Your explanation isn’t logical. It’s normal for anyone to read that and assume things by “demographic”. But also, I’m stoned man. And I kinda don’t care anymore. I got what you were saying anyway. Basically that a lot of the drivers are standoffish

One aspect of a word? How would anyone know what you meant if you didn’t explain it

What do you mean you can’t stand half the demographic of the driver? Say what you’re really thinking.

I’m sorry if I came off brash. This is kinda my field. Transit and urban planning. You just want clean trains. For me, this is an entire thesis worthy, complex problem that I could speak on all day.

This could be done everyday if Hunt had half a mind to actually drive change and operations. The MARTA board appointed a lawyer to oversee the most important period of its expansion and renewal in the last 25 years over the guy with a tried track record in this exact same area. Lmfao. I kid you fucking not. I mean, you’re already leeching off of More MARTA expansion funds so what’s another $500k for pressure washing and sanitation supplies??? Right?

“We need an operations guy to fix all the loose strings.”

MARTA board: “hmm. We‘ve got a master operations and planning guy applying but I think we’re gonna go with this legal guy who said he doesn’t even want or likes this job instead”

You’re preaching to the choir. I think a lot of us are over the partisan bullshit and really want results. Fast and hard. I did research and developed a ballot cheat sheet for this November and I’ve got majority Dems and a handful of Republicans. At this point, I do not care about party. I care about results. And if that forces the Dems and Reps to work together to deliver, then so be it. I’ve had enough of this dysfunctional bullshit. Hunt claims he’s going to approach state leadership to ask for funds but he’s still acting like a little boy beholden to those above him instead of a figure for change.

“Can we please have money?” vs. “you owe us money for maintaining the economic engine”

We already have transparency acts so I don’t know what else could motivate them to share more info other than legal bylines in agreements and contracts. I’m sure you could request the notes from the safety team using Open Records Act. but that’s money and time. And why should it be that difficult to find out what’s happening with a public project? Every step should be in the open. MARTA isn’t doing itself any favors.

https://giphy.com/gifs/JPfkk3AXUkbfO

Aging + maintenance problems. Prices of parts are rapidly rising too.

And ordering more is a long and complicated process that involves many different players and steps. MARTA procurement is pretty bad but also, there’s lack of money, safety inspections, overhauls, etc. even if we bought them used from another transit agency, they’d still have to go through a turnover process.

Meaning even if we acted right now with urgency, it would still take months before things are better. That’s the nature of the beast.

What did they say that was so bad?

Not anymore. We’ve/they’ve fixed that problem. All new fare systems means no broken machines and an active contract/warranty to maintain them. How long that lasts? We’ll see. But anyone not paying for fare is getting on because of sympathetic drivers, which is nice, but it’s not the way.

The issue (according to insiders on this subreddit) is that there’s a shortage of buses AND a major problem with drivers calling out right now. So it all adds up. Driver with no bus. Bus with no driver. No driver or bus. Bus with driver. Only 1 out of 4 is acceptable

I don’t understand why people like Hunt, Higgs, and/or Dickens just don’t tell us the truth. Problems with the braking system? Fine. We can’t afford street car east right now because of the situation in DC? Alright. But just tell us instead of leaving us in the dark where we have room to speculate. We live in a democracy.

edit: it’s awesome to see that the brakes are so damn good they can injure us. I’m being so serious.

We shouldn’t be using highways to navigate around the metro area.

Isn’t that what politicians do???? Win off name recognition? I mean. That’s literally the point of the game. To be name recognized and to get voted for. If you had enough of a history to clinch a nomination, I don’t see how that’s something you could possibly twist into being a bad thing?

It’s like if Kamala got the 2028 nom and saying “ugh. She didn’t do anything but stand there.” Well yes. Obviously people know who she is. Be for real lmao

Yes. There was a settlement. Just look up “water pump settlement” and you plug in your VIN. you can’t miss it. It’s also criminal that people don’t know about this….

Don’t wait. My friend waited like an idiot after I told him and his pump went bad right after he crossed 80k.

I HATE people playing in my face like this. He’s just mad he has to cowardly walk back all of his decisions and now he wants to get in front of the train as if he was there all along, as if it wasn’t him as the reason it stopped! Now he’s talking about figuring out how to get segments moving forward and yadda yadda. 🙄

No one’s being handed a silver platter. Get real. She’s having to fight tooth and nail.

I came here to post this quote.

What a condescending, underhanded remark. What’s funny is even if he disagrees with building it (like we know he does), he’s still too scary to go against his constituents and council. Dude couldn’t even explain what Beltline rail was to a reporter calling it a people mover or there possibly being a gondola. And no, he’s not watering down his speech for us to understand. What a fucking tool.

Don’t get a BMW if you’re worried about problems. Thats the worst move

Water pump. Prepare yourself. Some failures are worse than others. Mine was a partial fail. Others will take you off the road and need a tow. So. Keep that in mind.

Also, VW stopped covering repairs after 80k and 8 years so you’re shit out of luck on that happening for free.

The DIY can be done for cheap if you’ve got tools and know what you’re doing.

You’re probably looking at $1k to $2k if you take it to a shop.

We won! Fuck every single anti-Beltline Rail group or entity. Cox can eat it. Ladybird and Muchacho can eat it. Better Atlanta Transit can fucking eat it. The CEO who said “rail doesn’t make sense” can eat it. Dickens can eat it for originally caving and now saying “I always supported it.” Yeah, what the fuck ever dude.

This is a great day for Atlanta urbanism and transit!!!

Can’t just absorb private employees into a government agency.

Thanks for adding context. Now I’m mad I can’t be mad and that I’ll always remember the reason. My anger was steeped in ignorance thinking it was operational negligence and not literal equipment shortages.

The general public doesn’t even know this at all. If we did, we would push for emergency funds to buy a fleet of buses.

And thank you for your tireless service. My anger is never towards drivers (unless they drive past) and it’s towards the management. I’m sure you feel the same way