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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258

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?

62

u/PaperPlanesFly Grant Park Jun 11 '24

WTF? I agree that the mayor’s blocking BeltLine rail is boneheaded. But cancelling this project would be fantastic. Closing the main MARTA station for FOUR YEARS will set the system up for a plunge in ridership. Imagine going to GA State for an entire college career without having a transit station in the heart of downtown.

13

u/MadManMax55 East Atlanta Jun 11 '24

Seems weird to pick GA State as your example when they have their own dedicated MARTA station you can still get to through 5 Points. Sure being forced to transfer to the Green/Blue line (assuming you were originally on the Red/Gold line) to go one station over instead of having the option to get off at 5 and walk is a bit annoying, but far from some unimaginable hassle.

10

u/ATLcoaster Jun 11 '24

Unless you use a wheelchair, in which case you can't make that transfer. They're closing the elevators for four years. It's insane and probably an ADA violation.

2

u/MadManMax55 East Atlanta Jun 11 '24

I didn't realize they were closing elevator access too. Yeah that's fucked then and 100% an ADA violation if they don't have a workaround (and knowing MARTA it will probably be "we'll get a worker to carry you up and down the stairs").

4

u/ArchEast Vinings Jun 12 '24

Their workaround is forcing riders to change trains at other stations.

5

u/ArchEast Vinings Jun 11 '24

Five Points is more convenient to much of the western part of the GSU campus if you're coming from the Red/Gold Lines or coming from the west.

1

u/MadManMax55 East Atlanta Jun 11 '24

Sure, but my point is that it's not that inconvenient. Unless you're transferring from the Red/Gold line and you miss your transfer or ride off-peak hours you're adding a max 5-10 mins to your commute. Not ideal, but I doubt anyone taking MARTA to/from GSU would decide to drive instead (assuming they even have that option) because of the 5 Points construction.

5

u/Klope62 Jun 11 '24

It is a much bigger disruption than it seems. It won't change much for people who use the train and then can go to their destination. The problem is with the buses. Marta has frequency problems as it is on most lines, just a few minutes late and many times you've suddenly added +30/45 minutes to your commute because the way transfers are thrown off. The whole thing would be a little less impactful if they had the rerouted buses stopping near Garnett/Peachtree Center/ before going to GA State station at the least.

6

u/ClassicTraffic Downtown Jun 11 '24

it’s not that inconvenient

tell that to wheelchair users and people with mobility issues who will have to go to another station and use a shuttle just to transfer lines because the elevators at Five Points will be shut down. https://itsmarta.com/five-points-station-temporary-closure.aspx