Comments on: Beverly Scott on the likelihood of a state arm around MARTA’s shoulders

By: MBTA

MBTA — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:14:24 +0000

To atlsenga: MassPort does not operate the MBTA (”T”) in Boston. MassPort is a state agency that operates Logan Int’l Airport in Boston, as well as cargo facilities in Boston, and the Tobin Bridge, a major route in to and out of Boston.
The “T” is another state agency that operates bus and subway service in Greater Boston, as well as commuter rail in the same area.
Both agencies have their own boards of directors, all appointed by the governor. The mayor of Boston and other local, suburban political leaders have no say in the selection of board members or the GM’s of these two agencies. These agencies serve primarily as a dumping ground for friends and contributors of state reps and state senators. Their missions are secondary.
MassPort does a decent job of running its affairs. It makes payments in lieu of taxes to the city of Boston for land it operates on. On the other hand, the MBTA is run about as ineptly as one will find. Fares always go up, service is horrid, and they are always out of money.
I hope this clears up any misconceptions.

By: South Metro

South Metro — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:53:26 +0000

Atlanta Marta Rider, the best way for traffic congestino to decrease is for commuter rail to begin operation. Just how you ride MARTA to avoid congestion, those in the surrounding counties would ride MARTA to avoid the 2 hour commutes. However, commuter rail brings in a another coordination problem – GDOT. GDOT originally planned for the Atlanta to Lovejoy Commuter Rail to be up and running by 2006 and the Atlanta to Athens line to be running around 2011. Regardless of why these projects have not begun construction, GDOT needs to put them as #1 priority for prosperity of the region.

By: Base

Base — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:23:41 +0000

Give it to GRTA they can solve any problem – do nothing.

By: Atlanta Marta Rider

Atlanta Marta Rider — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:10:13 +0000

If Mr. Millar opens the coversation in the Legislature to expand the Marta transit system to serve ALL surrounding counties, then I support him.

I’m a Monday – Friday Marta rider and a resident of Fulton County. I’d love to see the State pitch in to support Marta and I think it is time that Marta had better oversight and be required to turn in yearly audits.

I ride Marta to avoid the morning traffic congestion. If the expansion of Marta can cut traffic down by 10%, then it is worth an investment by the State.

By: notbad

notbad — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:00:31 +0000

Something has to happen. Overall, the problem isnt with the rank and file bus drivers and station attendants, its with the white-collar morons running the show at Lindbergh. A change in management/culling of dead wood would definitely be beneficial.

By: atlsenga

atlsenga — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:59:28 +0000

In the state of Massachusetts, they have MASSPORT. It runs the airport, ferries,buses, the “T” in Boston, commuter rail that feeds into the “T” from the surrounding counties, etc. It is a partnership with both private and public transportation. It is a single coordinated effort that enables the entire Boston area – which has MASSIVE traffic issues- to run quit smoothly. Is it perfect? No. But we do need the ARC/State of GA/MARTA to work TOGETHER to find creative, EFFICIENT solutions. Ms. Scott was indeed shackled by archaic governance rules that do not allow her to efficiently run MARTA. The irony is that MARTA does indeed have reserve funds, they just cannot access them. MARTA has not always been the best run organization, but Ms. Scott, who has also inherited the sins of her predecessors, is trying to turn around this dinosaur of MARTA. The dialogue of ideas has started, and that is a good thing.

By: merlot winters

merlot winters — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:27:40 +0000

Personally, i believe it will take the passing of the generation that went to high school in Georgia before desegregation before a serious regional transportation system that extends beyond Fulton and Dekalb and that includes more than GRTA buses can be established. Hope this is wrong.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:22:16 +0000

As a conservative and someone who votes Republican most of the time, I applaud Fran Miller for thinking outside the box and getting a voice out about the transportation needs to the region. City Employee is right about the long time coming need for the state and MARTA to form a partnership. The Atlanta metro area not only needs a mass transit solution, but so does the connecting region. Atlanta to neighboring cities could produce an economic boom for the area and restart the growth that the south has recently enjoyed. People will only come here if we show that we are serious about solving this problem.

Transportation and water should be the top two issues facing state lawmakers during the 2010 session. Couple that with our education mess and we have three things that all of the Governor candidates should be discussing next year. I don’t want to hear about anything else unless the candidates can show me three very detailed plans on how they are going to tackle these big issues. The future of Georgia and the southern region depends on it.

By: Union City

Union City — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:47:08 +0000

City Employee..you are so right. Transportation needs to be a priority and a BIG one in the next session. They need to stop blowing wind and do some very accelerated problem solving and take action. If we have another transportation study and do nothing with it.

By: City Employee

City Employee — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:12:00 +0000

It’s in the best interests of both Marta and the state to institute some type of partnership, as the two need each other. MARTA needs case, and how attractive would Georgia be with a city the size of Atlanta with no public transit system. Even if it was only one or two days a week.

Being that MARTA has been in existence since the 70s, its befuddling that its lines don’t extend at least to Douglasville, Lithonia, Stockbridge, Alpharetta, and Lawrenceville. 10 years from now, 285 will be a near-permanent parking lot. As a democrat, I applaud Millar’s proposal. At someone is sensible about solving problems and not playing politics. The Atlanta region produces 51% of the state’s tax revenue. The next governor has to make transporation their 1st priority behind fixing the budget. Get out of 1980 and let’s get it done.