Special series: It’s time to end MARTA’s boom-and-bust budgeting
(NOTE: This is the first in a special series examining MARTA. Part 2 will be posted Monday evening.)
On May 14, this newspaper ran a story that began:
“MARTA’s managers appear determined to hold the line on bus and train fares for another year, but unresolved labor problems and a desire to find new sources of revenue will be continuing worries . . . .”
Yep, that story ran on May 14 — in 1984.
What has the transit agency learned since then? Evidently not much. MARTA still awaits salvation, a train that never seems to arrive. If you read the digital board in a station, it may say, “North Springs, 13 minutes,” or “Airport, 2 minutes.” Perhaps MARTA should add, “Financial Rescue, forget it.”
As you may have heard, MARTA now faces a $120 million budget hole. Believe it or not, the agency projected as early as in 2006 that it would be short $60 million by now, even though revenues were forecast to rise for a decade. Problem was, expenses piled up even faster.
One might summarize the financial history of MARTA (and most public entities) this way:
The economy takes a turn for the worse; MARTA’s budget, which already assumed some operating losses, goes from tenuous to disastrous. Officials warn of (take your pick) drastic, draconian, devastating service cuts unless someone, anyone, finds $50 million in new annual funding. Because the economy has also hit state and local governments, no new money materializes. Service is cut and employees laid off by the hundreds.
The economy takes a turn for the better; MARTA’s losses don’t disappear but do shrink. Still, no new $50 million. Yet the agency restores service and reinstates jobs by the hundreds. Sales tax revenues rise, but expenses rise faster.
The economy takes a turn for the worse . . . .
For a quarter-century at least, MARTA has waited. It has hired lobbyists and PR agents. Managers have come and gone, as have four governors, five Atlanta mayors and various county leaders, of all political leanings. No matter; no new money.
It’s time to stop assuming that things are going to change.
It’s time to stop assuming that the money will come, and that MARTA’s leaders should keep approving boom-and-bust budgets rather than passing what’s sustainable.
It’s time to stop assuming that MARTA itself can or should expand throughout the region.
It’s time to start assuming that MARTA is what it is: One transit entity among many, one that can interlink with the others to play a relatively small but essential transportation role in metro Atlanta. One that must live with today’s 1-penny sales tax for its primary funding.
Alternatives are lacking. Dedicated state funding is a pipe dream — for political reasons, but also because, as the lean budgets lately show, no amount of state spending is truly dedicated.
The Transportation Investment Act of 2010 may generate some $7 billion over a decade if metro voters approve a new 1-cent levy. But, with apologies to the Beltline, the biggest challenges to metro mobility lie on or beyond I-285, and OTP voters are more likely to bite on projects that don’t bear a sullied brand.
In any case, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority would oversee rail or bus projects funded by the new levy. The idea that GRTA should then turn the new tracks or routes over to MARTA is loopy.
With a clearer view of its role in Atlanta, MARTA could better tackle the problems and opportunities it faces in its current size. There are plenty of each.
Next: How MARTA fell into its current hole.
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172 comments Add your comment
GaLiberal
May 15th, 2010
11:34 pm
First, to have a republiNazi shill do a serious report on MARTA is just nuts. There is no way MARTA can get an honest assessment. Second, MARTA has to stop serving two masters; a transportation system for the inner city poor and a commuting transit system for the urban wealthy. I ride MARTA everyday and marvel at the wasted opportunities for MARTA to become a better transit system. Keep the fare at $2.00 for the “core” systems say College Park to Lindberg (n/s) and all the stations east/west (no expansion there for over a decade). Surcharge for the airport ($3.00) and put as station charge on for all stations outside the core (say 0.25/station). If people don’t like it let them pay for a cab or drive to and from the airport. It will cost them more and take more time. MARTA must improve security on the trains. The complete lack of any transit cops means people can eat, play loud music, and generally be unpleasant without any fear of consequences. Add in the mix that it’s now LEGAL to carry your gun on MARTA (thanks to the republiNazi morons running the state) and you have a dangerous mix. I grant you that MARTA has serious challenges, but it is vital to the long term economic health of Atlanta and by extension the state. If not for Atlanta, GA would be nothing but a bunch of poor dirt farmers trying to scratch out a substandard living on a par with MS and LA. The state needs to recognize this FACT and start giving MARTA some assistance. The Democrats recognized this need when they were in control and MARTA was able to limp along. Now that the backward republiNazis have control,both Atlanta and MARTA are getting no help from the state even though both have to provide significant resources to the state, It’s time our legislators pulled their heads out of their butts and recognize what a mess they’ve made.
Chad
May 15th, 2010
11:40 pm
Michael H. Smith, It is difficult to take seriously someone who constantly uses “GUB’MENT.” Write like a grown-up.
I Can't Afford A Fare Increase
May 15th, 2010
11:53 pm
Dang how I laugh at all the transit riders that say they can’t afford a rate hike.
I ask, what would you r alternative be? Make the fare what it should be and
stop all the poor mouthing.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
12:58 am
kingkool
May 15th, 2010
11:07 pm
I said what? Check your facts before typing what you think I said.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
1:18 am
I Can’t Afford A Fare Increase
May 15th, 2010
11:53 pm
You and I both know what their alternative would be. You are right, which is my point, mass transit needs to charge more for the services they render and stop running to the taxpayers to bail them out. As long as BIG GUB’MENT – that one was just for you little Chad baby – runs the transit show taxpayers will always get screwed by some trumped-up mission for the poor, instead of operating a business in a mission to survive based on making at least enough money to pay expenses. But hey, I understand how the socialist liberals – Democrats who by votes with our money – think: Capitalism is an evil inhuman system and profit is a nasty word that should be ban by the FCC.
B-fan
May 16th, 2010
1:37 am
Having Kyle Wingfield write about MARTA is like having the fox write about the state of the henhouse. There are issues with MARTA, but couldn’t the AJC find someone less biased to do this report?
Froggy
May 16th, 2010
2:08 am
MARTA’s profound problems go back to its inception. As a well over middle-aged white male native Atlantan, I can attest that race has been an undercurrent since the referendum that (barely) passed creating it. Forget R’s and D’s, since back in the day there were practically no R’s in political office. MARTA’s viability was hamstrung from the beginning by Cobb, Gwinnett, etc. choosing not to join the system. And if you don’t think race was a monumental part of that resistance, you are dreaming. Crud, the owners of what was then known as Lenox Square opposed a MARTA station there — gee, I wonder why?
In its early days, MARTA trains were filled with middle class white collar folks commuting to downtown. Two things happened — more and more of those jobs moved out of the central city, never to return, and the stellar appearance and safety of MARTA facilities, a credit to the zeal of the first GM Allen Kiepper, deterioated. So MARTA management has to share plenty of blame.
We are the kind of city and region we choose to be. Ride Washington’s Metro, once considered a sister system to MARTA, during rush hour and you are nearly trampled to death by the immense volumes of riders. Happened to me last week. It’s crazy how busy it is. Why? Because long ago DC made it nearly impossible to commute in by car. Here, many employers (including several former ones of mine) have chosen to give downtown employees free or nearly free parking, and practically zero incentive to ride public transportation. It can actually be cheaper to drive.
I’m sure there’s been poor management and bad choices along the way, but MARTA’s core problems have to do with our region’s fundamental lack of commitment to public transportation. We massively subsidize road construction and airport construction (checked your airline ticket lately, and the huge fees that are charged?), but let’s expect MARTA to prosper without any support from the state or adjoining counties.
What is especially dispiriting about some of these comments is the complete lack of commitment to community they betray. Public transportation, like public schools, are inevitably described as inept, corrupt and part of evil government. For all those who feel no obligation to help solve Atlanta’s problems, or recognize their origins — please leave. You’re not fit to shine the shoes of the great men like Ivan Allen who actually worked and sacrificed to build a vibrant and exciting city. And, unless you are quite old, I was here first.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
2:24 am
Someone less biased like Jay Bookman or Cynthia Tucker?
There sure are issues with MARTA: Beginning with it’s a government agency doing what a public private entity should be doing which charges fares in line with actually covering expenses.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
2:36 am
We massively subsidize road construction and airport construction
That my friend is “proprietary infrastructure” which is a role government should serve. Owning railroads, buses and airlines in paying for a huge portion of the cost for people to get about to and fro isn’t a role government should serve.
I’m not exactly young and as to ones worth, well we do have our opinions now don’t we and I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.
PR
May 16th, 2010
4:13 am
MARTA is its own worst enemy. Its a joke for a city the size of Atlanta to have a mass transit system that only goes as far as I-285. If MARTA wants to succeed it needs to model itself after the DC METRO. Gwinett and Cobb County need to quit trying to protect their turf and stop being so pig-headed (and bigotted) and run the system out where it will help. Until eveyone in metro ATL works together to solve the traffic problem, and support MARTA, they can expect the daily commute to only get worse.
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
4:50 am
PR May 16th, 2010 4:13 am SAID: MARTA is its own worst enemy. Its a joke for a city the size of Atlanta to have a mass transit system that only goes as far as I-285. If MARTA wants to succeed it needs to model itself after the DC METRO. Gwinett and Cobb County need to quit trying to protect their turf and stop being so pig-headed (and bigotted) and run the system out where it will help. Until eveyone in metro ATL works together to solve the traffic problem, and support MARTA, they can expect the daily commute to only get
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CHRIS SAYS: MARTA cannot expand to other counties because they refused to let is service residents INSIDE their counties and/or pay the $1 cent sales tax to help fund and operate it. That is entirely beyond MARTA’s control. The last couple of initiatives were turned down by both Gwinnett and Cobb counties. And since MARTA is the only mass transit system in the nation that receives not only NO state funding, but is also hamstrung by the state on how it can spend its revenues i.e. 50% of all revenues held back for capital projects, GA politicians have ensured that MARTA will remain a flawed system. Go to any MARTA parking deck and at least half the cars parked there will have license plates from the very counties that turned down MARTA. Ironic, isn’t it?
You talk to many conservatives in these counties and they’ll tell you that they don’t want MARTA in their counties because they’re afraid of crime. Yeah, I use MARTA and I don’t remember the last time I saw a burglar lugging a 42″ inch plasma and using MARTA as his getaway. Basically, they don’t want all them “colored” folks having easy access to their counties. Racist? Absolutely!!! I wouldn’t be surprised if Kyle fails to mention that little piece of reality here.
Bill
May 16th, 2010
4:58 am
I think MARTA needs to do well. How that gets accomplished exactly, I don’t know. All vibrant urban areas have good mass transit. How does San Francisco do it? Or Chicago? Or NYC? Is it not possible to emulate 1 of those type towns? The other thing I have been told is MARTA is run by blacks, for blacks. If you’re not black, forget about any management position or position of influence. This was told to me by my black friend who worked there for 8 years. If true, then this needs to stop; it’s counterproductive and from what I have read, is killing MARTA.
Maybe MARTA needs to be run by the state for a few years until it can correct it’s current financial and perception issues.
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
5:03 am
Michael H. Smith May 16th, 2010 2:24 am SAID: There sure are issues with MARTA: Beginning with it’s a government agency doing what a public private entity should be doing which charges fares in line with actually covering expenses.
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CHRIS SAYS: MARTA is unique in that it is by far the largest United States transit agency not to receive state operational funding. You think a private entity should be handling mass transit? Can you give any examples of what you propose in this country that is the same size and scope of MARTA? I don’t think so since my first sentence pretty much answers that question.
Would would you expect from a state run by rural hick politicians anyway?
eastbound and down
May 16th, 2010
7:35 am
When the good people of Ga stand up and ask the federal government to put an end to farm subsidies I could take all these idiotic statements about “socialism, socialist liberals,” a little more seriously. Also, Mr. Smith you need to work on your sentence structure. The use of the proper tense in a sentence could go a long way.
A CONSERVATIVE
May 16th, 2010
7:58 am
.. THERE IS NO FREE RIDE…JUST AS THERE IS NO FREE Lunch…your neighbor is paying for both your ride & your lunch when you don’t..There is no TOOTH FAIRY
Edward
May 16th, 2010
8:47 am
It must be a terrible challenge to face a world every morning where there exists people who can’t afford a new BMW or Mercedes. Why can’t those people serving your coffee and doing your laundry and mowing your lawn and cleaning your house at least have the decency to drive a nice luxury car so I don’t have to see those lumbering buses next to my beautiful new Bentley? Let the free market decide everything, I know I’ll support paying the white American woman $25/hour to mop my floors and that white American man at least $30/hour to blow the leaves out of my lawn.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
9:16 am
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
5:03 am
Your biggest problem Chris Salzmann is you don’t think and obliviously choose no to read but when you do, you comprehend even less.
Chris Salzmann: You think a private entity should be handling mass transit?
My previous comment: There sure are issues with MARTA: Beginning with it’s a government agency doing what a public private entity should be doing which charges fares in line with actually covering expenses.
Chris, you are truly dumb.
eastbound and down
May 16th, 2010
7:35 am
While Mr. Smith is working on sentence structure, you might want to learn how to use abbreviation: It is GA not “Ga” .
Now do you want to talk more about taking something seriously?
Suburbanite
May 16th, 2010
9:23 am
Haven’t the voters of Cobb & Gwinnett repeatedly voted down MARTA expansion into those counties?
Why is MARTA’s “success” contingent on Cobb & Gwinnett? It can’t even break even for the area it was originally supposed to serve.
Keep the crime and gang bangers in the hood while those of us who work hard and want a better life for our families try to keep government intrusion at a minimum.
MH Brown
May 16th, 2010
9:40 am
To Michael H. Smith. You are an idiot. Are you really against government run transportation systems? I suppose you would be OK with every road, street and highway to be privately owned by the private landowner on which it runs? Driving from your McMansion in Nowhereville, Suburbia would cost a fortune in time and money as you negotiate toll after toll. Also the quality of the roads would be up to the land owner. “You don’t like my road,” one might say, “then take another.” No DOT to call and complain. I suppose you’d also like the floods that would result from the lack of storm drains and the floating garbage because there would be no government pick up of your trash or maintain sewers. Oh, you say you’d be happy to carry your garbage to the dump. Well, I don’t think your slacker neighbor’s garbage would not float by your house, too. You morons that say the government is the problem are always the ones who depend on it the most. All talk and no brains.
PDiddy
May 16th, 2010
9:53 am
This article has some pretty big factual errors and blatant omissions. How can you discuss MARTA’s situation without discussing the 50/50 split and other restrictions placed by the state? He also says MARTA faces a “$120 million budget hole,” which is not true. That figure was a projected shortage in operational funding for 2011, which is now drastically reduced because of the removal of the 50/50 provision. Towards the end of the article he talks about the transportation act and the 1 cent vote, saying people wont vote for any MARTA improvements because its a “sullied brand.” Problem is, if he knew anything about the bill, he would know it specifically says the tax can’t be spent on MARTA, so that’s not even an option.
Finally, a matter of opinion. He says “It’s time to stop assuming that MARTA itself can or should expand throughout the region.” This reveals his true intentions. He doesn’t believe MARTA should expand, even as traffic and air pollution get worse and worse.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
9:56 am
Haven’t the voters of Cobb & Gwinnett repeatedly voted down MARTA expansion into those counties?
Yep.
Why is MARTA’s “success” contingent on Cobb & Gwinnett?
It really isn’t for the simple reason MARTA will never break even. You would think by now after years of empirical evidence a few brain dead people would catch on to the fact, MARTA is never going to be anything more than a two county mass transit money vacuum.
Keep government intrusion at a minimum?
I will gladly continue to beat the devil out of a growing government (size, scope and cost) day and night, until it is a lean, clean and mean governing machine with about a third of the GUB’MENT employees it has today and about half of the social socialist programs remaining in existence.
All I really need from government is law enforcement (the entire judiciary branch). For the most part the rest of government is collateral damage.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
10:20 am
MH Brown you are the idiot and yes I am really against government run transportation systems.
Now get this Brown, you pea brain blowhard and the rest of you brain dead socialist liberals: Roads, rails, airways, rivers, streams and I would even go so far as to say pipeline lines and power lines are all what I consider to be “proprietary infrastructure”, which means the private sector should not control these things for reasons that should be very obvious to anybody, including this idiot Brownie.
Now did any of you nut jobs not understand my use of the term “proprietary infrastructure” which solely should be germane to government?
The private sector should pay government for the use and upkeep of its’ “proprietary infrastructure” anyone not clear on that point?
All goods and services delivered on or by the use of “proprietary infrastructure” should be germane to the private sector either as a for profit entity or in joint venture as a private public entity for profit or as nonprofit private public entity, which would suit the case of mass transit. Clear on that?
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
11:07 am
Not one liberal caught on to it did they? Bet alot of conservatives that read the meaning of the term “proprietary infrastructure” are ready to disown me.
I would even go so far as to say pipeline lines and power lines are all what I consider to be “proprietary infrastructure”
Until pipelines and power lines – which at the moment are private sector proprietary property – are nationalized – made solely germane to government as proprietary infrastructure - things like natural gas and electricity should never be deregulated because no real market competition can exist amongst a monopoly.
Now Brucie Wilcox you have my answer on the deregulation of natural gas.
JC
May 16th, 2010
11:38 am
Two Comments:
1. Cobb County last voted on MARTA in 1965. Gwinnett County last voted on MARTA in 1991.
2. For those of you who advocate distance based fares, it isn’t only those who live in North Fulton and are commuting downtown or going to the Airport that will get charged more, it will also be those who live in East DeKalb or South Fulton and work in North Fulton at the service level jobs who will also being paying more.
Reid in EAV
May 16th, 2010
12:29 pm
I generally identify largely with a libertarian strain of conservatism but they all seem to share this blind spot, and Kyle is no different. Why the endless scrutiny of transit while auto-oriented infrastructure gets a free pass? Since when have our roads ever paid for themselves? How about some critique of the way we’ve subsidized our current sprawling existence? How many millions does a lane/mile cost, and what would that same money get you in alternate modes? And how about our socialized, non-market-priced freeways?
Until I hear that coming from the mouth of a so-called “conservative critic,” I will elect to ignore every thing you deign to say about transit or MARTA. If you expect me to line up with your (generally admirable) set of principles, you need to apply them consistently. If not, you’re no conservative; you’re just another worthless partisan.
And this is the sound of me writing you off.
CJ
May 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
If you’re out there Kyle, it would very helpful if you would offer a reasonable justification for state imposed limitations on MARTA’s access to available monies for funding current operations.
Not A MARTA Fan
May 16th, 2010
12:58 pm
Go Away MARTA……you’re not SMARTA…..It’s run by the same kind of people who run our School Systems and look at what’s happening to them….the only thing that will save it is proper management and that ain’t never gonna happen in this century.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
1:43 pm
Libertarians are not conservatives. Like wise on ignoring what you inaccurately have said.
katheryn pittman
May 16th, 2010
2:02 pm
A city this LARGE and there is not a viable transportation system!? Unbelievable!! They want to call itself a “metropolis” or a progressive city, What a joke!! I don’t understand why someone that lives OUTSIDE the city is able to vote on what is BEST for the people that live in that CITY! Atlanta is a beautiful city, I love all the old charm mix with the newness, and I pray the city never looses that, you can always mix the two, BUT there has to be a way to get to several places(transpotation). If this is the meca of the south there should be a hospital and transit system funded by the STATE!!! Maybe the transit system can rent out the moblity buses to families for long trips, handicapped and senior would be able to travel and marta can make extra money. This is so sad, the transit system would even have to entertain this ideal!
Froggy
May 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
It’s hard to take seriously the rantings of someone who thinks “like wise” is two words. MHS, it appears your home schooling failed you.
Georgian
May 16th, 2010
2:46 pm
Let those that use and benefit from MARTA pay for it ! If it can’t pay its bills, reduce service and raise fares !
Steve
May 16th, 2010
2:47 pm
There are many great public transportation systems up north and in Europe. The problem with MARTA is that it’s in The South.
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
Suburbanite May 16th, 2010 9:23 am SAID: Keep the crime and gang bangers in the hood while those of us who work hard and want a better life for our families try to keep government intrusion at a minimum.
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CHRIS SAYS: Typical of the ignorant and racist attitudes that have kept Georgia a backward state and why mass transit will never succeed in this state. BTW, those “gangbangers” and other people in the “hood” have cars.
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
3:21 pm
Froggy May 16th, 2010 2:37 pm SAID: It’s hard to take seriously the rantings of someone who thinks “like wise” is two words. MHS, it appears your home schooling failed you.
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CHRIS SAYS: LMAO! Good point!
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
3:22 pm
Froggy
May 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
Froggy, take it anyway you want. Your foolishness isn’t worth a warm bucket of spit.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
3:24 pm
More worthless stupidity from Chris Salzmann.
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
3:34 pm
Michael H. Smith May 16th, 2010 3:24 pm SAID: More worthless stupidity from Chris Salzmann.
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CHRIS SAYS: Sticks & stones. If that’s all you can come up with, then you Libertarians need to go back to school……………..
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
3:37 pm
Georgian May 16th, 2010 2:46 pm SAID: Let those that use and benefit from MARTA pay for it ! If it can’t pay its bills, reduce service and raise fares !
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CHRIS SAYS: That’s not how Mass Transit works. Here’s an example of your logic in action i.e. I don’t have kids so why should my taxes be used to benefit schools in my district? In fact, my taxes should be cut since I don’t have kids. That’s what you are essentially saying. Think about it…………………..
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
3:38 pm
katheryn pittman, where the penny tax to support MARTA was voted on by Cobb and Gwinnett Counties is concerned the citizens were voting on what they felt was BEST for them and they chose not to become part of MARTA. They did not chose anything for City of Atlanta.
This next vote for the penny tax will not be going to fund MARTA as I understand it, so again no one is choosing anything for MARTA or the City of Atlanta.
I’ll not vote in favor of this new penny tax initiative for the simple reason the State has no statewide comprehensive rapid rail mass transit plan and no plans to fund one in a joint private public venture.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
3:54 pm
Chris Salzmann, should go back to school to learn the difference between Conservatives and Libertarians.
Libertarians are socio-economic “classical liberals” they are on the “corporatist left side” of your “socialist left side” dummy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
3:59 pm
Steve May 16th, 2010 2:47 pm SAID: There are many great public transportation systems up north and in Europe. The problem with MARTA is that it’s in The South.
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CHRIS SAYS: You might have hit the nail on the head. The first mistake was to make MARTA operation contingent on individual counties. There should be a state wide sales tax to fund mass transit that is not just confined to Atlanta, but to all larger metro areas. In fact, the state benefits from having MARTA since operating a mass transit system enables the state to collect billions in federal subsidies. Unfortunately, MARTA does not see a penny of these subsidies. Mass transit, when properly funded and operated, has the proven benefit of reducing pollution, congestion and attracting investment. Unfortunately, the rural politicians that run Georgia, don’t see it that way.
Chris Salzmann
May 16th, 2010
4:02 pm
Michael H. Smith May 16th, 2010 3:54 pm SAID: Chris Salzmann, should go back to school to learn the difference between Conservatives and Libertarians.
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CHRIS SAYS: I know the difference. What makes you think I don’t? Maybe you should start by pointing that out.
Reality
May 16th, 2010
4:09 pm
For those who complain that MARTA does go where people want to go: MARTA (the trains) travel parallel to freight lines that were in place when MARTA was planned and built except for the stretch of tunnel under Peachtree St. The rail system was designed that way because acquiring right of way was less expensive. Also, constructing the system that way meant less interruption.
Reality
May 16th, 2010
4:10 pm
Ooos! I meant does not go where people want to go.
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
4:15 pm
Chris Salzmann, if you did actually have the intelligence to know the difference you would not call me a Libertarian.
How many times have I stated the capitalism in this country is “regulated” and is not a libertarian “laissez-faire” capitalist economy?
How many times have I spoken against open borders, which Libertarians advocate?
How many times have I spoken against so-called “Free Trade” which Libertarians advocate?
Michael H. Smith
May 16th, 2010
4:26 pm
Reality
May 16th, 2010
4:09 pm
Well damn, at least somebody finally sees what I’ve pointed out so many times before it pains even me to regurgitate the oratory once again.
Reality, the existing rail lines in Georgia connects virtually every town and city in this State. There is no “somewhere” you cannot go if these rials or the rights of way were expanded and used for mass transit rapid rial. When I said the State has no statewide rapid rail plan I was correct because they once had such a plan but not anymore. Forget the smallness of MARTA go for the gusto think big act big. MARTA needs to dissolve into the bigger statewide picture.
MoveAllRapidlyThruAtlanta
May 16th, 2010
8:22 pm
Kyle, you know what MARTA stands for? It’s the old and no longer relevant “Moving Africans Rapidly Through Atlanta”, but still relevant in the minds of all (including you perhaps?) who detest the idea of poor black people having mobility. Get beyond this image and maybe this transit system can become regional (75 miles or more end to end in 6 or more directions from downtown Atlanta ?). By the way, most of the black folks and other people of color you grapple with are now in the suburbs. They might not ride anyway since they have their own wheels. Surprised?
DirtyDawg
May 16th, 2010
8:35 pm
Well I’ve waited all afternoon and evening for a post that I made earlier to appear…but alas, no. Seems that my criticisms of Mr.Wingfield must have gone over the line, or hit a nerve at least. Or perhaps it was that I had called the AJC, and Cox Enterprises out for allowing themselves to degenerate into just another element in the rightwing echo chamber – don’t believe it? Check out the, once proud, WSB Radio’s day-time lineup. Every article about MARTA seems to look for a critical or negative slant, and as for Boortz’s – you can’t spell Boortz without ‘boor’ you know – opinion of anything of color, well we all know the answer to that one.
MARTA has been hamstrung by a draconian funding system, unlike any in the country and so long as a prejudiced, Republican, Governor’s office and/or Legislature is in charge, it will always be so.
Again, and probably only to serve to have my post banned once more, I say again that if John E. Drewry were aware of the politics of the person that they awarded his medal to, he’d stop spinning only long enough to get it yanked…and whoever at the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism is responsible for making the selection, should be ashamed that they picked a facilitator of rightwing talking points and fired.
grizzybear
May 17th, 2010
10:08 am
there is no rail system in this country that operates efficiently, they all lose billions of dollars. marta is run by inefficient people. quit giving out all the free passes, and then maybe things might turn around. emory university has a very efficient bus service that does not operate on federal taxpayers money, so why marta?
DirtyDawg
May 17th, 2010
10:52 am
Hey grizzybear….Emory has one of the largest endowments of any school in the country – Billions and billions, and most of it donated by Coke heirs and other ‘richuns’ (to quote Jed Rink) – and it’s ‘transit’ system is also free to residents in the Emory/Druid Hills area…and it’s all paid for by the school – oh by the way, Emory also has about the highest tuition in the country as well. You too could run ‘efficiently’ with Woodruff/Chandler money. By the way, if it’s not paid for strictly by the riders, then it’s ’subsidized’ you idiot.
Every public transit system in the nation, and probably the world, requires government, or private, subsidies to operate. MARTA has been hamstrung, from the beginning, by a funding system that’s driven by racial prejudice that, at best, has morphed into any number of other labels – inefficient, incompetent, corrupt, lazy, ignorant…and, the most recent, ‘human pieces of fecal matter’ – but it’s all racist and this site, and I must assume AJC logger-oners, is dominated by them. Shame on you and the people that allow you to spout your vile without challenge.