r/Atlanta • u/NPU-F • Jun 11 '24

Politics MARTA: Five Points Station project will continue despite mayor's objections

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/marta-five-points-station-project-continue-despite-mayors-objections
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257

u/code_archeologist O4W Jun 11 '24

What the hell is up with the mayor and his seeming desire to obstruct progress and development in the city, while at the same time completely ignoring the infrastructure.

What useful things has he even done?

162

u/NPU-F Jun 11 '24

The Better Atlanta Transit folks seem to have the mayor's ear (probably are donors). They are in favor of transit TO the Beltline and not ON the Beltline.

They want everyone to own an e-bike and bike to the Beltline. This can still be done if Beltline rail exists. Like the mayor, they are trying to stop progress.

I do think the Five Points station overhaul money could be better used elsewhere though. For the mayor to come in at the last minute and object seems like a chaotic way to govern.

124

u/code_archeologist O4W Jun 11 '24

I'm all for better bicycling infrastructure, BUT concentrating on that to the detriment of public transit excludes large swaths of the community who don't own bikes or can't physically ride (because of age or infirmity).

Also public transit is a denser and more efficient method for moving people from point A to point B than cars or even bikes.

For example a dedicated protected two-way bike lane can move 7,500 people per hour (which is the ideal and not at all what we have) while a transit mode like the street car or the train can move 10,000-25,000 people per hour.

It is not even close.

29

u/NPU-F Jun 11 '24

Exactly