An opinion piece today in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution considers the issue facing Gwinnett County voters -- whether to approve a one cent sales tax to finance an extension of the MARTA rail line from Dekalb to Gwinnett County. The piece hits on the primary issue facing transportion throughout the Atlanta area, that is the need for a regional transportation plan addressing all forms of transportation throughout the metro Atlanta area.
Atlanta has long been a model of sprawl, but recent infill, mixed-use projects have brought many more residents back into town. That is a positive step, and it allows people like me to live, work and play all within walking distance (I live next door to my office building in Buckhead). But, a more comprehensive plan is required to address the region's growth and struggling transportation infrastructure. MARTA has suffered throughout its existence from a combination of poor planning, poor perception and NIMBY-ism. Counties like Cobb and Gwinnett blocked attempts to extend the rail line into their communities for fear of attracting lower-income, urban commuters. This short-sighted thinking has resulted in more, larger highways to transport residents of Cobb and Gwinnett into the areas of Buckhead, Midtown and Downtown for work. Those residents have few mass transit options and are forced to drive into the city core. The problem has worsened with $4 a gallon gas.
Solutions such as a comprehensive, region-wide transportation plan involving MARTA rail and bus, GDOT and other stakeholders can alleviate some of this problem. But, the problem won't be addressed on a piecemeal basis. Extensions of the MARTA line won't be built overnight; in the meantime, gas prices will continue to increase. The time is now for comprehensive planning on transportation in the entire metro Atlanta region.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
D.C.'s Light Rail
The third in the series of articles from the Honolulu Advertiser examines the proposed D.C.-Dulles line extension with a focus on the challenges of obtaining federal funds for mass transit projects.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Lessons from Portland's light rail system
The second in the series of articles in the Honolulu Advertiser looks at Portland's relatively "old" light rail system, often cited as a model for light rail and transit oriented development. Its not perfect, and any such system will certainly have its critics, but it continues to attempt to improve upon itself.
New Charlotte light rail ridership higher than expected
The first in a series of articles in the Honolulu Advertiser examining that city's proposed light rail system looks at the new light rail system in Charlotte, its early successes and challenges.
$7 gas and 10 million fewer cars on the roads
There are some very interesting projections in this CIBC World Markets research paper (thanks to the Freakonomics blog), essentially predicting a U.S. automobile environment similar to that in Europe.
Sacramento's efforts to promote density and walkability
Great article in the Wall Street Journal today focusing on Sacramento's efforts to impose density, transit-oriented development and walkability in a very car-driven town. As this article suggests, promoting these plans is not always easy, and developers sometimes have to get creative to get dense, mixed-use developments constructed. But, the wave is upon us, and I believe we will see more policies like this in the coming years, with the development and lending communities altering their policies accordingly.
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