Comments on: Georgia Governor Comes Around on Commuter Rail http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/23/georgia-governor-comes-around-on-commuter-rail/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wad http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/23/georgia-governor-comes-around-on-commuter-rail/comment-page-1/#comment-1247 Wad Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:03:41 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/23/georgia-governor-comes-around-on-commuter-rail/#comment-1247 Joseph, racism played a role -- perhaps the defining role -- in preventing MARTA from expanding to the whiter suburbs. Joseph, racism played a role — perhaps the defining role — in preventing MARTA from expanding to the whiter suburbs.

]]> By: Joseph Aqua http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/23/georgia-governor-comes-around-on-commuter-rail/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 Joseph Aqua Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:56:46 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/06/23/georgia-governor-comes-around-on-commuter-rail/#comment-1239 I lived in the Atlanta area in the mid-1980s when the entire freeway infrastructure was being rebuilt. Common thought in the area, at that time, was that when construction was completed there would be an end to traffic congestion forever. The MARTA heavy rail was nearly completed, however because it was rejected by Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinett counties, the system was largely incomplete. What a difference it would have made if the system were completed. I believe that was a defining moment in not to expand the heavy rail system to entire Atlanta metropolitan area at that time. Three major changes have occured since then: (1) it is much more expensive to build a heavy rail system; (2) the Federal government has no interest in funding heavy rail systems (with the exception of Washington's Metro system), and (3) many more metropolitan areas are applying for a limited amount of Federal funding for their systems. The best thing that the Atlanta area can hope for is commuter rail and light rail (with at grade crossings). In a way, the Atlanta area population deserve the transpiration mess that they have created by opposing heavy rail expansion. Perhaps the four buck a gallon gasoline cost is a wakeup call. However, as long as the people in that region continue to be in a state of denial about their transportation choices, it is only going to get worse. I lived in the Atlanta area in the mid-1980s when the entire freeway infrastructure was being rebuilt. Common thought in the area, at that time, was that when construction was completed there would be an end to traffic congestion forever. The MARTA heavy rail was nearly completed, however because it was rejected by Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinett counties, the system was largely incomplete. What a difference it would have made if the system were completed.

I believe that was a defining moment in not to expand the heavy rail system to entire Atlanta metropolitan area at that time. Three major changes have occured since then: (1) it is much more expensive to build a heavy rail system; (2) the Federal government has no interest in funding heavy rail systems (with the exception of Washington’s Metro system), and (3) many more metropolitan areas are applying for a limited amount of Federal funding for their systems. The best thing that the Atlanta area can hope for is commuter rail and light rail (with at grade crossings).

In a way, the Atlanta area population deserve the transpiration mess that they have created by opposing heavy rail expansion. Perhaps the four buck a gallon gasoline cost is a wakeup call. However, as long as the people in that region continue to be in a state of denial about their transportation choices, it is only going to get worse.

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