Economy silences Atlanta...

[Need4Camaro 50]

These photos were taken on April 29th at 6 P.M., the peak of Atlanta Rushhour on Peachtree Street - the main arterial road through downtown...

I was amongst 10 other cars on this 5 mile stretch of road... Fuel prices are seriously bogging Atlanta down. The freeways are experiencing simular results. It is almost easy to do 70 - 80 MPH on I-75/85 - I-285 during both morning and evening rushhour... This gas gouge isn't funny at all...

[hamsterTK 93]

what was MARTA like?

I can't imagine the city was really that dead the whole time. was there any traffic on the downtown connector?

[Micah 16]

That's a little hard to believe...

[Ghostkiller108 0]

MARTA empty almost all the time. Nothing like The MTA.

[Ghostkiller108 0]

I travel in between Atlanta and New York all the time (I think the last time I was in Atlanta was 3 months ago). Gas is such a problem my friends won't even pick me up from the airport until I can promise money lol. But Atlanta is a HUGE frappin place. Atlanta won't stop growing because of this gas problem. It's still much cheaper in Georgia than it is in most other states. If gas gets to expensive it may entice MARTA to grow. The Atlanta area is having problems enticing other counties to use MARTA this may be the big push they need.

[Frankie_Grove 32]

Gas is over $3.50 in Georgia, well over what we're used to. For the record, MARTA is heavily used, they've been working on expansions for quite some time now. Atlanta's problems also lie with sprawl, not the city proper, which is quite typical of sun belt cities.

[Need4Camaro 50]

hamsterTK - I hardly if ever use Marta but there were still pedestrians out there so I immagine it is still used. But even still Marta is pretty weak for the city the size of Atlanta... Most of it only stays within Fulton County. And the connector as I already stated was easily capable of performing 70 - 80 MPH

Micah - I found it extremely errie myself - reminded me of a scifi movie... it's ALOT more errie driving through it than these photo's can represent...

Ghostkiller108 - That is no longer true. I have already paid $4.09  - Marta is NEVER going to leave Fulton County unless the government steps in. MARTA is NOT owned by the city...It's a individual company and they simply cannot afford to service the areas that need them the most. Not only this but each County in Georgia acts as its own individual state meaning despite they're around Atlanta, each county has the final say on whether or not they want Mass Transportation coming through their territory.

[TRNSTN 0]

No amount of government subsidy can solve the problems of urban sprawl and rising gas prices/ high demand for gas prices. It all lies in planning issues, and lifestyle choices. Mass transporation cannot be effective in any sprawled city. It's pretty scary though, that an entire city came to a halt.

One question: Do the people of Atlanta not own bicycles?

[Ghostkiller108 0]

Need4Camaro- I know but hasn't MARTA for years been trying to get other counties to accept their service. This gas thing may be the big push they need.

[patriots_1228 51]

Does atlanta have a subway system or a good train system?

I havn't yet noticed gas affecting the number of cars out here. However, gas is around 3-3.5$ a gallon here. But I don't think gas will hit mass transportation hard. The T can get you within walking distance of everything important, and with the big dig done, it sometimes takes less then two minutes to get through downtown.

[hamsterTK 93]

MARTA is a 1970's era subway system similiar to the DC metro.

Originally Seattle was to be given funding for a rapid transit system called "Foward Thrust" but opposition resulted the money being given to the next in line, Atlanta. This was a interesting decision. In the late 70's Baltimore and Miami also attempted heavy rail and failed, both systems only attracted about 30k daily riders.

In the early 80's many cities offered the opportunity to build subways, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, all cancelled their projects. The success of a new form of transit-Light rail, in San Diego and Calgary meant that from that point on LRT would be predominate form of new rail in the United States. Only LA has built a subway since that point.

Atlanta is the only sprawling sunbelt city to have third-rail transit which makes it kind of interesting.

MARTA does well for a system that is starved for funding due to an unfair government structure where the state of georgia, cities, and counties have all refused to allow the transit agency be funded. About 250,000 people use MARTA which has 2 lines and 2 branches, connects the airport and is a full out rapid transit system with tunnels and bridges.

[Jazzmaster 716]

Originally posted by: patriots_1228 Does Atlanta have a subway system or a good train system?

I havn't yet noticed gas affecting the number of cars out here. However, gas is around 3-3.5$ a gallon here. But I don't think gas will hit mass transportation hard. The T can get you within walking distance of everything important, and with the big dig done, it sometimes takes less then two minutes to get through downtown.quote>

That ultimately depends on what you mean by mass transit.  A pantograph or subway train powered by a third rail or overhead wire obviously won't be hit by gas prices.  Buses, however, are a different story.  Hell, the senior grad-night field trip to Universal Studios in Orlando was cancelled because they relied on buses...and the gas prices are too high.  In fact, I hear it takes over $1000 to fill up a tank of gas in a truck....

N4C is right, this is no laughing matter...I'd feel like the world was disappearing if  I drove on a major roadway during rush hour with no cars...

[skyliner22 16]

Damn Patriots, only $3.50 there? Gas here is now up at $4!!!!!

[Frankie_Grove 32]

Originally posted by: hamsterTK MARTA is a 1970's era subway system similiar to the DC metro.

Originally Seattle was to be given funding for a rapid transit system called "Foward Thrust" but opposition resulted the money being given to the next in line, Atlanta. This was a interesting decision. In the late 70's Baltimore and Miami also attempted heavy rail and failed, both systems only attracted about 30k daily riders.

In the early 80's many cities offered the opportunity to build subways, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, all cancelled their projects. The success of a new form of transit-Light rail, in San Diego and Calgary meant that from that point on LRT would be predominate form of new rail in the United States. Only LA has built a subway since that point.

Atlanta is the only sprawling sunbelt city to have third-rail transit which makes it kind of interesting.

MARTA does well for a system that is starved for funding due to an unfair government structure where the state of georgia, cities, and counties have all refused to allow the transit agency be funded. About 250,000 people use MARTA which has 2 lines and 2 branches, connects the airport and is a full out rapid transit system with tunnels and bridges.

quote>

A lot of opposition comes from other taxpayers in the state who are not comfortable unloading so much dough on something that won't affect them. Something like 80% of all Georgia tax dollars goes to Atlanta and its metro. I was recently in the more rural parts of Southwestern Georgia where most roads are dirt, or have not been maintained in so long that locals had to pull the pavement up so they could have a smooth ride.

MARTA is a rather successful transit system, it is unique in a sense that it doesn't receive any funding on a national level. Expansion can be difficult, mainly due to the way Atlanta has developed.

[hamsterTK 93]

I guess it's relative.

they need to find some source of money though not just to expand but to maintain their infrastructure to keep it from always breaking down

[toxicpiano 125]

I hope you Americans are enjoying your obscenely low petrol prices:

Country/Territory: United Kingdom

US$/gal :$8.18

US$/L :$2.16

As of: 2008-04-20 2008-04-20

Country/Territory: United States

US$/gal: $3.61

US$/L :$0.92

As of: 2008-04-19

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Yes... but remember the problem is that the US have always had cheap petrol prices.

This is a change for them - they're not used to it. Europeans have always had high petrol prices, hence why this hasn't hit them so hard.

[krbe 193]

Most of the petrol price in Europe is taxes, which are not calculated on a percentage basis. That's why a rise won't hit Europe as hard as the US.

[jarnomiedema 52]

Lovely.. I'm going to Atlanta between the 24th and 31st of May and I expect to see a working American city when I get there!!

Unbelievable, my first trip to the U.S. and I get an empty city!

[toxicpiano 125]

Originally posted by: krbe Most of the petrol price in Europe is taxes, which are not calculated on a percentage basis. That's why a rise won't hit Europe as hard as the US.quote>

All very true, this might change people's attitudes as well as their wallets.

[Shingure 56]

I have also seen the change. Living in Philly I have seen ridership in the past few months double if not triple in some places because gas a tendency to jump 3 cents in 2 days. Recently the prices now go up once a week but it was getting ridiculous and still is rediculous. Also the reason why Europes petro is so high is because their currencies are also more valueable than the US's

[sedimenjerry 1]

Marta may be relatively good consdiering the funding but relative to the massive size of the metro area Marta is realllllly undersized. The roadways are really not that great either.

I think most of the traffic was stuck either on 75 northbound near Henry Co. or 75 southbound north of Marietta. Although i think most of that was cause of Sprign Break.

Were they all on 285 or what?

Geeeezzzz.

I just cant believe Atlanta was clear like that.

[Need4Camaro 50]

Ghostkiller108 - True but noone is willing to let them expand. ESPECIALLY North Fulton County where you can literally see the rails just abrubtly end right off of 400...  Noone wants to deal with the negative impact MARTA might contribute. To compensate, silly enough, most counties have come out with their private bus systems that connect you to MARTA or Downtown. Like CTA and Gwinnett Transit.. Also there's a generic Express bus that seems to be traveling down every expressway. Basically MARTA has only beenable to biuld one additional station and thats still in progress.. it's south of the airport...

patriots_1228 - The train system in Atlanta is a joke for a city its size. although probably still one of the largest in the South... To emphasize on how truly weak it is... Take Chicago and disable 95% of its railways... the 5% remaining would still cover more distance than MARTA...

sedimenjerry - I couldn't either and no the freeways were quite empty... Even this morning at 8 - 9 A.M. I was able to do 70 MPH for the entire trip down I-285 between GA-400 and I-20 heading towards Covington... ...Going down West Peachtree Street there was the same affect, no cars behind me at all... it was weird.

[beebs 129]

Originally posted by: Frankie_Grove Gas is over $3.50 in Georgia, well over what we're used to. For the record, MARTA is heavily used, they've been working on expansions for quite some time now. Atlanta's problems also lie with sprawl, not the city proper, which is quite typical of sun belt cities.quote>

91 cents / Litre. I would love paying that much. Most of Canada is paying above $5/Gallon ($1.20/Litre). We've been paying over your "high" gas prices for a year or two now..

But believe me, people will still buy gas.

[patriots_1228 51]

yoshi: by mass transportation, i mean massachusetts transportation. Or as it is officially known, MBTA (Massachusetts "?" Transportation Authority). I do that alot, don't I?

These gas prices would be much lower if we didn't scam saudi arabia back in the day...

[hedge 0]

Higher gas prices seem to have done the opposite of deterring traffic in Southern California. Every rush hour seems to be getting worse for me.

[belfastuniguy 18]

As some have mentioned I find it completely hilarious to see American wail and scream about AWFUL fuel prices, come and live in the UK or most places in Europe for that matter.

Hopefully further rising fuel prices will make your cities start to put some money into better mass transit.

For reference, to buy a gallon of petrol here in Northern Ireland would cost me about

[Fresh Prince of Wmbg 44]

I better learn to drive soon. Otherwise, my parents will be saying " it would be a waste of money son". 

[Zelgadis 638]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy As some have mentioned I find it completely hilarious to see American wail and scream about AWFUL fuel prices, come and live in the UK or most places in Europe for that matter. quote>

Consider also that the UK is tiny compared with the US.  Personal transportation is critical.  And that's one of the primary reason why fuel prices are more important here.

Hopefully further rising fuel prices will make your cities start to put some money into better mass transit.

quote>

Can't argue with you on that.  But it's not so simple either.  In Cincinnati they tried to build a massive public transportation system.  Unfortunately, it failed miserably.  The land is too hilly to be practical for surface trains and rock is far too soft for subways.  The tunnels are still there, but they're quite dangerous.  The soft limestone keeps collapsing.

I remember when I was growing up (near Cincinnati), there was a lot of construction in my neighborhood.  You could quite easily pick up a rock and crumble it in your hands or, if it was thicker, break it over your leg.

But, that doesn't mean that America is behind in "transit" per se.  The US and Canada do lag in a transportation system for people.  But on the other hand, they are unparalleled in the world for efficient transportation of goods.  We do a really good job of utilizing our vast railroad and waterway system to move goods. 

As for Atlanta, I don't think that fuel prices are exactly the main problem hitting right now.  I'm not sure, but wasn't Atlanta one of the hardest-hit cities in the subprime mortgage crisis?  If so, fuel prices would be booger-flavored frosting on an already nasty cake.

ISF

[frdrcklim 139]

In a way of saying, Altanta may be excersing Earth Day everyday.