ThreadATL

Thread ATL is a loosely organized group advocating for good urbanism in the City of Atlanta. Contact: [email protected]

[Phil @Urban_Connector]

“Irking some neighbors” of course smh

It’s the middle of the City with an actual decent grid system and connectivity. Get a grip.

[I-85 Joe @bigjoe93]

East Cobb residents express the need for MARTA (1977)

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

It's a little odd that MARTA would announce this today. According to the AJC article, as recently as this Tuesday, the new trains didn't appear to be cleared for usage. "No trains have been accepted yet, MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher said Tuesday."

https://t.co/P5Tj1tN5NZ

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

Urbanize Atlanta reports that several of MARTA's new CQ400 railcars will launch revenue service for the general public on Thursday of next week. This follows a recent AJC report about the long delays on the launch.

https://t.co/OZZ3lIr6ID

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

Clear data from similar implementations shows that the placement of platforms in the middle of a highway is problematic for ridership. It's concerning enough that we should ask if alternative locations were given enough attention. We need transit investments that succeed.

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[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

Thanks to the Atlanta Business Chronicle for including our thoughts about the BRT project on 400.

It's an exciting project, with GDOT and MARTA partnering to bring rapid transit further into the suburbs.

But...

1/2

https://t.co/wuBQlDn5hh

[Charlotte 💙 💫🚉💫 @barely_th3re]

absolutely wonderful news from @MARTAtransit !! i was always skeptical about reported ridership numbers, but i didnt realize it was *this* bad

this puts MARTA at around 75% rail ridership recovery compared w/ pre-pandemic numbers - on par with the other heavy rail systems in the country

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

One of the biggest questions for this generation of Atlantans: will our elected leaders be swayed by the powerful, moneyed interests who want to kill Beltline rail (while keeping the gentrification machine going), or will they deliver the transit that city voters approved?

/End

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

The chairman of Cox Enterprises, parent of the AJC, is using the news outlet to condemn Beltline rail. City leaders need to see how ridiculous this is.

Arguing against rail in a city that's starved for its growth, and that is already funding it with a tax, is bad enough.

1/

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

But catch this line in the piece: "Can you imagine a bigger travesty than taking these treasures of in-town pedestrian trails and pouring more than $3 billion of concrete and steel over them to make way for a train — operated by MARTA?"

What's with the MARTA fear mongering?

2/

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

Good news: Axios Atlanta reports that Councilmember Mary Norwood has pulled her proposal to build separate bike and scooter lanes on the Atlanta Beltline — which could threaten future rail plans.

https://t.co/63lqomRPFy

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

Reminder for this weekend's Inman Park festival (and every other big event in the city): MARTA rail is *free* to ride until May 2nd!

If the lack of a Breeze Card has held you back from trying rail, now is your chance. [Buses are not free, though, so keep that in mind.]

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

"We're essentially tripling the frequency, the 15 minute frequency routes and the routes that run at least every 20 minutes or better I believe is more than doubling." "So it's a lot less waiting for a lot more people."

/end

[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

One of the ideas behind the redesigned MARTA bus system, which launches tomorrow, is the inclusion of routes with higher frequencies (meaning: shorter waits for the next bus). This is the benefit that makes up for the overall loss of coverage.

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[ThreadATL @ThreadATL]

""It results in more access because you're spending less time waiting on the busiest routes. We looked at where the ridership was and put the frequency where the most people would be able to benefit from it."

7/