Keith Parker: MARTA’s rail system ideally would be double its size (Atlanta: 2014, find a job)

[jsvh]

MARTA was one of three transit agencies built at the same time — BART in San Francisco and METRO in Washington, D.C.

Both BART and METRO today have about 100 miles of rail, but MARTA only has 48 miles — giving fuel to the argument that it is a skeletal system.

But if its up to MARTA General Manager Keith Parker the transit agency will re-enter into an expansion mode as soon as fiscally possible.

“MARTA has only reached half of its potential,” Parker told members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta on Monday. “We are a transit system we feel is poised to do much more, to be like Washington and San Francisco, which are 100-mile transit authorities.”

Parker said MARTA already has planned out its next expansion routes — going north along Georgia 400 towards Alpharetta, going along the I-20 east corridor and building a rail line to serve the Clifton Road corridor.

“My pledge to you, we will work the investment and make you feel proud of your transit system,” Parker said. “With funding, we are ready to jump right on it.”

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Keith Parker: MARTA’s rail system ideally would be double its size | SaportaReport

[AnsleyPark]

I think that here is the wrench in the gears:

“With funding, we are ready to jump right on it.”

[toll_booth]

OMG give this man a pay raise already!!

[red92s]

My garage would ideally be double it's size. With funding, I am ready to jump right on it.


. . . this game is fun!

[scobby]

Not with the mismanagement and the financial losses they encounter every year,worst every year they beg for state or federal money while increasing the fare.

How can they double the size with a limited network,limited work hours ?

3/4 of the city area are not served by Marta bus or train,too many citizens in depressed area can't find a job without a reliable transportation.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by scobby

Not with the mismanagement and the financial losses they encounter every year,worst every year they beg for state or federal money while increasing the fare.

How can they double the size with a limited network,limited work hours ?

3/4 of the city area are not served by Marta bus or train,too many citizens in depressed area can't find a job without a reliable transportation.

MARTA posted a $9M surplus this year, that it has re-invested into the system with increased frequency of trains, some bus routes, and opening of restrooms.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by scobby

the financial losses they encounter every year

Sorry, that talking point is invalid now that they're profitable and expanding service. Try another one.

[bryantm3]

i'm all for heavy rail out I-20 and up 400 (i live in alpharetta), but what we *really* need is more connections intown— i'm talking west midtown, down north avenue to the O4W and ponce city market, and of course the forementioned clifton corridor project. if we don't have those last mile (or last five mile) connections, running trains to the suburbs is only going to do so much. of course, alpharetta is an exception to this rule because it's a major job center in its own right, but generally the intown subways are insufficient.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by cqholt

MARTA posted a $9M surplus this year, that it has re-invested into the system with increased frequency of trains, some bus routes, and opening of restrooms.

Yep. Compare that to the Highway fund that is insolvent: Highway Trust Fund - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[noah]

The city is handling that part and it will probably happen a lot quicker than Marta expansion

Originally Posted by bryantm3

i'm all for heavy rail out I-20 and up 400 (i live in alpharetta), but what we *really* need is more connections intown— i'm talking west midtown, down north avenue to the O4W and ponce city market, and of course the forementioned clifton corridor project. if we don't have those last mile (or last five mile) connections, running trains to the suburbs is only going to do so much. of course, alpharetta is an exception to this rule because it's a major job center in its own right, but generally the intown subways are insufficient.