Design Your Own MARTA Expansion (Atlanta, Dunwoody: required, pictures, interstate)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

This is probably why riders still refer to the northbound Red and Gold routes as the North Springs and Doraville, respectively. Hell, even the drivers tend to say "This is a Gold line, Doraville" or "Red line, North Springs" train when approaching Lindbergh.

Having the ending station also helps to designate which direction the train is going if someone wasn't paying attention.

Gold Line: Doraville -> Gold Line, is going north
Red Line: North Springs -> Red Line, is going north

Gold Line: Airport -> Gold Line, is going south
Red Line: Airport -> Red Line, is going south

Same with Green/Blue Lines. It's not too big of a deal now, but when/if the Red or Gold lines get extended south and split again, it'll be helpful to say the terminating station as well as the color. This all so applies to any new lines being build and branching from existing lines.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

If a train comes up and you aren't a regular, its a lot easier if it is pulling past you to a stop to figure out Doraville or Perimeter instead of Gold or Red. Or to remember which one of the east-west lines goes on to Decatur and which one ends before that instead of Green or Blue.

There are these amazing things online and all over the stations called maps. Also, the trains display the terminating station on the front and sides of the railcars. Also, regular riders and MARTA personal are more than happy to help answer any questions.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

There are these amazing things online and all over the stations called maps. Also, the trains display the terminating station on the front and sides of the railcars. Also, regular riders and MARTA personal are more than happy to help answer any questions.

People like you probably design the Atlanta road signs. For such a convention oriented city its ridiculous how the various signage (like lane ending) doesn't come up until its too late to be useful. You have to pretty much know the street.

Often you are rushing to catch a train and don't have several minutes to search a map before the train leaves. Its a bigger issue in a place like NYC where there are more than 2 lines to catch at a station.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

People like you probably design the Atlanta road signs. For such a convention oriented city its ridiculous how the various signage (like lane ending) doesn't come up until its too late to be useful. You have to pretty much know the street.

Often you are rushing to catch a train and don't have several minutes to search a map before the train leaves. Its a bigger issue in a place like NYC where there are more than 2 lines to catch at a station.

I will tell you I did 3 months of research on MTA before going. It was still confusing, but I took responsibility and learned the system.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I will tell you I did 3 months of research on MTA before going. It was still confusing, but I took responsibility and learned the system.

True, but unfortunately not everyone does that, so engineers have to design usage and signage to the lowest common denominator. But Five Points station in particular really needs an upgrade in signage.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

True, but unfortunately not everyone does that, so engineers have to design usage and signage to the lowest common denominator. But Five Points station in particular really needs an upgrade in signage.

There was a decent blog post I read outlining some of the signage issues in 5-Points. One of their main gripes was that they actually had to go looking for the LED signs. While other agencies tend to have three or four spaced down the platforms so that no matter where you stand, you can read one, MARTA has only one in the middle of each platform, sometimes hidden behind walls or station structures.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

There was a decent blog post I read outlining some of the signage issues in 5-Points. One of their main gripes was that they actually had to go looking for the LED signs. While other agencies tend to have three or four spaced down the platforms so that no matter where you stand, you can read one, MARTA has only one in the middle of each platform, sometimes hidden behind walls or station structures.

There are least 2 on each platform, facing perpendicular to the tracks. So if you are to include the side and island platforms that would result in 4 for each direction. There are some stations where there is only 1 per platform; eg: King Memorial and it is on one side of the elevator structure.
I do agree Five Points needs signage upgrades, but so many people fail in looking at the signage hanging above them. Especially the Braves Shuttle riders, as if it couldn't be any easier.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

There are least 2 on each platform, facing perpendicular to the tracks. So if you are to include the side and island platforms that would result in 4 for each direction. There are some stations where there is only 1 per platform; eg: King Memorial and it is on one side of the elevator structure.
I do agree Five Points needs signage upgrades, but so many people fail in looking at the signage hanging above them. Especially the Braves Shuttle riders, as if it couldn't be any easier.

Sounds like a bad design by MARTA if "so many people" don't see it.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

Sounds like a bad design by MARTA if "so many people" don't see it.

Could these be the same people that fail to see the 75/85 split signs for 2 miles on the Downtown Connector? There is only so much signage can do before we put the blame on people. Placing sign posts on the platform or blocking line of sight will make the platforms feel cramped and effect the movement of people to escalators and stairs. Sometimes people just need to look up and pay attention to guide signs around them.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Could these be the same people that fail to see the 75/85 split signs for 2 miles on the Downtown Connector? There is only so much signage can do before we put the blame on people. Placing sign posts on the platform or blocking line of sight will make the platforms feel cramped and effect the movement of people to escalators and stairs. Sometimes people just need to look up and pay attention to guide signs around them.

I do agree with this. It's not just on the connector, it's every single exit only lane in existence. I see so many people sit in a lane for a mile or 2 that warns them it's exit only and by the time the exit comes up it's swerve left to stay on.