Chatter

By DD

January 25, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

Two hours and forty minutes from Beaver Ruin to downtown on I-85. There was no way to exit Courtland St. to get to my office so I had to back track to get there. Where is the APD? I didn’t see one directing traffic. My husband used the backroads and saved some time getting into the city but it took him 1 hour and 15 minutes to go 4 blocks around the Capitol. Again, no police out directing traffic!

By bzrun1

January 25, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

I left my home at 7:30 expecting an hour ride - maximum. I did not get to my office until 9:45 after spending over an hour sitting in traffice on I 20 from Glenwood to Capitol Ave.

WOW!

By cdrpar

January 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I was stuck on 85 south coming from N.Druid Hills, getting off at Courtland. Why do they schedule these events the same hours as work hours? It seems as if the event planners should consider the traffic problems as they are on a regular day in the ATL and adjust the events hours with that in mind.

By Al

January 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I live just 4 miles away from my office in Midtown, but after making zero progress on Central Ave for 30 minutes, I turned around and came back home. Telecommuting is the greatest thing ever!

By BackHome

January 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Brutal traffic. It has caused my wife to turn back on her way to drop off baby and go to work. It might have been nice to have some coverage about these conventions on AJC … er … yesterday?

Earlier this week she was re-routed trying to get through downtown due to a right to life march in the city .. again no coverage on ajc before (or after) the fact.

Enough with the home showcase nonsense on the front page (online) every other day, please post some news about these events before the fact that actually affect the majority of Atlantans due to traffic tie-ups.

By NT

January 25, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

2 hours and 45 minutes from Douglasville for a ride that usually takes 35-45 minutes. I got to my office around 10:30. Central Avenue was slammed so I manuvered around to Hank Aaron. From there, it took me around 45 minutes to get to Auburn Avenue. I don’t care what anyone says, this is a classic example of why MARTA needs to be in every metro county! And no, everyone can’t afford to live in the city.

By Mike

January 25, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

81 minutes from Chastain Road (Kennesaw) to North Avenue Marta station — and that’s using the 481 GA Express bus!!!! I feel sorry for all those who didn’t ride the bus this morning. I bet I-75’s empty HOV lane sure looked tempting for you solo drivers. :)

By Lateforwork

January 25, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

Coming from Vinings to downtown. Left at 7:50 arrived at work at 10:30. Horrible!

By Kerington

January 25, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

I live on delk road 75. It would have took me 3hrs to get to work but I cut that in half and made it in 1hr and 30min with a little help from the HOV

By Natasha

January 25, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

It took me 2 1/2 hours to make a 20 minute drive from the airport this morning, a drive made all the more joyous by having my 3 year old in the backseat screaming “mommy” every 30 seconds. I don’t even know where to begin to describe the level of frustration I was at by the time I finally reached my office. Next time there’s some huge event in the middle of a workday in downtown Atlanta I’ll be calling in sick cause this is some major BS.

By Jake

January 25, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

Dropped off son for school at 8:05 at Indian Trail and 85.

Arrived at work, near 5 points MARTA station at 9:31. (1 hour 26 min.)

Usually takes 35 min to make drive.

By Nick

January 25, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Poultry Convention? For the love of God. What a stupid reason to block up so much traffic and make people late for work. And I seriously doubt the “Poultry Convention” has any booths on the humane treatment of poulty. Perhaps a little warning ahead of time from the AJC and/or elsewhere might have been appreciated. But then again, not having a silly Poultry convention in our city might have been appreciated too.

By T

January 25, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

2 hours 40 minutes from windy hill to downtown - I HATE tourists!

By CBL

January 25, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

1.5 hours from Shallowford/I-85 to North Ave. My colleague spent 3 hours and 45 minutes coming in from Newnan. I could have driven to Charlotte by then. This is what we can expect with more out of control residential development and laughable excuses for public transport because GaDOT couldn’t organize a drinking session in a brewery.

By Rail Rider

January 25, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

I saw the traffic backed up on the Connector this morning as my MARTA train rocketed over it. If you live near a MARTA stop, consider ditching the car once in a while and taking the train. And those who work for employers that encourage mass transit: Take them up one it.

By ATL43

January 25, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Atlanta is not prepared to handle this kind of event. Think about it… how many times has this happened? And what does the city do? NOTHING! I drove through downtown and saw TWO cops directing traffic by the Dome on Northside. That was it. Just TWO! The city buries its collective head in the sand and waits for it all to go away. Our city government is USELESS!!!

By SA

January 25, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

I live in Lithonia, GA and work in Smyrna. Normally my morning commute is roughly 1 hour. TODAY however, it took me 3 hours 15 minutes to get to work. Needless to say I am NOT in the best of moods today….

By Kittycat

January 25, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

1 hour and 8 minutes from Maynard Terrace on I-20 to the 10th-14th Street exit on 75-85 North. This is usually about a 20 minute drive even in traffic. Disgusting!! It seems there is NO thought given to traffic planning in this city.

By Hunter

January 25, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

2 hours from Sugarloaf to Chesire Bridge/Lenox this morning. I agree with the previous poster, why was there no advanced warning coverage on the AJC homepage about these events?

By StuckInMyTruck

January 25, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

I live in East Point and work downtown off International. The connector northbound was unusable, so I took surface streets. It took almost 90 minutes to get to work!

Why did all of these people wanting to hear motivational speakers have to drive their Lexus, Mercedes, Volvo and BMWs? Couldn’t they try mass transportation once and let the people who have to work for a living get to work???

By Jason

January 25, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

Today it was one of the rare time that it was actually smarta to take MARTA. Other students were saying most MARTA decks were full. The Decks at Dunwoody were a bit more packed than usual, but there were still plenty of spaces. I was downtown in less than 30 minutes. I saw all the traffic from the train and just laughed at all of those folks stuck in traffic. LOL

By Tricia

January 25, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

During all this drush hour elay, there was NO information on the GDOT website, not even a single red mark on any of their online map of the downtown surface streets.

And the traffic radio reporters were only talking about the I-85 lane closures in Coweta County.

By DB

January 25, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

2 1/2 hours from Kennesaw? What kind of city do we live in when 2 events in one area can shut the city down.

By De

January 25, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Even MARTA was bad. Trains were delayed and of course that made the trains packed when they did come. Had to pass up the 1st train, too full and I only had to go 3 stops! Just one of those days!

By Judith Smith

January 25, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

If Marta knew there was a convention in town today why didn’t they add more trains this morning. I have never seen the north bound train in the mornings so pack till you had to wait for the next train to come, then that one was to crowded for everyone to get on. The bus driver was apologizing for being late getting to the Marta station because there was so much traffic they couldn’t get by. Whose does the planning for these events and why there are no police directing the traffic? I was not expecting this or I would have left home earlier.

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

WHAT A MUD DUCKING JOKE!

I never been in a town that is so unorganized.

Sure cater to the out of towners but forget the great citizens of Georgia!

I swear we will never get a major professional game (NBA or NFL or even soccer) in this town again because yall dont have a clue about traffic flow and conventions.

Personally the Mayor is at fault!

And so is the AJC and Chopper Dan!

I left my house at 730 am but didnt get to work till 845 am. Lucky I am smart enough to car pool. HOV is the car poolers dream But too many fools were in the HOV because they were late for work and couldnt take. Man where the Traffic Enforcement patrol that handle this? Could have made $10,000 easy in a 2 hour period for Fulton County because the HOV was backed up the way to 285/20 interesction.

ATL TRAFFIC STINK LIKE MANURE!

And the mess up thing a lot of people got written up for being late and or fire. Not at my job but at other location because blackberries and pda were going off like crazy this morning.

MAYOR FRANKLIN WHATS GOING ON WITH YALL???

I TELL YALL NEED TO WAKE UP!

By Jim

January 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

To DD: That’s our Atlanta city government for you!! Now you and everyone else knows why North Fulton wants to break off from the rest of this county (especially Atlanta) to form their own government-and rightly so!!!!

By bob

January 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

If you’re looking to “get motivated” maybe you should consider going to work instead of spending the day at Phillips Arena.

By MariettaGirl

January 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

To get from Marietta to Downtown this morning took over 2.5 hrs. This city should not be allowed to bring anymore conferences to town until they figure out a traffic plan. Every highway was a disaster. MARTA wasn’t prepared (shock). I know it is a good $ generator but what about the poor people who live and work here?

By Beege

January 25, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Oh what a nifty ride this am, I had even started earlier than usual from my home in Douglasville because yesterday was a mess & I didn’t want to be late for work Downtown. Oh my goodness yesterday was a breeze compared to today. What is wrong with these people that come down to conventions or whatever, people are trying to get to work and those idiots are blowing their horns wanting us to get out in the middle of the street to block traffic when the light changes and anyway the police dept should have had cops out there directing traffic (especially off the xway ramp). Doesn’t the police dept keep up with when conventions & seminars are in town? My God!!!!

By Jim

January 25, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

To Bob: In reality, there are many great audio CD’s to help someone in their personal lives with the exact same information that you would have to shell out hundreds of bucks for a live apperance such as the one at Philips Arena.

I agree with many-the city of Atlanta and its structure is NOT equipped to handle a multitude of events going at the same time, unlike cities like Los Angeles, NY, Chicago, Miami, etc. These cities are more spread-out and have a better freeway and transit system-Atlanta is too cubby-holed, and whoever thought of the hare-brained scheme many decades ago of bringing 75 and 85 together in downtown Atlanta was way off their rocker!!!

By KW

January 25, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

The Georgia Dept. of Transportation variable message signs on the interstates should have at least warned of the increased congestion due to the event. Officers should have been directing traffic. Radio traffic reporting needs improvement. If I am in Midtown, driving towards downtown, trying to figure out why it is taking so long, the last thing I need to hear is the commute time from Mcfarland to I-285 or an incident at Barrett Pkwy. on I-75 that has nothing to do with appears to be the most significant event of the morning…

By CBL

January 25, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

Amen, bob. The amount of money lost due to missed meetings, cancelled appointments, wasted fuel, and wasted time—all due to this silly little celebrity orgy— far exceeds anything that will be made by “motivated” attendees.

By Intowner

January 25, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

Nice. Blame Shirley Franklin because you choose to live 30 miles from downtown.

Try moving ITP. I live in Sandy Springs, and it took 20 minutes down Northside Dr. to downtown.

There are alternatives to the burbs, but if you choose to live that far from work, please accept the consequences.

By granny of 3

January 25, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

I ride GRTA from the Newnan P&R in Coweta. Our bus sat in standstill traffic behind that terrible rollover accident on I-85 Northbound for an hour. As bad as it was, it could have been a WHOLE lot worse had it not been for our operator, who kept his cool throughout the ordeal and is always so courteous and thoughtful towards his passengers. Atlanta FINALLY did something right, when they created their commuter service!

By Akagi

January 25, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

Maybe if we can get the APD to rough-up a few more event goers, we won’t have to worry about convention traffic anymore.

By jane

January 25, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

Pray tell what time do we need to leave downtown to get home in time to pick-up our children from daycare?2:00 p.m.?? Maybe I will get in 3.5 hrs today at my job.

By bzrun1

January 25, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Re - ‘Rail rider mass transit’

It takes me 45 minutes to get to work on an average days drive. For me to take marta I would have to drive to a park and ride, ride a bus to get to the train, ride the train to 5 points, switch trains, and walk 1/2 a mile. I could also drive to the express bus station and park, ride the bus, and get caught in traffic anyway since all of the exit ramps and main streets were a nightmare. On a good day the mass transit trip is twice as long as my average drive.

There are activities that must be accomplished in my day that require a car.

Marta is not a choice.

You are lucky, glad you enjoyed your trip.

By sadefari

January 25, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Normal morning commute from West Cobb -> Buckhead = 45-60mins

today - 45mins..

Backroads for the win.

By Jim

January 25, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

To Bob: In reality, there are many great audio CD’s to help someone in their personal lives with the exact same information that you would have to shell out hundreds of bucks for a live apperance such as the one at Philips Arena.

I agree with many-the city of Atlanta and its structure is NOT equipped to handle a multitude of events going at the same time, unlike cities like Los Angeles, NY, Chicago, Miami, etc. These cities are more spread-out and have a better freeway and transit system-Atlanta is too cubby-holed, and whoever thought of the hare-brained scheme many decades ago of bringing 75 and 85 together in downtown Atlanta was way off their rocker!!!

By CBL

January 25, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Maybe if we have a few more botched jokes for traffic flow at special events, the organizers will decide to remove Atlanta from the list of host cities. At a minimum, we can convince out of town visitors that we are the most disorganized city in America and they will think twice about moving here for lower taxes and warm sunshine.

By Teleworkedyesterday!

January 25, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

I left Rome at 6:50 am and started slowing down on 75 South about a mile past Highway 92 around 7:45. I exited off of 75 at Howell Mill Road at 10:00 am!

By Leslie

January 25, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

Fortunately, I left Lawrenceville at 6am and made it to work in under an hour. However, the traffic was beginning to build up at that time at the Brookwood Exchange. Whew, glad I left at 6am!

By bflood

January 25, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

Took an hour and half to go 3 miles - from Moreland Ave. to downtown! Is this a preview of Atlanta in 10 years, when the population has increased to the projected amount? If this isn’t an indication that Atlanta needs creative and responsible traffic options ASAP, then City and regional planners will never understand how critical the situation already is.

By SpeedyGirl

January 25, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

I live off of Hwy 92 in Acworth. It took me an hour and ten to go less than 8 miles. At that rate, it would have taken me almost 3.5 hours to drive 29 miles. I turned around at Barrett Parkway and am telecommuting. From what I heard from coworkers downtown, it is a nightmare - between the lack of APD directing traffic, to the huge number of stoplights that aren’t working it is just a zoo!

By e

January 25, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Talk about a communication breakdown. No forewarning of any possible traffic alerts, no planning by Atlanta government for two conventions going on at the same time. Talk about a CF. This city is ridiculous. We can’t even handle our own population driving to work each day and then they dump another 40,000 people to the mix without thought or warning. IDIOTS. if any convention should be held downtown it should be about fixing the traffic problems in this city. If i had a MARTA stop that didn’t require me to drive 20 minutes, pay to park and then start my commute, I would use it in a heartbeat. But as it is you have to fight your way through traffic to get to one that is 5 miles from your house, then find a parking space and you still get to work in about the same amount of time as on a “normal” traffic day. It’s just not worth the extra hassle in my opinion. This city sucks. I’m moving to Florida.

By Harried

January 25, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Word is that the motivational seminar will be letting out around 4:45 p.m. today. Commuters, you’ve been warned.

By Pam

January 25, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

A great example of why the Gwinnett Arena is starting to attract more events. People say that metro Atlanta won’t drive out to a suburb for events, but with the disaster that such events like this create in a MAJOR city, it’s obvious why Gwinnett has proven them wrong! All of that convention traffic would have been going opposite of the major traffic flow.

By HK

January 25, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

I left Wesley CHapel @ 7:45 on I-20 - 75/85 Downtown. Trying to bypass the normal I-285 logjam on my way to exit 11 Alpharetta on GA400. My hour ride became 3 hours. I got off on Hill street after 30 minutes on I-20. Every street Downtown going north or west was gridlock.(Capitol ave, Northside Drive, etc..) I never once heard a traffic report telling me to avoid Downtown. I had friends check GA Navigator on the Web and it couldn’t even give a good report. My wife finally got me a report around 9:30 about the convention traffic. I eventually was able to turn around and go back to I-20 and 285 East to get North to Alpharetta.

By Ed

January 25, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Yes, we can make it illegal to yak on cell phone your entire drive, I mean come on you drive a 1999 KIA and you work for minimum wage, whats so important about the call that can’t wait until you get home, its not like you’re talking someone through open heart surgery. Same as the work addicted blackberry owner, so you have a blackberry…whoopee, big deal; get the email when you get home and deflate your ego, you’re not all that importatnt, if you die today the world goes on without you. If you don’t believe me, test my theory and see. Same as the person eating the entire drive, you were fat enough yesterday, do you have to eat ALL THE TIME ? Same as those that read and drive, you’re just a total idiot, I am surprised you own a book. It must be porn you’re looking at. There, I am done, drive safe and have a nice day.

By B_Hall

January 25, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Today was a prime example of what happens when a money hungry city and state governments attempt to hold a convention in the middle of downtown during normal business hours. Our city is not designed for this. This is why TD Jakes did not bring Megafest back last summer. Word to the Wise - Be more considerate to your constituents or you will not be re-elected!!!

By laughing at y'all

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Quit blaming the City of Atlanta: it’s the ACVB who should have alerted the APD that there would be issues. The Poultry Convention is here EVERY January, and it’s always one of the biggest conventions of the year. Add the Motivational seminar, and you’re cooked. I guess everyone will be motivated to MOVE OUT OF ATLANTA METRO after today!

By LRM216

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

I live in Marietta, off Powers Ferry Road and the South Loop, exactly 13 miles from entry onto 75S to my parking garage on Courtland. 2 and 1/2 freaking hours to get there this morning!!! I suggest the Poultry Farmers and Zig Ziegler hold their next conventions in Alaska.

By Jess

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

It took me 3 hours to drive to Midtown from Canton this morning. Once I got inside 285, I saw about 100 single-rider cars go by using the HOV lane, which I’m sure saved them a TON of time but just added to the backup for the rest of us because eventually, all those HOV violators have to get back in the flow of traffic to get over to their exit, further jamming traffic for everyone. I did see one police car go by in the HOV lane, but he apparently didn’t give a hoot about the HOV lane violators cuz he never pulled anyone over.

In a traffic situation like the one we had today, I think it would REALLY help to open the HOV lanes, just to get the traffic moving a little better. I know that’s not fair to the carpoolers, but in an extraordinary situation like today, it would help the 98% of the rest of us.

I never saw even one person (cop, crossing guard, anybody) directing traffic once I got off of 75 either. That would have really helped too.

P.S. I’d LOVE to be able to take Marta to work, but there are only a couple of routes from northern Cherokee County, none of which fit my (inflexible) work schedule. More buses, more routes at more times, please! I’m begging you.

By Gloria

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Hey, Intowner: Some of us don’t “choose” to live in the burbs. The house I have that is exactly 1/4 mile OTP would cost 1.5 million in Morningside. Excuse me for not wanting to live in a $300,000 2/1 house. AND i traveled down Briarcliff this morning and it still took 45 minutes to get from Emory to Midtown. SO SHUT UP.

By SS88

January 25, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Okay, who are these people who are able to crowd into downtown Atlanta during work hours on a Thursday and where do they work? Are their companies hiring? Cause CLEARLY I am in the wrong field. I need a job that’ll let me off work to go hear a bunch of middle aged men say the exact same things they have written in their books that I can check out of the library for FREE.

By David

January 25, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

4 hours from Marietta to downtown- Marietta Street. 4 hours.

By KT

January 25, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

40 minutes to get from Howell Mill Road to Courtland street! Yikes, I just moved here, this is crazy. I agree that the AJC should have maybe warned us about this yesterday.

By Shouldacallednsick

January 25, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

It took me 3 hrs to get to work coming from Cobb Parkway, it usually takes 20 minutes. Who in the world decided it was smart to host two conventions side by side on the same day and at the same time state legislation let in? Then the traffic sign had the nerve to post: Events Downtown Expect Major Delays, it would have been nice to know that YESTERDAY!!!

By WSB listener

January 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

People who “never once heard about the traffic,” AM 750 was warning about this as early as 7:30am, when my alarm went off, saying the traffic was terrible.

By Billy Bob

January 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

Ihate Atl Traffic. It Sucks! 1hr 30min in traffic for a 15 mi- 20min ride

By KLS

January 25, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

I left my house at 7:50 this morning expecting a typical 25 minute commute from Moores Mill to CW Grant Pkwy. I finally arrived at work at 9:35. The city should issue alerts days before expected congestion such as this. I would have happily left at 6:30am to avoid sitting in this type of traffic.

By Don Mills

January 25, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

We must improve our road systems! Where is APD when you need them, but I bet they will be there when you are doing 60 in a 55.

By Ray

January 25, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

20 was hosed this morning so I decided to take Memorial drive only to find that the reversible lane during this mornings commute was going outbound instead of inbound. Inbound Memorial drive was limited to one lane.

Since the reversible lane was outbound during the morning commute are they going to swith it to inbound for the evening commute.

By Uvatexn

January 25, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this

Am I correct in the horrible thought that all these people have to go back home tonight? I might have to get a hotel instead of trying to navigate the 7 miles to my house (which took me 1 hr, 5 min this morning)

By rekkidbraka

January 25, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

Thank you to the kindhearted lady who let me cross two lanes of traffic on Windsor St. downtown after we’d both been sitting in convention traffic for 40 minutes this morning, going nowhere for less than 1/4 of a mile.

Instead of being selfish about your space in traffic, you let me exit the traffic nightmare, get on I-20 west, head south to East Point and take MARTA. That allowed me to get to work (eventually). And at the MARTA lot, after I found my parking space, I helped another woman find a space so she could get to work on time. Good goes around.

By Beege

January 25, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

Oh what a nifty ride this am, I had even started earlier than usual from my home in Douglasville because yesterday was a mess & I didn’t want to be late for work Downtown. Oh my goodness yesterday was a breeze compared to today. What is wrong with these people that come down to conventions or whatever, people are trying to get to work and those idiots are blowing their horns wanting us to get out in the middle of the street to block traffic when the light changes and anyway the police dept should have had cops out there directing traffic (especially off the xway ramp). Doesn’t the police dept keep up with when conventions & seminars are in town? My God!!!!

By PO'd

January 25, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

This should be a wake up call to Atlanta. If Atlanta wants to continue to host these events, some kind of FUNCTIONAL mass transit MUST be in place.

Either that or we need to tell all of the tourists, include the damn AmericasMart idiots, to GO HOME!!!

By JJ

January 25, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

The Atlanta mayor is a complete imbecile! In fact, most of the people running this city are! Just a bunch of ghetto thugs without a clue dressed up in suits. Who thinks its appropriate to bring an additional 50k people into the city during rush hour traffic…especially without any warning for incoming commuters!?!?!? What a joke…

By Barbara

January 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

All of Atlanta media were caught with their pants down this morning concerning traffic. I agree, why not inform us earlier, as in the day before? As a subscriber who still believes in reading the written/printed word: enough of home styles, pandas, Michael Vick’s adolescent behavior. Traffic is a hot topic in this city. Report before it happens.

By Deborah

January 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

traffic was a breeze this morning except for the small silver pick up truck and red small car that had to show rode rage on I-20. anywho My drive in from Loganville to Crawford Long Hospital took me 40 mins. but I did leave home at 5:30am and pulled into my parking space at 06:10am

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

TO INTOWNER…

IT COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO LIVE IN THE GREAT COUGH COUGH AND I SAY THAT WITH AN OUNCE OF SINCERITY .. I MEaN GREAT CITY OF ATLANTA…

I normally take the MARTA but no thanks to STONECREST MALL.. they were mad at us for parking on mall property despite the fact we shop there and eat there after the blue flyer bus drop us off. I dont even shop there no more.

I take my hard earn $$$ and shop in the city.

IF we live 30 miles away from the city it because it cheaper to live 30 miles away from the city.

Frankly the Mayor is at fault because she has the power to put the police on the streets to direct traffic.

By JMS

January 25, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

I could tell something was up when I left my street…but not a word on the radio!! What ups with that!!! At least let us know what is going on over the radio!! I figured it out by myself and it took and extra 20 min I could have saved if I had had a heads up on the radio!! The police try but they are CLUELESS when it comes to directing traffic. as there is no communication and it just builds and gets worse, time fixes the jam not the directing by police, sorry to say!

By Lazy1

January 25, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

I really have to play catch-up at work today because of the traffic. So I thought I would waste more time and do an AJC blog entry.

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

another thing .. i understand these out of towners and conventioneers bring mega $$$$$ to the city’s economy.

But what the heck is the city doing with all that money???

Cant buy no traffic patrol unit?

The solution is to make MARTA bigger.. if yall dont have a clue.. yall need to fly to new york city.. one of the biggest transit system in the world… and see how they do it there.

IT IS A FACT THAT ATLANTA IS GROWING FAST and the MAYOR need to step it up!!!

URBAN RENEWAL INITIVATES NEED TO TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AS FOR CONVENTION IN GWINETT COUNTY .. it was a smooth ride.. i really like how the cops and folks make it a smooth transistion in arriving and leaving.

MARTA need to go beyond the city..expand into all the counties.. forms alliance and partnership. IT SHOULD BE 24 hours! after all the airport is open 24 hours why not MARTA?!?!?

I AM LEAVING WORK at 3pm cuz I REFUSE TO be a sitting duck in traffic lol

By ITP

January 25, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Is that fun stories to read or what. I agree with intowner.

By SC

January 25, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Even MARTA is overtaxed today…North Springs is completely out of parking (something I have NEVER seen happen before) and people are reporting trains are packed.

The poultry people are here every year…Get Motivated, get bent.

By SC

January 25, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

BTW…it took me about 30 minutes to get to downtown from Northridge, but that was at around 11:30 am. :p

By ralph

January 25, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

I have no sympathy for your Gwinnett and cobb commuters. You all should have voted MARTA rail years ago. Choke on your smog in 75-85 traffic.

The state needs to take over MARTA and make it a true regional transit, not the joke GRTA is. Of course, Perdue and the GOP idiots aren’t going to do anything worthwhile.

I should be able to get on a rail train in douglasville, conyers, Marietta, Canton and ride anywhere in the metro atlanta area. I’d love to be able to do that before I retire or die!!

By brian

January 25, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

Everyone can afford to live inside I-285. Just not where they want to live. Plenty of houses south of I-20 for less than $150K.

Conventions charge good money for attendees. Give them MARTA passes with their registration.

DOT, spend money on getting a rail system (MARTA or otherwise) to run from Lawrenceville to Newnan and from Conyers to Lithonia, etc.

To MARTA, I live off Cheshire Bridge and have to walk half a mile to catch the bus. Wonder why I don’t ride it? WE need better coverage if people are expected to use public transportation.

My 15 minute commute was 30 minutes this morning. Not bad considering everyone else’s issues. But still, twice as long as it should have been.

By Sandra

January 25, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

I took me 1 hour 45 minutes to go 17 miles from Glade Rd to Delk. I did not even go highway all the way.

By Mel

January 25, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

It took me 20 minutes to get from one side of the Andrew Young Int’l Boulevard bridge that spans the Connector to the other side. That was maybe 150 feet (0.08 mph). I don’t usually come into Atlanta from Druid Hills, but I had to drop my son off at school in Decatur. I finally gave up on trying to make it the last block to Courtland St. within eyesight of my turn and turned right on Piedmont instead to get over to Courtland from Baker Street and Baker wasn’t a whole lot better. I wondered why the Perimeter on the east side from Ellenwood to Decatur was such a breeze this morning: everyone was in downtown!

By Kinsey

January 25, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

I was an hour and a half late for an interview. Great first impression huh. And Also….No Police anywhere! Amazing to me that there was no one directing traffic. Took 2 hours to go 10 miles.

By Intowner

January 25, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

All I’m saying is that people make choices. Living intown does cost more, and you have less square footage for the same dollar. But, the commute is better. Tradeoffs. And, there’s plenty of neighborhoods to live in rather than Morningside, which is the poshest address in Midtown.

I do agree with the bloggers who question where the advance info from the AJC was. They sure seem to be all over the story now.

By Ron

January 25, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

I live downtown and, as usual, I cruised leisurely to work as I laughed at all the suburbanites stuck in traffic coming the other way.

By BUSHWACKER

January 25, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

Any adult who needs to see a motivational speaker is a LOSER who is only making the speaker rich!!!

By AG

January 25, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

Atlanta ISN’T ready for these events. Atlanta can;t even handle the traffic that already exist in Atlanta in small suburban areas.

GET IT TOGETHER ATL

By Susan

January 25, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

I’d seen it bad before, but never as bad as this morning. Atlanta Cops need to recognize that downtown streets have lights for a very good reason. Get the cops out of the intersections, and let traffic move through its normal routines. Alter the lights maybe, but don’t turn them off. Cops make incompetent traffic directors. On the other hand, the cops should be proud. There were probably 15 of them at most, and they affected thousands of people’s lives for the worse. That 6:45a backup all the way up 75 Northbound this morning? Thank your trusty APD, standing in the intersections downtown off Williams Street exit, thinking they can do better than the engineers who arranged the traffic lights.

By Olivida

January 25, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

Whew! My drive in from Kirkwood usually takes 15 minutes, but this morning I was stuck in traffic for TWENTY minutes.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

nyeh nyeh nyeh

By scared

January 25, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

What happens in an emergency is what I wanna know.And I watched the news all night last night, and nothing was given to warn about this mess they call a commute.

By dino

January 25, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

It took me almost 3 hours to get from Kennesaw to my office in downtown today—-I sat on I-75 for 1 hour from Chastain Road to 285. The state needs to add more lanes to I-75—-it’s not equipped to handle a lot of traffic. But, with the morons in the Transportation Dept., it’ll never happen.

By Dresden_Rocks

January 25, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

I’m glad I don’t work in Midtown or Downtown. After reading some of these comments, I am so glad I work in Buckhead!

HOwever, what the hell is our city doing? Where are the cops? What the freak is our honorable Mayor doing? And, she is supposed to be one of the best mayors in this country?! This is the same person who campaigned for her party’s Fulton County commission campaign by claiming that if her candidtae did not get elected, Republicans would take us back to the days of getting hosed by water pipes and attacked by police dogs!

It is precisely this kind of racist politics and administrative ineptitude that forces the tax payers of our northern suburbs to form a separate county. They want us to pay our taxes, but where is the service, when we need it, Mayor Franklin?!!!

By What Traffic Jam?

January 25, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Bless you GRTA!!! Drove 5 miles to the GRTA bus stop, got on the bus, fell asleep immediately. Woke up an hour later to see the horrible traffic jam AND that I was a block from the Marta station. Hopped on Marta, rode right up to the entrance of my building. Total trip: 45 miles Trip time: 1.5 hours Much needed nap: 1 hour Total Cost: $1.40

Don’t hate me because, I’m well rested!!

COMMUTE PEOPLE!! It’s the way of the future!

By Mrs. T

January 25, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

I left home at 7:00am from Conyers. I arrived here in my office at 10:45am. Horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nicole

January 25, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

I left my house in Canton at 7:15 this morning and FINALLY arrived at work at 11:15!!!!!!! Why would the DOT choose to put signs up alerting us to major events downtown the morning of as we are already sitting in it. Here’s a thought, let us know the night before so we can prepare. Or just take the day off.

By Nana

January 25, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

I left Marietta at 6:57 a.m. I arrived at the state Capitol for work after the nightmare traffic at 10:16 am. That’s over 3 hours and 16 minutes, folks. Dealing with Legislators on a daily basis is never this bad.

By spoiled

January 25, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Re: Kittycat - My work starts late (around 10) so i can usually make it from Maynard to 14th in about 10 minutes.

Since it took me about 15 minutes to get from Kirkwood to Grant Park on I-20, I ultimately got off at Hill and took Piedmont. It still took me close to an hour. Glad I did, now that I see how long you spent on the connector.

Much apologies to the citizens with real commutes. I’d push MARTA on you too, except conventions make MARTA even more unreliable than usual.

By Akagi

January 25, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Intowner:

You also get worse schools, higher taxes, poorer services, and higher crime. So I’ll take an occasional nightmare traffic day over the alternative.

By BUSHWACKER

January 25, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

You morons who need motivation are only MAKING THE SPEAKER RICHER, hope one of you has the guts to tells us all what you got out of the speech.

By Dee

January 25, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Coweta accident + International Blvd exit = 2.5 hours of commuting. Did someone say “more public transportation?” If they build it, we will come!

By D. Potter

January 25, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Took 2 hrs. 45 min from E. Cobb - open up the HOV lanes to all traffic when these horrendous conventions take place & keep Williams St. moving for god sake.

By Kittycat

January 25, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Hey, Intowner -

I DO live inside the perimeter. I drive 5 miles on surface streets to get to the expressway, then drive 5 more miles on the expressway to work, and this morning that 5 mile drive on I-20 took 68 minutes. And once you’re on the expressway, there’s no exiting back on to the surface streets since everyone else is trying to do the same thing too.

Don’t be so smug. No matter where you were coming from this morning, traffic sucked. You’re the ONLY person so far today I’ve heard of who had a perfect commute.

By If You'd Taken MARTA

January 25, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Where’s the clown that said “If you’d taken MARTA, you’d be there by now”? That’s a lie. I took MARTA this morning I was not there when I should have. Northside Ave was horrible. This city and its leaders don’t have a clue !

By what 2do

January 25, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Yes, traffic sucked today. I even used the back roads from Vinnings and it still took me a hour to get to North Ave. Now “they” say that the afternoon drive will be even worse. Well, screw that! I am so glad there is a pub down the block from my office. I wonder what the specials are today?

By Wish I wore Nikes

January 25, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

I live in Covington and it took me 3 hours to get to work downtown! I-20 was an absolute mess. I didn’t hear anything on the radio either. I wish I wore Nikes to work instead of these hig-heels - I’d probably get home faster!

By BW

January 25, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Just another example of why metro atlanta needs a major overhaul where transportation is concerned.

It amazes me that the powers to be have not gotten their act together since the Olympics were hosted here in the 90’s, that adequate transportation alternatives would be needed. The population has been growing in leaps and bounds since then and nobody had the foresight that this might become an issue!!! How stupid can gov’t be to think that building more roads/highways is the solution to this problem?

IDIOTS!!!!

By Thursday

January 25, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

I work and live in the ‘burbs, so didn’t have to deal with traffic today. This is the first I’ve heard of this mess today.

Anytime I have to go downtown, which is about once a year, I take MARTA.

I only have a 17 mile commute, and it’s straight down Peachtree Industrial Blvd from Buford to Norcross. 25 minutes.

By Karen

January 25, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

No parking at the Marta station where I normally park, but once I found a place to park across the street, it was a breeze. The train was a little crowded, but the conventioneers were much quieter than the Woodward Academy kids usually are. Now, the wait for a train Wednesday afternoon around 4 was horrible, but I digress…….

By Goldfish

January 25, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

I just got here!

By another nightmare commute

January 25, 2007 01:00 PM | Link to this

Just remember this the next time the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and city officials boast of “successful” events bringing all these thousands of people to the city to spend money. How much are today’s events costing downtown employers who operate in this city each and every day? I know I’ll be leaving early after arriving an hour and a half late. What a debacle.

By S. Smith

January 25, 2007 01:02 PM | Link to this

There’s more than enough blame to go around - start with the engineers who designed the interstate system in the downtown area - a hairpin curve, 3 connecting interstates, and on-ramps that precede offramps, making entrance and exit literally impossible in a city of hostile drivers. As for help with traffic by the APD - count your blessings when they are a no-show. And how about that multi-million dollar traffic signal system we put in place for the Olympics - it only works if consecutive red lights were the goal.

By Noelle

January 25, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

I live 3.5 miles from my office — I drive from Briarcliff and Clairmont to Clifton Road, near Emory. It usually takes me 15-20 minutes, depending on when I leave. Took me 35 minutes this morning, half that time just to get past North Druid Hills. Apparently people who usually get off 85 further south jumped off at Clairmont instead. That may not sound like much, but it’s still double my usual commute time, and I go nowhere near downtown!

By Jason

January 25, 2007 01:08 PM | Link to this

Normal day:

5 minute walk to MARTA station, average 3 minute wait for train, 4 minute ride to destination station, 3 minute walk to the office

Today:

5 minute walk to MARTA station, train pulled into the station as I walked through the gate (EXCELLENT!), 4 minute ride to destination station, 3 minute walk to the office

It was a nice commute for me! Yes the train was a bit more crowded than usual but still nothing like they are after a Braves game.

By tim

January 25, 2007 01:11 PM | Link to this

Live off Moreland. Work in Five Points. 2+ hours. My wife got out and walked once we got to the intersection of I-20 and Capitol (we always take back roads instead of the interstate). She works at City Hall and beat me by over 45 minutes.

Any suggestions for picking her back up? I can leave early and avoid most of the rush, but she can’t leave until 515 at the earliest. Someone please help!

By mcraig

January 25, 2007 01:14 PM | Link to this

All I can say is “poor babies”. So glad I don’t live in my hometown (Atlanta) anymore! I’ll take the traffic in Columbia, SC anytime.

By Ticked Off

January 25, 2007 01:21 PM | Link to this

It took me 2 1/2 hours to get to work this morning. I left my house at 6:30 and usually get to work at 7:15, but nooooo at 7:30 I was getting off I-20 on the spring street exit and from there it took me 1 1/2 hours to get to my parking deck which is at Spring Street and Marietta Street which normally take like 5 minutes max to get to. And why didn’t they announce that there is going to be stupid conventions and seminars today? I would have called in sick today!

By CM

January 25, 2007 01:23 PM | Link to this

Just over an hour and a half to go six miles down Marietta Blvd / Marietta St. Usually this is a 15-20 minute ride. The real problem was the intersection in front of Phillips Arena. They were letting dozens and dozens of cars cross the intersection on Techwood and only let five cars at a time get through on Marietta. Once I got through that mess, it was clear sailing.

By john

January 25, 2007 01:25 PM | Link to this

What traffic? I went my normal route from 14th street, to Piedmont, to Chesire, to Buford Hwy in 20 min…

By David

January 25, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this

2hrs 40 minutes from Douglasville yesterday due to a hit and run; 2 hrs 30 minutes to day due to chicken. Thanks to AJC for the wide coverage of the major conventions. NOT!!!

By P247

January 25, 2007 01:31 PM | Link to this

WHERE were the police this morning? The AJC article said that police were out all over directing traffic. I saw one, and he was near Centennial Olympic Park. Absolutely ridiculous.

By Neal

January 25, 2007 01:33 PM | Link to this

20 minutes from Windy Hill Rd to 10th St on I-75! Oh but I left home at 6am.

By happy

January 25, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

For once - I am glad I live in Macon….I used to drive to Atlanta for a day of shopping….now, no more….even on the best of days, Atlanta’s traffic is more than us out in the boondocks folks can now tolerate….oh, how I used to love that trip to Atlanta years ago and going to downtown Rich’s for a day!

By tim

January 25, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

MCraig:

It’s still South Carolina. And Columbian at that. Yuck.

(I am from Charleston).

By Ben

January 25, 2007 01:36 PM | Link to this

I live in East Cobb and commute to Emory each day—I usually take 75 to 85 to Lenox. Today I spent about 20 minutes getting from Delk to 285 (approx. 2 miles) and, not looking forward to the 1:40 it would take me to get to 85 at that rate, I jumped on 285 east to 400, which managed to save me from being irretrievably late. 400 was bad, but nowhere near as bad as 75.

By EP3

January 25, 2007 01:37 PM | Link to this

I should have known something was going on while coming from McDonough in Henry County. I-75N was an exceptionally great ride without any traffic…until I approached University Ave at 8:45, which I thought was the normal rountine. Traffic came to a stand still.

My commute normally takes a little over one hour, with traffic, to reach my office near the CNN building. I left my home at 7:50. I did not get to my office until 10:40. I spent over 2 hours on Atlanta’s surface streets,which is twice as long as I spend traveling 40 miles on 75N…IN TRAFFIC! ONE WOULD THINK THAT A WARNING WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE DAILY COMMUTERS TO ATLANTA. ITS BAD ENOUGH DEALING WITH DAILY TRAFFIC, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

…AND WE HAVE SUFFER THROUGH THIS AGAIN. (sigh)

By Beaux

January 25, 2007 01:39 PM | Link to this

3.5 hours from East Cobb to Courtland exit, starting at 7:30.

By John

January 25, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this

Traffic was bad, and for all of you who are bashing APD, I saw numerous officers working wrecks on the expressway, and all around Phillips Arena there were motorcycle police directing traffic. If you left late or planned on a last minute seminar, shame on you, APD thanks for all you do!I live and work downtown.

By SS88

January 25, 2007 01:41 PM | Link to this

To Tim ~ your wife could probably walk home faster……

By Midtown2Buckhood

January 25, 2007 01:41 PM | Link to this

I must admit, I was so confused this morning as I waited to turn right on to Piedmont Road from 10th Street. Why did I have to sit through a light? And then once I hit the entrance ramp to 400 North from Monroe, I wondered aloud to myself, “Where is the normal onslaught of traffic?!? Where are all the cars that try to duck into the left turn lane at the last minute?”

Again I thought the same thing as I turned from Buford Highway on to Lenox Road.

My commute from Midtown was made easier by all the FOOLS trying to navigate their way through downtown. And since I’ll be coming against traffic on the way home after I hit the gym, I can only assume it will be equally as pleasant.

Atlanta should have more events in the middle of the work week, especially during rush hours. Thanks “Hands On!” Hope you inspire someone to get out and walk!!

By HNH

January 25, 2007 01:42 PM | Link to this

Left at 7:45 for my commute to Buckhead and from Exit 265 I didn’t get in til 10am! At least I wasn’t the only one! 13 miles and 2 hours later!

By Mikki

January 25, 2007 01:44 PM | Link to this

My commute from Covington usually takes about 1 hour…this morning it took…1 hour and a half. Not bad at all! Thank you GRTA commuter bus! I wouldn’t trade you for the world!

Hey Intowner…if I could afford a nice house where I wasn’t afraid to go to sleep in, and taxes I could afford, I would live intown. Until then, it’s the boonies for me! And I love it!

By Adear

January 25, 2007 01:47 PM | Link to this

I agree with the rest of the victims that suffered through this morning’s surprise traffic. Someone (the AJC, GDOT, Local News) should warn those of us that depend on the roads to get to work that they will be filled with extra guests. That way, at least, we won’t be caught unaware and can plan ahead. By the way, a 20 minute trip to work was dragged out to 1hr and half. Only saw 2 police directing traffic.

By Kaaat

January 25, 2007 01:48 PM | Link to this

Barrett Pkwy (and JUST off the exit too!) to Williams @ Ivan Allen = 3 hours. 3 HOURS of my youth sucked away! And my work was calling me the whole time. I cant drive over the traffic folks! One actually had the nerve to say “couldn’t you have taken MARTA?” Ummmm…. NO. Cobb Co doesn’t WANT MARTA! arrrrggghhhh!

By mel

January 25, 2007 01:49 PM | Link to this

I live in Alpharetta and usually go 400 South to 285 West to 75 South; the ride is usually around an hour. I pulled out of my complex at 6:55am, got onto 75 South from 285 and stopped at 7:40am. By the time I actually got onto the connector, it was 9:30am. I work next to the capital and did not get to work until 10:30am. A 3 and 1/2 hour ride to work is ridiculous!

By spp

January 25, 2007 01:49 PM | Link to this

I’ve lived in Atlanta 9 years, commute 10 miles to work in 18-20 minutes (live ITP and work OTP) and have been caught in traffic only once going to/from work. Where is all this traffic that everyone talks about? Am I missing out on a secret? The roads I take are virtually empty…..

By Another Intowner

January 25, 2007 01:50 PM | Link to this

Hey, original “intowner”. I’m with you! My family and I live in a much smaller house than we would get in the suburbs. Much smaller. But we’re happy, the kids go to a great intown public school, and the traffic is meaningless to me…I;m 5 minutes from work! its all choices….intown means smaller houses but terrific neighbors, restaurants and schools. Make your own choice.

By Equalizer

January 25, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this

Poor Mikki, don’t you know crime in the city is the lowest since the mid 60s and that it is skyrocketing in the suburbs? Ever heard of gentrification? Those houses that you complain are too expensive in the city are also too expensive for the poor who have discovered how cheaply they can live in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Sleep well! Beaver Ruin Road is the future of all suburbia. Too bad you weren’t smart enough to buy intown while it was still inexpensive. Now you’re going to be upside down in your home that is worth less than the mortgage AND unable to afford a home in the city because the property values have increased.

By BLAME THE CITY OF ATLANTA

January 25, 2007 01:52 PM | Link to this

The city of atlanta does nothing to improve traffic flow except dump the problem in the laps of the cops. The city lets builders block essential traffic lanes for months at a time, the city never ever improves an intersection at an off ramp to the connector, and they let fools adjust the timing on the traffic lights. I have communted into this piece of s** city for the last 20 years, and in one month I will retire, and never, ever have to put up with that crap again. Shirly Franken is an idiot, always has been, and always will be, imho. I URGE ALL EVENT AND CONVENTION ORGANIZERS TO BOYCOTT THE CITY OF ATLANTA FOREVER. I intend to send faxes and emails urging the major conventions to boycott, and to strenthen my case, I will be sending photos of the traffic back ups, the williams street lane closure, and the stories about todays problems, including a copy of all comments posted here. Lets hit the god damn city in the pocket book, as that is all stupid shirley seems to understand.

By Jen

January 25, 2007 01:52 PM | Link to this

My commute is from Candler Park (near Midtown for those who have yet to discover the best neighborhood on the planet) to Corporate Square (just over 85 on N Druid Hills). So I am going OUT not IN. I didn’t have a clue that traffic was so bad until I went under 85 off N Druid and came back up on the other side on the service road. Then I saw all the traffic going in and thought…man, sooo glad I sold my house by Mall of GA and paid the extra $$$ to live closer….

By I AM SO MAD

January 25, 2007 01:53 PM | Link to this

HMM I LEFT LITHONIA AT 6:45 AM… I DIDNT GET TO ANDREW YOUNG INTERNATIONAL UNTIL 9:30 AM…I THOUGHT MAYBE SOME FOOL TRYIGN TO JUMP AGAIN…. BUT NOTHING FROM THE GDOT BOARD… SO I SAY WHAT’ IN GOD’S NAME IS GOING ON???

WELL LET SEE LOST A $100,000 CONTRACT BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO SECURE A DEAL WITH A SUPPLIER BECAUSE I MISS A CRITICAL WEBCONFERENECE CALL WITH A VENDOR WHO IS 8 HOURS AHEAD OF ME. GOT A NOT SO NICE EMAIL SAYING THAT HE SOLD THE LAST BATCH OF SUPPLIES THAT NEED AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 6 MONTH. WHEN YOU IN A BUSINESS DEALING WITH PRODUCTS THAT TAKE TIME TO PRODUCE - SECURING A DEAL IS CRITICAL.

SO I MISS OUT ON A SMOOTH $100,000 BUT THAT IS COOL. BECAUSE NOW I THINK I SHOULD RELOCATE TO MIAMI OR DALLAS.

I DONT LIKE USING MY BLACKBERRY ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I LIKE PEACE AND QUIET AND IT ALLOW ME TO THINK ON THE WAY TO WORK ON WHAT I GONING TO SAY.

YALL ARE TOO CAUGHT UP IN THE DIGITAL AGE… IF YOU WERE IN A MAYBACH DRIVEN BY A DRIVER THEN THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

BASHING THE FOLKS WHO ATTENDS THE SEMINAR ISNT COOL BECAUSE ONE THEY BRING MONEY INTO THE CITY. AND DONT KNOCK SEMINARS UNLESS YOU TRY ONE.. IT IS DIFFERENT FROM READING A BOOK.

MOTIVATION SPEAKING IS COOL!

TAKE A DEEP BREATH..SIGH I AINT MAD NO MORE BUT PLANNING THE BLAME GAME ISNT GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

ASK YOUR BOSSES IF YOU CAN LEAVE WORK NOW BETWEEN BETWEEN 2PM TO 8PM IT GONNA BE A LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG COMMUTTE.

BY LAW YOU ARE REQUIRE TO TAKE A ONE HOUR LUNCH BREAK AND IF YOU WORK 8 HOURS IN A DAY THEN YOU MUST LEAVE AT THE END OF THE 8TH HOUR. SO BE SMART

USE PTOS OR VACATION TIME

TRY TO GO TO THE MALL OR RESTURANT… NEED TO BREAK THE DAILY GRIND WITH SOME ACTIVITY.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF THIS IS AN ONE DAY SEMINAR?

By tim

January 25, 2007 01:53 PM | Link to this

SS88: Thanks. I am sure she will absolutely LOVE that suggestion.

our couch is rather comfortable, though.

By MARTA_Rulez

January 25, 2007 01:56 PM | Link to this

MARTA is bad but the roads are terrible. Took me 20 minutes today including a 2 5 minute walks and a 10 mintute ride.

By Ming

January 25, 2007 01:57 PM | Link to this

Could you folks from the ‘burbs please not block every intersection when you descend the city? You make matters much worse by thinking you can sneak in. Don’t.

Please don’t let the APD direct traffic. That never helps a thing. (providing people know how to read traffic lights and not to box in the intersection).

And finally, YOOHOO, AJC… why didn’t you report this yesterday? I’d have taken that horrible think called public transportation since today it would have been a joy going in both directions.

By Dee

January 25, 2007 01:57 PM | Link to this

2 hours from Delk rd to Peachtree Street. I decided to take Northside Pkwy all the way downtown and it was just as bad as taking the freeway.

By kew

January 25, 2007 01:59 PM | Link to this

Lets put it like this - I left home at 7:00am, got to work at 9:55am, but suppose to be at work at 8am. That’s a darn shame and nothing else to be said.

By Angela

January 25, 2007 02:00 PM | Link to this

1.5 hour to drive Central Avenue (near City of Atlana traffic court) to Midtown - that’s what 6 miles. GEEZ! Thanks Convention Bureau, City of Atlanta Tourism Board for the notice!! Yes, I am being very sarcastic. I too saw not one police car. Also, people - pick a lane and stay in it. In addition, if you know the lane you are travling in becomes a turn lane - do NOT even try to get in front of me. Let’s all be patient and wait our turn. You are not going to get anywhere sooner. Ok, feel a little better now.

By luvmidtown

January 25, 2007 02:00 PM | Link to this

Hey people just be happy its a clear day out.. Just imagine if it had rained today or possibly had a few snow flurries in the air..lol!!

By Greg

January 25, 2007 02:00 PM | Link to this

I left for work at 9:00 and I got to work at 9:10. I love the reverse mini commute. I hope everyone coming from exurbia enjoyed their 2+ hour long commute today. Really makes that $110,000 45,000 square foot home (with a media room) worthwhile, doesn’t it?

By Mario

January 25, 2007 02:00 PM | Link to this

Commute from Covington to Georgia State University usually take a hour with the morning traffic rush. Today it took 2 hours and 30 mins, this was only possible because I parked at Turner Field and walk to the unversity. Only 1/3 of classmates showed up because of the traffic. All this to find out my ONLY class of the day was CANCELED!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

By count_schemula

January 25, 2007 02:01 PM | Link to this

Rode my bike to Peachtree Center today. Took 8 minutes. Usually takes 7 minutes. It was insane out there! lol

By BOYCOTT POULTRY TOO`

January 25, 2007 02:01 PM | Link to this

Since the chicken farmers are part of today’s TRAFFIC problem, I urge everyone to BOYCOTT CHICKEN FOR ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THE POULTRY CONVENTION IS MOVED FROM THE WORTHLESS CITY OF ATANTA, FOREVER.

By David

January 25, 2007 02:04 PM | Link to this

I rode my bicycle to work and it took me 15 miuntes from door to door. Enjoy all of your cars you bunch of bright Atlantans!

By GeorgiaYankeesFan

January 25, 2007 02:06 PM | Link to this

This morning’s traffic woes were ridiculous - all for a 20,000 person seminar downtown. It seems to me that the fault lies with the city and event organizers. The APD should have much better intelligence (info) on events like this and the organizations should have been working with Atlanta government once they realized they would reach a certain level of attendance. It sounds as if much of this could have been avoided with a little bit of planning and common sense (for example Park and Ride Locations around the perimeter of the city that would have gotten most attendees on buses instead of so many cars). Events like these make it crystal clear that this town needs a master public transportation plan that makes access into and out of the city easier - and this means rail systems that rapidly move people through the middle of town. This city has outgrown the current MARTA system.

By John

January 25, 2007 02:07 PM | Link to this

IF ALL OF YOU BAD DRIVERS COMING IN FROM THE BURBS WOULD QUIT COMING IN TO THE CITY AND RUNNING IN TO EACH OTHER THE TRAFFIC WOULD BE BETTER, AND THE POLICE COULD CONCENTRATE ON THE OTHER TRAFFIC AND NOT YOUR ACCIDENT

By Scott

January 25, 2007 02:09 PM | Link to this

Oh My God! 2 hours this morning, and 2.5 hours yesterday morning from Douglasville to Alpharetta, and that was trying to go AROUND town on 285 (with everybody else). Big “motivational seminars” such as this should be done on the WEEKEND! Thank you ATL for no coordination, no police, no nothing. Oh, and thanks to all for the non-advanced warnings.

By SP

January 25, 2007 02:10 PM | Link to this

Atlanta DOT, Atlanta City Govt all need an overhaul.

By Bigredd115

January 25, 2007 02:10 PM | Link to this

7:45 - 9:30 for a normally 15 minute ride. Reminds me of Freak-nic!! Just not as fun!

By Bigredd115

January 25, 2007 02:12 PM | Link to this

7:45-9:15 for a ride that normally takes 15 minutes. Reminds me of Freaknic…but not as fun.

By Mikki

January 25, 2007 02:12 PM | Link to this

Hey Equalizer,

Of course I’ve heard of gentrification…all these ex-surburbanites that vetoed MARTA have gotten sick of commuting in their Hummers and Benzes, and are buying up intown properties like wildfire, making it too expensive for the majority of folks to live.

And when was this period where it was inexpensive to buy intown? 30 years ago? Sorry, I’m only 32!

By Missing Baltimore Traffic

January 25, 2007 02:13 PM | Link to this

It trully amazes me how backwards this city can be. How in the world could you possibly be blindsided by an event taking place in the heart of downtown? I am happily a native of Baltimore, MD. What happen in this morning’s commute to downtown, would never happen in my fair city. Whoever planned this event to take place in the middle of rush hour….with no warnings to commuters….should be fired. Think about the amount of money wasted to most companies who’s employers were stranded just a few blocks from their place of business. Absolutely the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen in all my years of driving.

By BEth

January 25, 2007 02:17 PM | Link to this

Entered I 85 at Beaver Ruin at 8:00AM arrived at 10th Street in Midtown at 9:55 AM. Another 10 minutes would have been my normal travel time to Chattanooga…We really do need warnings about these events in the local news the evening prior and the morning of at least.

By Rebecca

January 25, 2007 02:17 PM | Link to this

What a joke, I left my home in Canton at 745am and arrived at my job just beyond the Atlanta Airport at 11am. It would have been nice to be advised by the media ahead of time, I would have never left my house knowing traffic was this severe.

By Angry transplate

January 25, 2007 02:19 PM | Link to this

Today’s display of mass chaos, disorganization and lack of communication to the public is what you get when you have small town country bumpkins trying to manage big city infrastructure! Atlanta needs to step up if it expects to be on rank with major metros like Miami, New York, LA. and Chicago.

By John

January 25, 2007 02:20 PM | Link to this

Marta Trains …. Marta Trains …. More Marta Trains. Use Washington DC as a model. They cross multiple jurisdictions cohesively. Why doesn’t Atlanta Station have a Marta Train Station? Need More Marta Trains in metro Atlanta.

By Calm Down

January 25, 2007 02:21 PM | Link to this

2.5 hours from Vinings to downtown. Kind of comes with the territory. No big deal. My worry is that when the guv’nah gave his State of the State speech, he promised more fishing, increased speeding fines and a continued ban on Sunday alcohol sales but not ONE WORD about transportation. What a tax-cheating fat load this loser turned out to be.

By Michael

January 25, 2007 02:21 PM | Link to this

It took me 6 hours to go from Spaghetti Junction to Cheshire Bridge. I had to get up 3 hours before I went to bed last night in order to be just 5 hours late for work. I’m thinking that if I leave work for home about 30 minutes before I actually arrive, I could be home in time to catch Saturday breakfast with my kids.

By john

January 25, 2007 02:22 PM | Link to this

Hey Missing Baltimore Traffic! Baltimore is a MUCH smaller city than Atlanta! Also, Delta is ready when you are to help you leave….

By Matt

January 25, 2007 02:23 PM | Link to this

I left my house in Kennesaw at 6:05 this morning. Made it to the Mt. Paran exit by 6:20, Rescued 2 small dogs that were running down road on Mt. Paran and drove them to the emergency vet on Cobb Parkway 5 miles north of Windy Hill. Dropped them off at 7:10 and pulled into my office in Buckhead at 8:15. But at least I didn’t get stuck in traffic.

By scott

January 25, 2007 02:23 PM | Link to this

I left home at 6:30 this morning and I STILL haven’t got to the office yet!!

By Jason

January 25, 2007 02:25 PM | Link to this

Until the GOP is out there will be little to no expansion of mass transit in metro Atlanta. Moreover, even if mass transit were expanded the Atlanta metro area, at the least dense conglomeration in the world, could not support it.

By apollo

January 25, 2007 02:25 PM | Link to this

i drove to the train station this morning, which is 10 minutes from my house, and then took the train, which stops about a 10 minute walk from my job. If more places in the city were that rail accessible, Atlanta’s traffic wouldn’t be so terrible!

By Jason

January 25, 2007 02:25 PM | Link to this

The reason for traffic being so bad makes no sense. On weekends, nearly the same amount of folks, maybe only a few thousand less, pack Philips Arena for Thrashers games. However, it seems that most of the folks going to this event are simply too good to ride MARTA or take a bus. They all had to drive their Lexuses, BWMs, and Mercedes Benz… because they are afraid to take a MARTA train. Second, this event should have been held at perhaps the convention center near the airport, not Philips Arena. Philips Arena and it’s expected crowds was not designed for every single person to drive a car and park there - it was designed for folks to take MARTA - hence the station at Philips Arena. But you know dang well none of these folks are going to ride the train. Look, during the 96 Olympics, everyone thought that this is what was going to happen on a daily basis for 2 weeks. It never did. We need to pull an Olympics tonight, somehow, some way. There’s just no excuse for this much traffic. Atlanta might be a convention city, there is no doubt, but they need to train these people who are coming to our city to use trains and busses, no matter WHAT car they drive, no matter if they are a CEO or part timer peon… take the train and leave the roads to the people that live and work in this city. The event was also poorly scheduled to be on a weekday. It should have been during the weekend… oh, but wait, these kind of big-wig business folks don’t want to give up THEIR weekends… oh, they are too good for that. Lastly, there’s only one thing that TRULY belongs in Philips Arena - Thrashers hockey… so get your can’t take MARTA @$$es out of my Blueland so they can get ready for the Thrashers and Islanders game tomorrow night!!!!!!

By Comquest

January 25, 2007 02:26 PM | Link to this

Everyone dropped the ball this morning: DOT, police, radio traffic reports, TV news, et al. Before 8:00 it took me over an hour to get from I-85 at Brookhaven to my office on Peachtree.

All the while, radio stations didn’t begin to report any problem in the vicinity until around 7:30. By then, I had already been stuck in it for 45 minutes. When they finally did report it, they got it wrong - blaming multiple stop light outages at Williams and Spring. No one mentioned the thousands of people converging for the seminar and cackle convention.

There IS no excuse for the total failure in notifying the public ahead of time! Media: next time do some homework.

By Danny

January 25, 2007 02:27 PM | Link to this

Two things the City of Atlanta, AJC, WSB, etc. cannot predict…the weather and traffic. With all their techno gadgets, pie charts, slide-rules and psychic ability, they’ve never gotten either right once. Face it, we’re on our own when it comes to this. No wonder we all drink.

Let’s just give up.

By tj

January 25, 2007 02:28 PM | Link to this

Took less than 10 minutes as I live in castleberry hill….the perks of living intown are sweet! Besides…I have marta stations just blocks away!

By Brenda

January 25, 2007 02:31 PM | Link to this

A 30-35 minute commute from Union City to downtown Atlanta turned into almost two hours. The surface streets from Turner Field to John Wesley Dobbs were a nightmare. I have two questions: Where was APD? and, who didn’t have the foresight to assign officers to help with maintaining traffic flow? With all of the experience we’ve had n past years when major events were held in downtown venues on the weekends, someone had to know that two major events, the legislature in session and folks trying to get to work would be catastrophic; and that’s putting it mildly.

By Julie

January 25, 2007 02:34 PM | Link to this

It look me nearly three hours to get from Paulding to Midtown. My ride is normally 1.5 hours or less. It was an awful commute! This really concerns me… if we ever have an emergency in Atlanta (like a terrorist attack, God forbid) and people have to leave, they are not going to get ANYWHERE on our roads.

By Jason

January 25, 2007 02:34 PM | Link to this

Everyone calling for Marta’s expansion can forget about until the GOP is ousted. Moreover, even IF mass transit was expanded, Metro Atlanta is the least dense urban conglemeration in the world and could not support it. That’s what happens when everyone wants to live in a single family home on a half acre.

By scomfort

January 25, 2007 02:34 PM | Link to this

I feel for each and every one of you. This is yet another great example of why after living in Atlanta my whole life - I left. Moved to the country and now I live 2 miles from work. Yeah, I have to drive 80 miles to go to the mall - but ironically it takes me the same amount of time as it did in Atlanta.

By ej

January 25, 2007 02:35 PM | Link to this

I decided to beat my manager into work today and left at 5:20AM I think I have a 6th sense.

By bdj-durham

January 25, 2007 02:36 PM | Link to this

It is only going to get worse until Atlantans embrace a true mass transit system that EXTENDS out to the suburban collar counties. It would benefit the ATL metropolitan planners to visit Chicago and study the efficient mass transit system that extends as far out as Rockford, IL (about 50+ miles). The RTA commuter trains that moves about 500,000 bodies a day from the collar counties directly into the downtown area. A 30 mile ride from Naperville to downtown Chicago takes 30 minutes versus a 1-2 hour drive. That does not inlude CTA buses, elevated and subway trains that serve the city residents and connects to the RTA.

By Mark

January 25, 2007 02:37 PM | Link to this

It took me 2:45 to get into midtown this morning. A ride that generally takes me 50-60 minutes. I left at 7:40 as usual. I got on I-75 at the South Loop in Marietta. At 9:00am I had only gotten as far as Cumberland Blvd on I-75S. I exited hoping that Northside was a reasonable alternative. It wasn’t. It took almost another hour to get from the river to Northside HS.

By Wish I were Somewhere Else

January 25, 2007 02:37 PM | Link to this

If you think it is bad now, wait another 5 years, this city/metro area has no plan to handle the increase in traffic it will see due to uncontained growth and non-existent density limits. I’ll be glad when my divorce to an Atlanta native is done with so I can get the hell out of here.

By john

January 25, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this

HA HA HA.. I remember that traffic in Atlanta, that’s why I left. The DOT should be dismantled for their incompetence. How many times have you heard, ‘It kinda snuck up on us.’ Super Bowl traffic, Freaknic traffic, Music Midtown traffic, NBA All Star Game traffic.. The best traffic was the Olympics because everyone was so scared to go downtown.

By Jill

January 25, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this

I telecommute - took me all of 30 seconds to get work (it normally takes 15 but I stopped on the way to the office).

By CJ

January 25, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this

I noticed the ramps from I-20 Westbound to 75 /85 North began backing up around 6:40 a.m., this morning. I wasn’t sure what happended, so I took I-20 W. to Lee St.

By NoTrafficHell

January 25, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this

It took me my usual five minutes to get to work, and I walk!

By Cindy

January 25, 2007 02:39 PM | Link to this

Sorry to tell y’all this but I suggested that my husband take MARTA downtown this a.m. He said it was chilly out but a fast commute. Utilize the MARTA trains y’all!

By BossMan

January 25, 2007 02:39 PM | Link to this

Don’t just blame the DOT. Some employers have been slow to allow their employees to telecommute.

So, even if you knew that there were conventions, could you really have plan for this kind of traffic.

From one business owner to another, set up VIP or remote access for your employees! Time is really money.

By BOYCOTT ATLANTA

January 25, 2007 02:39 PM | Link to this

I REALLY DON’T GIVE A RATS A* ABOUT BRINING MORE BUSINESS TO THE CITY OF ATLANTA, THOSE CLOWNS CAN’T HANDLE WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. STUFF THAT UP YOUR BLACKBERRY, AND MOVE TO MIAMI REAL SOON.

By Don

January 25, 2007 02:41 PM | Link to this

Many of you venters wished for rapid transit closer to your homes this morning, didn’t you? If you would get over your racist prejudices,it could happen.

By Athomesafe

January 25, 2007 02:43 PM | Link to this

One morning on I-20 west, I almost got killed at the I-75/85 interchange. This driver came from the far left lane and cut in front of me to take the I-75/85 exit interchange, and I was going staight on to the Spring Street exit. He got extremely lucky in getting into the traffic flow taking the exit. This idiot could have taken a few lives doing a stupid act just to get ahead.

By Josh

January 25, 2007 02:44 PM | Link to this

I go to Georgia State and ride the shuttle bus from Turner Field, the buses were stuck in the traffic and me and about 200 kids were left to stand around for about an hour waiting on them to get there. Many students and teachers were late to classes.

By Tony Marsh

January 25, 2007 02:46 PM | Link to this

Who was the clown at the AJC who posted a story on the web at ~10am about the traffic jam saying “the northside of the connector has cleared out.” They were totally wrong. Was the story written by that Wooten idiot, taking a wild guess that “traffic always clears up by 10?” What a jerk, he should go back to delivering papers, not writing them, imho!

By luvmidtown

January 25, 2007 02:47 PM | Link to this

scomfort did you grow up in midtown, vir. highlands?

By SRC

January 25, 2007 02:47 PM | Link to this

It took me almost 2 freakin hours to get from HWY 92 to 285 …. don’t you think we could have had some warning of this convention, like maybe yesterday? I’m sure my boss loved it when I was over an hour late for work ……

By Caroline

January 25, 2007 02:47 PM | Link to this

Gloria: Amen to that!!! People who live intown are always blasting those of us who, for whatever reason, live in the ‘burbs.

It never occurs to these morons that, for some of us, living outside the city is a decision based mostly on economics. My 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in Lithonia would cost about 850,000 in the Emory area where I work. So I get up early and leave the house around 6:30 am. Believe me, if I could AFFORD to live near my job, I would. Duh! Who wouldn’t?

By Athomesafe

January 25, 2007 02:48 PM | Link to this

Atlanta cannot handle more than one event with people trying to get to work, home or personnal business. The streets and traffic light sequencing are completely horrible. Also, the jaywalkers and those going across the green at the crosswalks do not help either.

By Marta not that Smarta

January 25, 2007 02:49 PM | Link to this

I live on Memorial Drive and usually it takes about 20-25 minutes to reach downtown from my house on the bus. Today it took me an hour and 15 minutes. From Memorial and Moreland Avenue to Capitol Ave and Memorial was 45 minutes. Marta was not Smarta! My entire office was late half drove/half took Marta.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 02:50 PM | Link to this

It took me less than 10 minutes to get to work today. Why? Because I live and work in Midtown. However, I am not looking forward to the drive back tonight because I am sure there will be tons of lost suburbanites wandering around either looking for alternate routes or too afraid to venture off the path they know.

By Intowner

January 25, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this

10 minutes from Virgina-Highland to my office in Midtown - gosh it is great to live and work in the same area :-). I even hit the red light on Piedmont and Monroe - a little delay, but all in all not too bad.

Glad all the visitors are intown to help increase our tax revenue.

By Traffic Hater

January 25, 2007 02:55 PM | Link to this

OK AJC, WHAT OTHER CONVENTIONS AND CRAP DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?

Cut out the Hollywood fillers, fishing reports and other useless CRAP and report the news your READERS NEED TO KNOW.

idiots.

By Cathy

January 25, 2007 02:57 PM | Link to this

I was in traffic hell this morning. There is no better description. It took me 3 hours to get from Wade Green Road to the Emory campus. I thought I would be “smart” and inched over to the Northside Drive exit for an alternate route. Bad move. It was bumper to bumper also. At least I was able to pass a McDonalds and go to the bathroom after 2 hours. Some sort of warning would have been appreciated. Perhaps alternate arrangements could have been made.

By joe

January 25, 2007 02:58 PM | Link to this

Bad traffic? Bad NFL team? Bad Crime? Remember…It’s all Jimmy Carter’s fault!

By Tired of this mess!

January 25, 2007 02:59 PM | Link to this

Two and half hours from Bells Ferry Road off 75 south to The King and Queen towers this morning. It is time for ATL metro to seriously examine a rail system similar to other Northeastern cities.

By Outlander

January 25, 2007 02:59 PM | Link to this

I thought this blog was to relate our nightmarish trips into the city this morning, not for those people who live 5 mins from work to gloat about it. Don’t get me wrong, good for you if you have no commute. You are a lucky person.

Believe me, if I could live in the city, I would. But I can’t.

And you’re living in some sort of dreamworld if you really think that every single person who lives in an Atlanta suburb should move intown. There’s not enough available housing to even hold that many people.

By Late to work!

January 25, 2007 02:59 PM | Link to this

It took me about an hour to go 7 miles. All of that was highway driving, and it usually takes me ten minutes. What a disaster!!

By PT

January 25, 2007 03:02 PM | Link to this

for all the suburbanites, let MARTA come into your county, having an alternative is a good thing, COBB, DOUGLAS, GWINNETT, ROCKDALE, CLAYTON.. it is a win win situation. and for all those who oppose, it will not bring more crime than there are already exist in each county. I am a cobb county resident, live in smyrna, i pray for the day MARTA will be extended to cobb galleria area

By ItsJustAnOpinion

January 25, 2007 03:04 PM | Link to this

To everyone complaining about the traffic. Get over it!!! It is not something new. Atlanta has been hosting conventions here since I moved here (1986) and traffica has always been awful. Either watch the a.m. new, listen to the a.m. traffic report or get a job outside of downtown. We’ve all had to suffer through traffic and you’re no better. And to the idiot who says ATL can’t get a major event, obviously you didn’t live here when the Superbowl came to the ATL. Atlanta will always have traffic because everyone wants to live here.

By Fungirl

January 25, 2007 03:06 PM | Link to this

Don - I agree, the reason MARTA is not more widespread is due to racist attitudes. Yeah, like a robber is going to break in your suburban house in your suburban subdivision, steal your big screen TV and hop on MARTA! Get a clue, GOP! I am a rare native Atlantan and I love this city. These stupid attitudes about mass transit are holding this great city back! Citizens, get a clue! Where do you hear of most of the murders and robberies and high-speed chases occuring? IN THE SUBURBS, NOT DOWNTOWN!

By Jen

January 25, 2007 03:08 PM | Link to this

@Mikki

I’m 32, also. The right time to buy was in the early to mid 90s. We were too young.

There are still some affordable areas, especially if you don’t have kids yet and don’t have to worry about schools, such as Cabbagetown, Reynoldsville, Kirkwood, East Lake, East Atlanta, Poncey-Highlands, Old 4th Ward. They’re just starting the gentrification process. Actually, East Lake has a good elementary school. However, there are charter schools in these areas.

If you DO have kids then there are still steal to be found in Candler Park, Lake Claire, and even Inman Park, where Mary Lin is a GREAT school that feeds into Inman middle, another great school. There’s also the more suburban feeling Medlock Park and Oak Grove, and Lavista Park also good schools.

But, Morningside, VaHi, Midtown, Druid Hills…ya gotta be a trust fund baby to get into those now-a-days.

I don’t care that my house was 300K for a 3 bed/2 bath with almost no yard and no garage. I am exactly one block from the park and two from the elementary, and about 10 from work (maybe less). I can walk to a grocery store. And on the weekends these intown neighborhoods are quiet during the day.

If you live in Lake Claire there are some streets where you will see chickens bawk-bawking around. Chickens? In the city?

By cgb

January 25, 2007 03:08 PM | Link to this

It was pure frustration from Kennesaw this morning. As luck would have it, I was next to one of our wonderful state senators on 75S. I wanted to ask him why wasn’t the state working on transport.

By The Motivated Chicken

January 25, 2007 03:08 PM | Link to this

The answer is in the conflict. Make every Thursday a work at home day for everyone and only allow conventions on Thursdays!

By Georgian Idle

January 25, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this

This blog is a lot funnier than the one devoted to those who live & breathe American Idol.

By MadSmoker

January 25, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this

RIDE MOTORCYCLES YOU IDIOTS.

The HOV lane was rockin’.

Plus, we get 50-70 MPG and can go 0 - 130 in about five seconds.

Come on! Its Fun!!!

By burrdog

January 25, 2007 03:11 PM | Link to this

everyone get your @sses in the bed early tonight and wake up at five in the morning and get on the road and quit complaining. you are an imbecile if you live/work in atlanta anyway.

By brad

January 25, 2007 03:12 PM | Link to this

yes the home showcase, florida travel guide (always great to boost tourism for our neighbors), and celebrity news is great but some comprehensive coverage of the issues that effect our daily livelihood (ie. traffic) would be greatly appreciated.

By Yom Muier

January 25, 2007 03:13 PM | Link to this

If we didn’t have that god damned fish tank in down town atlanta, traffic would be a lot better. Thanks a lot, Bernie you idiot! You should have put the damned fish tank in Tele Aviv, like I advised, stupid.

By Jim

January 25, 2007 03:16 PM | Link to this

The company my wife works for bought a slew of tickets for the Motivational Seminar. She called me a little while and said she probably wouldn’t sleep tonight-they slept through most of it….apparently so did everyone else she went with. Yeah, that was worth screwing up traffic…..

AND, FWIW, she piled eight people in our van, hauled them to North Springs MARTA at 6am…so she did her best NOT to contribute to the goat rodeo.

By Garrie

January 25, 2007 03:17 PM | Link to this

45 minutes from I-20 exit at Spring Street to Marietta St. An average of three cars going through green light per light cycle. Get to Marietta St, and there is an Atlanta Police Car blocking the right hand lane, while he directs traffic at Spring and Marietta. I been commuting downtown over 30 years, and today was the worst traffic jam, I’ve seen.

By Matt

January 25, 2007 03:17 PM | Link to this

I left home in Decatur at 6:22 and was at my desk by 6:40 downtown. Your misery was quite enjoyable.

By amio173

January 25, 2007 03:18 PM | Link to this

I live in Riverdale GA I75 NB…the usual commute with traffic: 45 min to an hour (depending on how many ACCIDENTS and STALLS). Today…Smooth ride in…which was odd, til I arrived at work (in Midtown) and those who were in the AM traffic from L’ville, Kennesaw area were sharing their stories of the long ride to work…”so that’s where the traffic was!”was my thought. So now…I believe I will be HIT with the traffic GOING HOME! :O(

By John

January 25, 2007 03:18 PM | Link to this

I’m from Gwinnett and I wasn’t wishing for MARTA. Gwinnett will never vote in MARTA because 80% of Gwinnettians work in Gwinnett. Why pay for a system when only 20% of the county would actually use it. 85 wasn’t great this morning with the downtown convention, but it was better than 75 and 20 because Cobb and DeKalb do not have the industry that Gwinnett has.

By boycott atlanta

January 25, 2007 03:21 PM | Link to this

Yo ItsJustAnOpinion, its just a bloody tampon floating in your sweetandsour soup, so shut up and eat it already!

By Windblown

January 25, 2007 03:23 PM | Link to this

The notion that people who live OTP brought long commutes on themselves seems unfair to toss out there on a day like today when no one had a good experience. I live so close to downtown I can see my office building from my backyard. It still took me 45 minutes to get there. 30 minutes of sitting in traffic. 5 minutes to finally decide to give up. 10 minutes to walk the rest of the way in very, very chilly wind. By the way, there’ve been days when it takes twice as long to go the same distance. Bad commutes aren’t reserved for folks from the ‘burbs. And if you live OTP, don’t put your house for sale tonight - I bet you a lot of you have quicker commutes than intowners. It’s a roll of the dice every morning around here.

By J. Johnson

January 25, 2007 03:26 PM | Link to this

I left home this morning at 6:30 to go get motivated at Phillips Arena. I got motivated alright. Three hours later I got motivated to get and keep my butt out of downtown Atlanta. Several years ago I gave up Falcon and Tech Season Tickets because I got tired of spending half my time sitting in traffic. The people of Atlanta want everything built Downtown. If it is even suggested that a sports venue be built outside 285, it becomes a Racist issue. So the people who can afford to attend these events avoid them like the plague. I have lived in Metro Atlanta since 1969 and it just gets worse. Downtown people, you have one less person to spend money there. I love and will stay in the BURBS.

By Karl Dream

January 25, 2007 03:29 PM | Link to this

Year after year, people sit in traffic, letting their life slip away hour by hour. “Next year traffic will be better” they think wishfully. “When they add more lanes next year, it will be better.” But next year comes, hundreds of millions are spent on new lanes and yet, traffic is the same.

Year after year. Eventually retirement comes and they look back on their lives and realize that they spent a large part of it, sitting in traffic, dreaming of a magical world in which there are no tag or gas taxes, roads appear for free with no congestion, and oil doesn’t financially support terrorist. Only then, when they are about to die do they realize they wasted their lives on a unrealistic dream.

By a

January 25, 2007 03:29 PM | Link to this

the ajc is a joke, there was more coverage of american idol last night than giving anyone a heads up on this situation

By Stella

January 25, 2007 03:29 PM | Link to this

40 minutes from southwest Atlanta to Clairmont Road, using mostly surface streets, then another 10 to park and get in office. Usually takes 25 minutes from home to desk, so considering everyone else’s ride, it wasn’t too bad. Downtown was ugly, though.

By Caroline

January 25, 2007 03:31 PM | Link to this

John: I’d reeealllyy like to know where you got to stats! “80% of Gwinnettians work in Gwinnett???!!! I don’t think so. Those are the fools clogging up 85 S into downtown. Ask somebody (else).

By deegee

January 25, 2007 03:32 PM | Link to this

Cathy, LOL, thank God for McDonald’s! I love that they have doors on the side where you can enter and exit without making eye contact with the cashiers.

By Joeventures

January 25, 2007 03:35 PM | Link to this

I live in Midtown and took MARTA to work this morning. I had no idea anything out of the ordinary was happening until I saw the article about the traffic here.

For those who think living intown is unaffordable, all I can say is you haven’t looked hard enough. Unfortunately, the oversupply of single-family homes in town makes it a little more difficult than it should be to find good quality affordable housing, but that doesn’t mean it’s not here.

By Stephanie

January 25, 2007 03:36 PM | Link to this

I sympathise with those who cannot afford (or don’t want) to live intown but you really should complain to the DOT and your local government for the lack of road planning and MARTA in your area.

If everyone keeps acting like their own ‘little city’ then nothing will get done for the entire CITY which stretches across so many counties that it’s out of the City of Atlanta’s hands.

If you live in Gwinnett or Cobb or Douglas why not really make life great by telling your rep that you don’t mind paying a few cents more in taxes to get MARTA?

The choice is up to you as a citizen.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 03:36 PM | Link to this

Jen, they have recently renamed the Old Fourth Ward. It is now SoNo for South of North Ave. There are signs up everywhere. At first I was like,”Where is that?” Then I realized they renamed my neighborhood.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this

If 80% of Gwinnettians work in Gwinnett, then why are they clogging up the streets of Atlanta every night when I’m trying to get home from work? Caroline- AMEN!

By p** off student

January 25, 2007 03:42 PM | Link to this

RE:ItsJustAnOpinion “to everyone complaining…get over it…watch the news”

You have lost your mind??!! If you want to be p** about the complaints, first of all DONT READ THEM!

Secondly, there was no coverage about the problem until there was a problem, what is watching the news going to help.

I did get a report just before I headed out at 8:45 and was under the impression I should expect at max 55 mins for my normal 20 minute commute, I arrived at school at 11. I missed an entire class!!!

By Amy

January 25, 2007 03:44 PM | Link to this

Fix MARTA! Fix MARTA! Fix MARTA! Atlanta needs a public transit system that is ON TIME, SAFE and stretches further than at present. It is THE worst aspect of the city. Until that is done we the traffic won’t be remedied. No Cobb Bus Line, No Gwinett Bus Line, No GRTA — just one integrated system! Why is this so hard? MARTA is good for all of metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia.

By Teresa

January 25, 2007 03:46 PM | Link to this

I was on the GRTA bus coming from Conyers. We turned west onto MLK at the Capitol and from there it took one hour and 15 minutes to get to SunTrust Plaza. The City needs a traffic plan to be in place when it is known that events of this magnitude are going to take place!

By Jen

January 25, 2007 03:51 PM | Link to this

@John

What do you mean 80% of Gwinnettians work in Gwinnett? Hello…where in the WORLD is all that NASTY traffic on 85 coming from them?

Uh, because Gwinnett is a huge county that extends all the way to the perimeter. The truth of the matter is that even if most Gwinnettians work in Gwinnett they’re all still moving from East to West TOWARDS the city.

When I lived in Gwinnett it typically took me 1.5 hours to get to work and 1.5 to get home.

And if Gwinnettians don’t want the MARTA how come SO many of them are using the Gwinnett Express????

If we had a rail like the Metro in DC that extended out to Gwinnett then I might have stayed there.

If we had a rail like the Metro in DC that extended out to Gwinnett then all the people who live in Dacula and work off Jimmy Carter could have a nice ride in reading a book or a paper…

By T. Jones

January 25, 2007 03:53 PM | Link to this

Caroline, don’t worry about John’s made up statistics. He is likely very aware of the Ninth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness and will be very happy to burn in the fires of hell for his sins in exchange for getting more sales tax and property tax money to pave over God’s creation. What’s an eternity burning in hell compared to the joy of making sprawl developers, road builders, and politicians rich?

By INcredibility

January 25, 2007 03:54 PM | Link to this

I feel very very bad for all of you that had to deal with this. I went to Georgia Tech, so I’m very familiar with downtown Atlanta traffic, but I live in Massachusetts now. I commute in 23 miles from the suburbs to downtown Boston every day … by commuter rail. Atlanta needs to get a CLUE. The commuter rail is nice, there is a stop in every major suburban city, it’s ALL working professionals so the crime rate is virtually nil, and, best of all, if I catch the 7:45 train, I’m in the city at my desk by 8:20. Hey Atlanta, MARTA, and Shirley - maybe this disaster will help open your eyes to what’s available out there!

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 04:01 PM | Link to this

After reading the vents, I think one thing we all have in common is the fact the news, including AJC, needs to start giving everyone a heads-up on conventions so we can all make alternative travel plans. Do you hear me AJC????

By duh idiot

January 25, 2007 04:03 PM | Link to this

Scott @ 2:09 - You live in douglasville and work in alpharetta?? That makes a lot of sense. You have nobody to blame but yourself.

By Beth

January 25, 2007 04:04 PM | Link to this

You can live intown and not be rich if you’re open to diversity. I rode my bicycle from my neighborhood, Kirkwood, to my office downtown, in 12 minutes. The place was empty with everyone else stressed out and stuck in traffic. I’m going out for a ride at lunch. Enjoy your cars!

By Carla

January 25, 2007 04:05 PM | Link to this

I just looked out the window of my office and traffic is already backing up going 75 N at the 285/75 interchange.

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this

LEFT work at 3pm…the company I worked at let everyone out at 3…mission critical people were allow to leave at 4pm….

left at 2:55 pm.. took I20 was almost empty…got to Lithonia off evans mills exit at 3:20 pm… a little congestion build up at the i20/285 intersection

Companies ought to reduce the number of hours we work in a day from 8 hours to 6 hours max per day!

Solution

REDUCE THE NBR HOURS REQUIRE TO WORK IN A DAY FROM 8 to 6.

AJC and news need to let us know when an event is in town and sold out…or is a large amount of people

MAKE MARTA A STATE OWNED OPERATION

By BackHome

January 25, 2007 04:09 PM | Link to this

All this ITP / OTP rivalry is assinine. The fact is we all live / work in Georgia and the traffic inside and outside the perimeter in the metro area is abysmal. I have yet to hear serious solutions proposed by anyone in the Gold Dome and that’s the issue at hand. We’re not being served by our Representatives period.

By cc

January 25, 2007 04:12 PM | Link to this

I live in town and it still took me 45 minutes to get from Castleberry Hill to midtown (usually 10 minute commute). That said, I feel bad for those who live OTP. I totally understand their reasons for living out there and think the city should do a much better job helping them to and from work. I mean for crying out loud, we can’t all live in town!

By Eric

January 25, 2007 04:14 PM | Link to this

You’ll never see commuter rail in ATL for two reasons

• Like their guns, fat wives and Confederate Battle Flags… the good old folks in Georgia will NEVER give up driving their vehicles (mostly big old trucks they don’t really use and soccer moms driving hummers when the biggest thing they ever have to haul is their fat azz kids and their own giant hair)

• They also wonder…”If I kin git downtown on that thar train… whuts ta stowp them darkies from takin’ train upinto whar I lives?”

By Brian

January 25, 2007 04:16 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry, but this city is pathetic. I am a native Atlantan living within the city, and have done so for most of my 23 years. But there is something wrong with this city.

The big news story today is that the additional 21,000 cars leaving the two conventions is going to cause MAJOR traffic during rush hour.

Have the city and its surrounding areas even contemplated what traffic is going to look like in the next decade when 2 million people move to the metro area and and increasing number of them move into the city?

21,000 additionarl cars will be nothing. This city needs to get its act together and realize that holding 2 conventions concurrently is not such a major problem, and if it is, maybe we have an even bigger problem to deal with…

There is only one solution. We need to invest in MARTA and Commuter Rail. Until we do, this city will be a joke to people from other, transport-friendly cities.

By T. Jones

January 25, 2007 04:21 PM | Link to this

INcredibility: why should Atlanta, MARTA, and Shirley have to build commuter rail for the suburbs? Isn’t enough that MARTA is the largest rail system in the country that gets no operations funds from the state? Now Fulton and DeKalb should also foot the bill for a commuter rail system? You do know that the city of Boston doesn’t pay for the commuter rail system and gets tons of money from the state for the T, right?

Even if it had the money and desire, the City of Atlanta can’t build commuter rail out to the burbs anymore than MARTA can build their heavy rail out to the burbs.

Metro Atlanta has paved itself into this traffic nightmare and if it wants out of it, they’re going to have to start looking at the problem intelligently instead of screaming “BUUTTTTT I WANNNNTTT ROADS TO BEEEEEE THE SOOLLLLUTIONNNNN!” like a child rolling around throwing a temper tantrum by the candy display at the checkout line in the supermarket. Smart investment of transportation funds is needed but lets face it, it will be decades before the suburban hordes finally figure out that you can’t pave your way out of congestion and that they have to take responsibility for their mess instead of pointing fingers everywhere but at themselves as they have been doing on this blog.

By JP

January 25, 2007 04:24 PM | Link to this

All I can say is Welcome to the New Atlanta. Face it, Atlanta is growing to the point that we are going to double in size in the next 5-10 years. It’s only going to get worse. Other cities deal with it and we should now too. Move closer to the city or take public transportation. I’d rather spend more on a home with less square footage then spend hours in traffic.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 04:24 PM | Link to this

Hey, Burrdog why in the world would I have to get up at 5am if I live and work in Atlanta? My commute is 10 minutes- tops!

By Jen

January 25, 2007 04:25 PM | Link to this

@Jennifer

You know, I thought the SoNo was a joke. They haven’t changed all the signs yet though. I was cutting across from Ponce to North on Kennesaw and it was still Old 4th Ward. I’d gone to the Popeye’s on Ponce and 10th….

I personally prefer Old 4th. It’s got a lot more urban cred than SoNo, which makes it sound like they’re trying to be like New York. Don’t get me wrong…I love New York…but there’s only ONE SoHo…

By OldFourth

January 25, 2007 04:29 PM | Link to this

The Old Fourth Ward has not been renamed. SoNo is basically for the stretch of Peachtree St. between downtown and North Ave. This whole abbreviating thing, while cool, aint’ gonna catch on here. This isn’t NYC and the old codgers in ATL aren’t gonna be calling anything SoNo or NoNo or PoPo or anything else.

But theo Old Fourth Ward is still Old Fourth Ward. I live there.

By ChrisD

January 25, 2007 04:30 PM | Link to this

I drive 4.2 miles to work. It took me 10 minutes. I didn’t even know there was a traffic problem today. :-P

By GA Girl

January 25, 2007 04:31 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Intowner,

I am so happy that you are blessed enough to live in Sandy Spring. Not all of us can afford such luxuries…

By ChrisD

January 25, 2007 04:33 PM | Link to this

I don’t get it. 21,000 people isn’t that much in a city of 3.5 million or so. It’s an increase of only .6%. Why would that tie up traffic so much? Atlanta can’t handle a few more cars on the road?

By Mae

January 25, 2007 04:37 PM | Link to this

The only reason my trip out was of minimal difficulty was because I left the seminar at 2:45. The ride in was horrible. Remember to always leave before 3 p.m. in Metro Atlanta

By marie

January 25, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this

I left my house @ 6:38am and was inside Philips Arena by 7:30am readyt to get pumped up. I LOVED the event and was well worth the traffic. One of my co-workers was 10 min behind me on the highway and it took her three hours to get from Alpharetta to Philips. Ouch! I left the arena at 3:30 and was on couch checking my email before 4:30pm. My friend that was 10 min behind me again (due to parking lot issues) is still stuck down town. I sold my house in the burbs and moved IPT. What a great idea that was - I am home in time to make dinner later for my family and my stress level is reasonable.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

When I moved onto Piedmont and North Ave. it was the Old Fourth Ward. Now signs are up all over saying it’s SoNo. I think it’s silly.

By Motivated Driver

January 25, 2007 04:53 PM | Link to this

Hello Bushwacker. Get Motivated seminar attendees take the high road. We are too motivated to see the days event in a negative perspective. Please attend the seminar next year and you will take the high road too. :)

By Hot to Trot

January 25, 2007 04:56 PM | Link to this

Will everyone please stay off their effing cell phone while driving, especially in gridlock, I almost got sideswiped twice this morning.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 04:58 PM | Link to this

Chris D: I think the 3.4 million is actually more like 4. something million now, and that includes the metro area. The City of Atlanta does not have that many people actually living here. That population is more like 470,688, as of July 2005.

By Jennifer

January 25, 2007 05:03 PM | Link to this

Motivated Driver: I was so motivated this morning that I drove to work.

By yoye

January 25, 2007 05:05 PM | Link to this

ATL needs a comprehensive, strategic Transporation Plan…and a Team to lead its implementation. Transportation is the major burden for this city to grow and remain competitive in the future. Popular local thoughts that by having your ‘own’ city, transportation will be solved, is misguided and shortsighted and ineffective. Transportation Plan has to include all 15 counties metropolitan area and should consider private and public sytem including MARTA, subway, light train and, new highways.

By Drew W.

January 25, 2007 05:07 PM | Link to this

This morning I left my home in Smyrna at 8:30 AM & got to my office in Midtown in about 45 minutes. My route takes back roads and does not touch 75 or 285 at all.

I took the same route home. Leaving the office at 3:45 PM & I was home before 4:15.

Atlanta traffic is a non-issue if you know how to get around the trouble spots.

By kay

January 25, 2007 05:07 PM | Link to this

the atlanta infrastructure is bad under normal conditions. i would think that until the traffic situation in downtown atlanta is corrected, we should not be having all the conventions/seminars or at the very least not have them start/dismiss during rush hour traffic. we cannot handle regular daily traffic without the influx of conventions.

By Carla

January 25, 2007 05:13 PM | Link to this

The ride home was worse than this morning. I work 5 miles from home but because all of the downtowners got off early and because the lights on Cumberland Parkway were out, it took me 30 minutes. And I called myself leaving early to beat the rush. However, Cobb County cops were out at the major intersections directing traffic.

By AKS

January 25, 2007 05:17 PM | Link to this

A normal 45 minutes to 1 hour commute from Douglasville to my job at CNN Center took 3 1/2 hours this morning! I left my home at 6:30am, I-20 was actually moving fine, then I got off at the Spring Street exit like always and I was literally just on the exit ramp for 1 hour 15 minutes. After getting through that first light it took another hour and a half to make the three mile trip to CNN’s parking deck. I was almost two hours late to work, then to make matters worse on my lunch break the entire CNN Center food court was gridlocked with people trying to get some lunch. I didn’t even bother eating since the lines alone would have taken my whole lunch hour to get through. Now I’m stuck waiting around at work to avoid the evening rush hour extravanganza about to start and won’t leave here till at least 8pm. No overtime for that, and the police asking people to leave work early is a joke. After everybody arrived two hours late we’re supposed to ask our bosses if we can leave early?!

By David

January 25, 2007 05:18 PM | Link to this

Wow. I feel fortunate. I left McDonough at 7:45, and had a normal hour-fifteen drive to north Buckhead. I’m hoping my fortune applies coming home … but I doubt it.

By Caroline

January 25, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this

I agree with @ Drew W.: if you know the side streets and how to avoid the interstates, you can have a usually trouble-free commute.

I travel from Lithonia to Emory and never use the interstates. It takes about 40-50 minutes, but it is usually an easy commute.

By Time to move suckers!!!

January 25, 2007 05:23 PM | Link to this

Atlanta-The City That Can’t Get Out of It’s Own Way.

I was there for 14 years and it amazed me how clueless the city traffic managers are. They have zero clue about how to handle regular traffic and even less of an idea when there is an event. People wonder why Atlanta has trouble attracting major events? Because the dumb hicks running the joint screw everything up. I was SO happy when I moved to Miami and laugh at the traffic here. I can get 25 miles to the office in 35 minutes during rush hour. It’s only going to get worse, get out while you can!

By Missing Baltimore Traffic

January 25, 2007 05:26 PM | Link to this

Hey John:

Try looking up the city comparisons on size…and you’ll see for yourself. Baltimore is the 18th largest city in the U.S. Well ahead of Atlanta ranked at 36. Your….not mine.. fair city could learn a little bit from the Charm City.

By silver

January 25, 2007 05:27 PM | Link to this

yoyie- everytime I see the words comprehensive and strategic, I picture a bloated government boondogle, kinda like Marta, but worse. Save the big words and ideas for your kids kindergarten graduation.

By Terry

January 25, 2007 05:48 PM | Link to this

All of you complainers, why was it not your fault you were late. 21000 extra cars (no carpooling in the benz) will clog up any area, traffic plan or not. I drove around Atlanta ths Morning and traffic was heavier than usual, but I expect that. Every media sourse in the world cound have warned you, What would you really have done….drove anyway, so don’t blame APD,DOT, THE MAYOR or anyone else, well maybe yourself. Had you planned ahead and checked traffic you would be ok. If you don’t like the traffic or Atlanta, the outbound traffic was fine this morning…..

By Woodie

January 25, 2007 05:53 PM | Link to this

The problem is not that 21,000 cars will cripple the roads or downtown. The problem was there was not enough parking downtown, causing the intown roads to clog, spilling into the expressways where it caused a classic gridlock scenario. These convention-goers should be riding MARTA. Unfortunately, Cobb and Gwinnett and all outlying counties will not fund MARTA, so MARTA is terribly inconvenient for them. So thank the dummies in Cobb and Gwinnett and all the other outer counties for this mornings commute problem. And they want to make a Milton County??? Doh!

By Rude, Inconsiderate Commuter

January 25, 2007 05:58 PM | Link to this

I don’t know why everyone is complaining about the commute today.

I’m typing this message on my laptop while driving 30 mph in the far left lane of I-75 North in my minivan.

I don’t know why everyone behind me are flashing their lights and honking their horns.

They must be racists or something.

By Not Surprised

January 25, 2007 06:08 PM | Link to this

thank goodness the little CNN traffic cop was out there to let 3 people at a time cross the street, backing up thousands of cars.

and… how bout we finish the freakin construction all over downtown and midtown before we have events that add 50,000 people to the rush hour?

Marta is smarter - when you have some ADVANCE FREAKIN WARNING!!!!! even then, it’s not that much smarter. case in point: the last time it took me 3 hrs to get to work - when i sat on a stalled Marta train.

By SS

January 25, 2007 06:23 PM | Link to this

TOok me two hours to drive 18 miles from East Point to Toco Hills to my work. I have lived here all my life, but this has become a quality of life issue. I will move in a heart beat if I can find a comparable job. Atlanta just does not get it. Why allow conventions of this size and progrtams of this size to occur during rush hour if the city cannot control the gridlock? Answer: the city wants the revenue and is not only inept but does not care about the quality of life for its citizens. Sad.

By yellowjacket186

January 25, 2007 06:39 PM | Link to this

Hey Baltimore:

Try looking at the Metro Area comparisons, not just tiny cities. Atlanta is not that large compared to the entire Metro Atlanta area. The Metro Atlanta area has almost 5 million people and ranks 9th in the US. That’s being compared to the Baltimore Metro Area with half that many people ranking 19th. What!?! Get your facts straight before you try to bash a city. If you miss Baltimore so much, move back there, no one will miss you here.

By yellowjacket186

January 25, 2007 06:40 PM | Link to this

Btw here’s the website I got my info from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofUnitedStatesmetropolitanstatisticalareasbypopulation

By RobinS

January 25, 2007 07:15 PM | Link to this

hey yellowjacket186….gotta love your southern hospitality there buddy!

I was 2 hours 15 minutes from Fayette County to the Hyatt this morning, 45 mins on the way home, leaving at 6 pm.

By Jason

January 25, 2007 07:55 PM | Link to this

Right on T.Jones! And I’ll say it again. Atlanta CANNOT support rail mass transit into the hinterlands of Cobb and Gwinnett, not to mention the sparsely inhabited (relatively) outer counties such as Cherokee, Forsyth, Henry, Fayette…Until people realize that sprawl is EXTREMELY ineffecient and that it’s impossible to pave our way out of this situation traffic will only get worse. And for those you bemoaning the fact that “you can’t afford intown” maybe take a look at the size of your house, the car you drive. If it’s you and a partner, do you really need a 3000 sq foot home?

By Bradley

January 25, 2007 09:08 PM | Link to this

I didnt know there was a convention in town; Marta was on time at Avondale Station; I got to work on time. It was crowded but I had a seat on both east-west and north south train to Buckhead.

I laugh when I hear all you d******* sitting in traffic for three hours…move closer to the city or call your representatives in your dumbass counties and demand they do something to promote transit and commuter rail instead of doing things against rail and transit projects. MORE roads wont fix the 7 million people expected here in 5 years..traffics only going to get worse and you guys will only sit in more traffic while I ride MARTA and even doze off at times like I did on my way home tonight….

sorry but I wont go back to my suburban hell jobs!

By Yeah Right

January 25, 2007 11:57 PM | Link to this

OK first of all I had read through all of the respsonses and I would just like to say I am tired of reading about people living in ITP! Big deal you pay 1200 for a small box just to not have traffic and to be close to everything local. Some people like living OTP or due to their salary can only afford to live in OTP. Get over it already. Next Fayette County will NEVER have Marta coming to that side of town. They don’t want a Hooters resturant or a Liquor Store! Also they complain about the black people from Clayton, Fulton, & Dekalb Conty shopping in Fayetteville already. Do you really think they want some more to come down and join the rest of them! Traffic is here to stay in Atlanta. If you can’t deal with it I suggest you get on some Prozac or change states…

By Jen

January 26, 2007 12:55 AM | Link to this

@Yeah Right

You know, as someone who used to live OTP because she had to I sympathize. A lot of people just CANNOT reconcile paying 275K for a 1700sqft, 3bd/2bth home with absolutely no yard and only one off street parking spot.

And I get that. I DO. For THREE years I lived off Old Peachtree Rd, off GA20 (ie, close to Mall of GA). There I had a 4 bedroom/3bath home with TWO living rooms with almost an acre of land. I paid 144K for it.

I had a wonderful neighbor there. She was older and a SAHM but we really had a good time together gardening and going hunting for plants. I miss her a LOT. But the entire 3 years I lived in that subdivision I only knew HER (and her family, but not as well).

Then circumstances changed for us. I was already working in the city. My husbnd was not. And then suddenly he WAS. And we realized that our son was starting kindergarten that Fall.

So we thought…do we stay in our suburban home, 30-some-odd miles from where either of us work, and where our son would be…or do we move into a shoebox, 3 miles or so from work and be able to get to our son in 15 minutes?

So, we sold our big house in the burbs and moved into a tiny postage stamp house in the BEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE WORLD….Candler Park near Midtown and Emory.

Yeah…the price of the houses is at least triple what they were by the Mall of GA. But…we can walk to a really great park because it’s one block over…the elementary school is just 2 blocks down…and work is not but 3 miles away.

The trade off for the bigger house and the bigger yard is peace and quiet. Everyone thinks of the city as a haven for breaking bottles and screaming victims.

But me…I fall asleep at night to the sound of the MARTA train passing every few minutes. It’s soothing and it’s the only noise I hear other than my wind chimes.

Tomorrow I will wake up and walk with my son down to the Flying Biscuit Bakery where he will get a hot chocolate and a chocolate chip cookie. Then I will walk him to school. Then I will walk back home and go to work.

I know I am paying for it but I am SOOOOO much happier now.

And did I mention? In the 3 years I lived in my suburban home I only got to know my one neighbor? In the first 6 months I lived in Candler Park I knew everyone on my street….

By Traffic Buster

January 26, 2007 09:28 AM | Link to this

I took the train and did not even know there was a traffic problem until I got to the office.

By hoverman

January 27, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

As a visitor to Atlanta…. Your stories don’t mention the traffic congestion summit that was on at the Westin on Thursday….(ironic)… Few new ideas, and some presenters said congestion means you are a successful city…. Plenty believe congestion can’t be beat…. An exhibit at that summit suggested a new way: the HOVER system…. This is described at a website that suggests we can create a ‘parking solution’ by creating ‘flexible carpooling’…. You can even tell them about your commute….