will never, ever happen where the roadways are 100 yards wide!
Fri'Chickenisha
August 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
“Under Georgia’s constitution, revenue from the state’s gasoline tax is restricted to use for roads and bridges and can’t be used to fund transit.”
There’s a reason it’s that way, and that MARTA, e.g., is confined to Fulton and DeKalb. Jay’s little ‘We Are the World” Kumbaya crowd can’t grasp that it’s the collective, conscious choice of most people to get as far away as possible from Little Zimbabwe.
The sales tax referendum was already doomed – this 55% allocation to public transit is just the nail in the coffin.
Willie
August 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
Calling people racist who don’t support the transit tax might be a good way to set up a boogyman when the tax fails but Bookman’s comments will never motivate the passage of the tax. Bookman is quick to reach for the race card, even when it hurts his cause..(CT are you there?).
There are reasonable people on both sides of this issue. There might be room to persuade or to be persuaded with patient reasoning. Unfortunately Bookman will only be hardening the opposition.
Might that be his purpose since there is not going to be big support for the transit program in the more liberal DeKalb and Fulton counties. He needs someone to blame.
TruthBe
August 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
We don’t need anymore new taxes for any reason. The taxes, permits, tags, and other fees take about 54% of your gross salary and that number is low according to former President Clinton. President Clinton said actually if you add up all the different taxes (State,Federal,City,County) and all the different fees and charges the American taxpaying working family spends about 64% of their gross money back to the State and Federal Government. We need to spend less and do more with our money. In other words be wiser with less. You could cut wasteful spending and frauld. Also stop paying government mangers so much. Look at what we pay our Mayors, Senators, Congressman, and yes our idiot President Obama. Cut all of the higher paid management public service workers. And cut their travel and vacation spending also. The money we save on Michele Obama would paid off half the debt.
TruthBe
August 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
Jay would you send your wife on marta by herself on a Friday or Saturady night to see a game? No I don’t thinj so. You are all talk and no subtance.
Mama Says
August 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
Time to be real folks, regarless of our politics. Each day we sit longingly in traffic with visions of a ice cold drink in our hands as we float around the swimming pool. We then wake up to the horn blowing gas spewing traffic mess that we are truly sitting in.
The fact is that if we never invest in a forward looking futuristic travel plan we will be sitting in our cars 20 years from now. There is no reason that would support the current pattern we are in. Some places on the north side perimeter have as many as 10 lanes and you still sit in traffic at certain times of the day. Paving is not the answer and that should be clear.
There is also no reason that we cannot envision a sprawling city in which all out lying suburban cities are interconnected by light rail. If for example I wish to go from lilburn to fairburn I should be able to without ever touching a roadway. We have seen the future and we have the chance to improve it. With that said here is my problem with the tax/transportation plan and why I will not vote for it.
A regional tax should be applied with the region in mind. Under the current plan it serves no useful purpose for the people in Dekalb county to fund an intersection improvement in Henry County and it males even less since for someone in alpharetta to fund projects in Jonesboro. The money from this tax should be used to support regional transportation, In my mind that has to be light rail and rail passenger service. The individual counties who are snapping up funds faster than they can plan for them should be dealing with intersection improvemnets like they always do, through their individual tax base. For example if Henry County wishes to build a wider road within that county they should use the money they raise not Futlon’s.
The politicians are the reson transportation lags and the 18th century thinking they apply, as proof I will share with you that I live in Henry County, I contacted my commissioner with these concerns and she, who is on the state board overseeing this stuff, told me that Henry County is 20 years behind Fulton and the northern counties in road improvments and we therefore need to focus on road needs. So when, I ask do we focus on the future ? when we are like north fulton and dekalb and cannot go 3 miles without filling up, due to stagnant streets and overcrowded roads
jewcowboy
August 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Breaking News: I-285/wb blocked in Spaghetti Junction »
Enjoy your roads suckers.
Old Physics Teacher
August 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
Explain to me again why we can’t reinstate (or increase) the gasoline tax for this? Why do I, out here in the hinderlands, who uses very little gasoline, have to pay sales tax on my food purchases so you guys in Atlanta can improve your roads? I agree you need to improve YOUR roads. when I drive on roads, I wear them down. I should pay for that privilege.
It seems like a use tax would be the way to pay for road improvement. That way, the people who use the most gasoline – and our roads the most – would pay the most for repairing said roads. I don’t use roads that much; I shouldn’t pay for your use – YOU SHOULD!!
Atlanta1
August 30th, 2011
6:41 pm
So if your on the left – your view is simple. If someone is against spending money on more rail – then your a racist. Is that it? Pathetic. And Jay, shame on you for even hinting it.
Rail has been a poor investment for Atlanta up until this point. There are good points being made here, by getting it extended deeper into counties (that want it – simple enough – put it to a vote) – then ‘great’ put it there. If it is a ‘no’ vote. Guess what – no rail.
Personally, I think we have to expand rail for the reasons that Jay listed. I grew up in this city; but do not intend to retire here. Why? Simple. It’s just too big. Rail, more highways. Doesn’t matter – the city will remain over crowded with many-many challenges.
I’m ready for a small town somewhere, preferably on the water…
yuzeyurbrane
August 30th, 2011
6:41 pm
Sorry, Jay, the transportation SPLOST is a like, not a need. I can think of several areas, for example, education, which are much higher priorities.