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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Time for mass transit in Gwinnett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was May 5, 2006, as prices were hovering right around the $2 mark, when a certain blogger suggested those who were complaining about it go to a mirror and point a finger at themselves.
I was laughing then- and two years and nearly two months later - still am.
Many of you would probably beg to pay those prices again right about now. What is happening now is exactly what I predicted, hoped, would happen.
Change.
Not the kind that Obama or any other politician is promising or even has on his radar. Real change. Market reaction is changing people’s habits — how they behave and live.
MARTA’s ridership is up 7% and Gwinnett County Transits ridership is up 17% (from March 2008 to May 2008) according to one report.
This sets up a chain reaction of positive events yet to come.
More and more now accept mass transit across America. That will lead to the expansion of mass transit systems reaching thousands more riders. Which means more and more people off the roads which, of course, will help traffic congestion. That will lead to a decrease in pollution, a better environment and a decreased dependence on oil.
Win. Win. Win.
Drilling for oil in areas such as Anwar or off the Gulf Coast of Florida will not have any immediate impact, nor is it any sort of long term solution. It just feeds into the problem. It’s not worth it.
Promoting better fuel economy and encouraging the production of fuel alternatives is a nice idea, but it also is no immediate nor the long term solution that Americans need.
Widening roads is just a complete waste of time, resources and money.
The solution is to change the way people commute. The one solution no candidate is really talking about.
Current systems already in Metro areas need to expand further into suburbia while at the same time making them more efficient. Metro areas without mass transit, need to step up and get the ball rolling.
Instead of pushing for better car batteries and fuel efficient vehicles.. the candidates should be encouraging Detroit to reinvent itself and develop cheaper more efficient and effective mass transit technology.
It’s time Gwinnett and the rest of Metro Atlanta make mass transit a reality and truly accept a -real- long term solution. Gas prices are not going to go down anytime in the near future - if ever.
No more complaining. Open your eyes. Its time mass transit became a reality in Gwinnett County.
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