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DEL.ICIO.USPerdue on transportation: He endorses commuter rail, and discovers a sense of urgency
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After six years as governor, Sonny Perdue on Thursday got down to the details on transportation — telling reporters he was ready to support a test case for expanded commuter rail.
Specifically, he endorsed an Atlanta-Griffin route, a project that has federal funding lined up, even though it might not have the ridership as rail on Atlanta’s north side might have. “If it [succeeds], there are certainly other areas of Georgia that can benefit,” he said.
Listen to his 10-minute press conference here. Yes, it’s that important.
Perdue talked about a possible need for “additional resources.” He didn’t use the word “taxes,” but he talked about the need to consider transportation spending as a long-term “investment.” In the past, that has been how some Republicans make the leap.
“I think we need more transit options,” the governor said, pointing to overcrowded buses as a result of $4-a-gallon gasoline.
Perhaps the most significant shift in Perdue’s outlook is this: Months ago, the governor was a “first that, then this” kind of guy on traffic and transportation. Fix the Department of Transportation, then we’ll talk about more transportation funding.
Today, the operative quote from his press conference was this: “We’ve got to fix it while we’re flying.” Urgency was the one thing missing from his past statements on transportation, and it was a centerpiece of this one.
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Comments
By mrk
June 12, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
Looking at other major cities like Boston, New York and Chicago…why is Atlanta even thinking about using rail transportation to and from the city. Atlanta can only build so many highways in and out of the city. If Atlanta could build a hub to get people around the city, then provide rail to the surburbs…more poeple would use the train instead of fighting the traffic and parking issues, wouldn’t they? Just my thoughts.
By Wow
June 12, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Well, it’s about time Sonny got on board with rail, and this line needs to go to Macon and Savannah!
But I have to say this: GA Democrats didn’t do jack for rail & transit when they ran the Gold Dome, whether Roy Barnes, Tom Murphy, DuBose Porter, Calvin Smyre, etc.
mrk is right: We need commuter rail to the ‘burbs, and also to other big cities like Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, Birmingham, etc. We already have the big airport, so invest in making Atlanta the main rail hub too, so THE transportation hub in the Southeast is the ATL, because to be honest, Charlotte is kicking our butt these days when it comes to attracting business.
Transportation is Georgia/metro Atlanta’s ace in the hole.
By JK
June 12, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
MARTA is the only transit system of its kind that does not receive state funds, for those of you who are wondering why it doesn’t function as efficiently as transit systems in other cities. The people of South Georgia are adamantly against “wasting” their tax dollars on anything that would benefit this part of the state, in spite of the fact that the population and economic growth in Georgia happens at our inconvenience, not theirs. It’s another example of the backward thinking that keeps us at or near the bottom of every list. Transit is good. Build it; we’ll ride it, and we can all respect ourselves in the morning.
By Brian
June 12, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
This is good movement but I hope the Griffin line isn’t a litmus test for all rail. While there is money for that one, the line to Athens and potentially to Cobb and other areas with destinations on the other end have a lot more potential. Exciting to see movement on this issue.
By Agreed
June 12, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
Brian’s right. I can’t wait for an Athens line, and a line to Cobb County is long, long overdue.
Roy Barnes wanted the Outer Perimeter. I’ll take an Outer Perimeter train line, not a new highway.
Thank you Sonny Perdue for finally supporting rail!!!
By Jeremy
June 12, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
I’ve hoped for 6 years to hear this sort of leadership coming from the Gold Dome… I can’t say how happy I am that Perdue is taking this tactic on.
By Paul
June 12, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
State Transportation Board members Larry Walker, Bill Kuhlke, Emory McClinton, Dana Lemon and others are the real heroes. Governor Perdue just turned off his ‘tacit opposition’ and let the state transportation board do the right thing. The Athens-Atlanta line (starting with phase 1 out of Gwinnett County) will be next.
By G-man
June 12, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
The LoveJoy route may turn into what happened in Denver. Denver had enough of a grass roots movement to push the issue and got the legislators to allow for and fund a section of line that wasn’t where there was the greatest need. Colorado legislators felt that it would fail. Ridership exceeded expectations, so they built more. I think with the price of gasoline as high as it is, ridership will exceed expectations. It would have been nice to see more forward thinking this legislation, but better late than never. Hooray for the governor acting!
By buck
June 12, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
Barnes set rail in motion in GA. Both the Athens to ATL and Lovejoy to ATL lines were originally proposed pre-Perdue, the latter receiving federal funding. You probabl forgot because it’s been so long since any action has been taken~6 years.
By Danny
June 12, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
A blackhole waiting to happen. Bankrupt GDOT? That’s what Sonny did.
By onlycritter
June 12, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Come on here! Can’t you see what is going on? It is called an election year people! The GOPers want to keep their hold of the Dome! Of course Purdue is talking fixes! He has to lest his buddies get voted out in November. Come April next year, we’ll still be no closer to solving the problems. Face it, Georgia is on downward path. Let’s all move to Charlotte!
By SoccerMom
June 12, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
I was excited about the commuter rail service to Athens when it was first proposed - while I was at UGA in the early 1990s. Hopefully it will become a reality before before my children attend (hopefully) UGA.
By Jason
June 12, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
From the AJC on January 28, 1999:
After studying alternative ways to move people around the Atlanta metro area without adding to existing traffic congestion, the Georgia Rail Passenger Authority on Wednesday approved a plan for a 68-mile commuter rail line from Atlanta to Athens.
The trains could start rolling in as little as four years if everything falls into place smoothly, said authority Chairman Jack Martin. The plan calls for trains to run over existing freight rails, with eight stops between Atlanta and Athens, at a cost of $114 million.
The other alternatives studied by the authority were a “no-build” option—making no changes, offering commuters no choices other than their current options of driving or taking existing bus or MARTA routes to work—and a new commuter bus line from Athens to Atlanta. Neither alternative adequately met the authority’s criteria of improving transportation service in the metro area, reducing highway congestion, encouraging economic development and improving the area’s air quality.
Martin said the authority still has to negotiate federal funding for the project. Talks between the authority and CSX Railroad, which owns the lines the commuter trains would use, are under way and making progress, he said.
Need for the commuter rail is driven not just by congestion on area highways but by job growth in the area, officials say. For example, “Gwinnett County has become a job-base community,” said Gwinnett Commission Chairman Wayne Hill. “It is going to become as important to come from Athens to Gwinnett (to work) as it is from Gwinnett to downtown Atlanta.”
The rail line also is expected to serve university and business communities in Athens and at Emory University. Stops have been proposed for Bogart, Winder, Dacula, Lawrenceville, the Ronald Reagan Parkway, Lilburn, Tucker and Emory, with terminals in downtown Athens and at Five Points in Atlanta.
The next step in the project is a combined environmental impact and preliminary engineering study. That could begin this spring, Martin said. A final design study would commence about a year later, said authority executive director Arthur Vaughn.
This could have already been in place and running for years now! Who killed Metro Atlanta’s competitiveness for new business? Sonny did!
By DaninMacon
June 12, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
Could I carry my handgun on the new rail system?
By OrangeRed
June 12, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this
Good job identifying what Sonny was doing, Jim (‘first that, then this’). A good writer can articulate what others can only sense. When I read your article, I knew that that was what I considered wrong with Sonny’s approach but just didn’t quite have the phrase to describe it.
No matter what Sonny’s motivations may be, at least he’s on the right track now. But actions speak louder than words!
By gafarmer
June 12, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Yes DaninMacon,by all means carry your gun. You know us country folks in South Georgia can’t trust folks in metro.
By R1070
June 12, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
About Freakin Time!!! Jeez
By Joey
June 12, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
This is a GREAT idea Sonny. Funding issues? Again, I can’t help but go back and point at the 2c gas tax you postponed. That roughly 30cents per fill-up would have been paid for not only by Georgians, but anyone passing through the state; It would have given us a good $80 million in revenue to help make commuter rail happen. I wish you guys in the capitol would think ahead to ideas like this and not in the moment when you promise a 2 cent “tax cut” just to get some face time on the 5 o’clock news. Keep thinking outside of the box on rail- it’s a good idea.
One last thought- once you get these commuters downtown, then what? Dump them off on a random street by CNN center? For me to ditch my car, you’re going to need to “complete the link”, and that means helping FUND and fixing MARTA so I can get to my office once I am in the downtown area.
By brad
June 12, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
Ha- This guy is such a joke
By Liguria
June 12, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
Is it voting time?
By Harry
June 12, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
Heavy rail is not efficient or cost-effective in this market. There are better solutions.
By Patrick
June 12, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
Harry, all that matters right now is energy efficiency. Nothing is more energy efficient than rail (except barge traffic, but be my guest digging canals from Atlanta to Alpharetta) so that’s where our investment needs to go. Buses are great but can only hold so many ppl before you need another one, which burns more and more fuel. We’re seeing this on GRTA Xpress buses right now. When a passenger car fills up on a train you can just add another car; the same engine pulls it and barely suffers any hit in energy efficiency since the friction coefficient of rail is so low. Nobody is asking folks to ditch their cars, but it makes a hell of a lot more sense to drive to your nearest rail station a few miles away, park your car and take the train the 40 or so miles to Atlanta rather than drive the entire way. This will be a hell of alot cheaper than adding another two lanes to I-75, which will do NOTHING to ease the high cost of gas. Thats why commuter rail, contrary to your argument, is cost effective.
By SUBURBAN OVERLORD
June 12, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
Some of you are going to get your hearts broken, again, with a bunch of empty promises.
When you hear our Dixiecrat Governor Sonny and his poodle Lt. Gov. Casey utter the term “statewide funding solution,” grab your wallets metro Atlanta! This is code for CONTINUE TO RAPE THE POCKETBOOKS OF METRO ATLANTA TAXPAYERS TO SUBSIDIZE WASTEFUL RURAL ROAD WIDENING PROJECTS AND YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL WE LET YOU KEEP SOME OF THE CRUMBS IN METRO ATLANTA.
The commuter rail money has already been allocated by Congress for the Griffin commuter rail. Former Senator Coverdale, God rest his good soul, was the person who worked to get this money in the 1990s. Sonny, in all his benevolent generosity, wants a round of applause for NO LONGER OBSTRUCTING THE PROJECT!
During Governor Sonny’s administration, the state has almost bankrupt Georgia DOT by issuing debt to build a huge portion of the wasteful rural GRIP roadway widening program. This was done while many metro Atlanta’s road projects in Governor Sonny’s alleged “Fast Forward” bond program HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT AND SIT ON A SHELF. Why buy into another initiative if he won’t deliver on one sitting on the table?
Please Governor, no more phony initiatives, no more of the behind the scenes potty-mouth temper tantrums, and no more bullying. Other than the “empty suits” in metro Atlanta’s state senate delegation, no one is falling for phony studies and empty initiatives.
By ViewFromMidtown
June 12, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
Hmm… interesting move by Sonny-Come-Lately; guess the outcries from the fed-up business community finally made it politically expedient for him to do the right thing. Up ‘til now he’s just been too busy gay bashing, protecting Sundays from alcohol, and, oh yeah, promoting fishing as the next great spectator sport(right after tiddlywinks). It’s about time, Sonny Per-Do-Nothing!
By killa
June 12, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this
Its the only thing that is Missing. We have the airport, the population, the business, the retail, and everything else. We just need some better transportation
By Harry
June 13, 2008 12:19 AM | Link to this
Here my ideas that I submit are better than non-efficient, non-cost-effective heavy rail which is being driven by special interests: ..Lay light rail down the right lane of expressways. ..Allow citizen taxis and encourage more jitney carriers. ..Set up a CraigsList type application where people can make offers and bids on bespoke transportation services.
By Confused
June 13, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
Griffin? Really? Wow. Thanks.
By akobyli
June 13, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
this is ridiculous. i wonder too little too late. i think charlottee is sounding better and better these days.
By akobyli
June 13, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
this is ridiculous. i wonder too little too late. i think charlotte is sounding better and better these days.
By zeke
June 13, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this
What an utter waste of taxpayer money!!!!!!!!!!!
By Harry
June 13, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
Charlotte? Charlotte has a little light rail line that runs just a few miles, that’s all. Anything North Carolina ever does with heavy rail will be a joke due to lack of density.
By andres
June 13, 2008 5:06 AM | Link to this
Rail is essential to moving large numbers of people efficiently.
Until now, Gov. Chicken and the Chicklettes have been almost criminally negligent on the mass transportation front.
I do earnestly hope that thay have finally wised up.
By webspinner
June 13, 2008 5:51 AM | Link to this
Why Lovejoy and Griffin? Somebody please explain. There’s no there there. ATL to Chattanooga, yes. ATL to Athens, I get. But ATL to Griffin. Why?
By JD of ATL
June 13, 2008 6:01 AM | Link to this
One only has to consider the years of jammed highways and multitude of press prevously published on the subject of improving Atlanta’s commuter situation….duh! Now Sonny Gov see’s the light? Check webster’s and you’ll see a picture of the DOT and Sonny as dumb a* poster children of title “too little too late”. It took $4 gas to convince Sonny he might need to plan ahead? Gotta love politicians…esp the ditsy ones.
By concerned
June 13, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
Why don’t all of you who are so concerned about the evironment and congestion move back into the city instead of living 40, 50 or 100 miles away and expect everyone else in the state to pick up your bill and make your life easier. Save the tax dollars and the environment and move.
By Disgusted
June 13, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Dear Concerned
If everyone who worked in Atl, moved back to Atl, where would the current denizens go? As property values rise due to demand, the lower income bracket has to find affordable housing, and guess what? That would result in rural Georgia’s worst nightmare.
“They” would move “here’ to live.
Rail transpo?? Perdue is so far behind the times on this it’s laughable, he’s had how many years to figure this out? NOW it’s important?? I’m betting Sonny doesn’t spend much time on the interstates, I don’t work in Atl, (thank heavens!) but have stopped even going into the city due to the ridiculous drive time, the idiots who think they’re at the Speedway, and the others who are multitasking while driving. Put in rail transpo? And everyone wins.
By concerned
June 13, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
I hope everyone soon begins to see the big picture. Rail sounds good in the short run because it saves the $4/gal gas but once prices come down, and they will once the election is over, people will go right back to their cars and the state will be left with a continuous multi-million dollar albatross of maintaining rails and passenger lines that have no passengers not to mention the huge outlay it will cost to build the lines. Who’s gonna pay for the trains when people stop riding, TAXPAYERS across the state.
By Louella
June 13, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
That federal money has been lined up since Perdue took office and removed the required matching state funds from the budget. Nice to see you on board after all these years, governor.
By It's time
June 13, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Funny how rail haters have no problem with spending billions upon billions for massive road projects originating from heavy lobbying by road builders.
Rail works, whether in Chicago, Portland, Boston, etc. Even Dallas, Houston and Salt Lake City are adding rail.
By JK
June 13, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
It’s okay to text message, apply mascara, and fine-tune your power point presentation on a train. Please get on one and stop doing those things while driving! Thanks.
By Patrick
June 13, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Concerned,
Gas prices follow the crude oil market, not election cycles.
By NetBanker
June 13, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
How wonderfully refreshing to see so much citizen support for rail and realization that the governor’s move isn’t leadership at all. As a former resident of several Northern states and foreign countries with good rail systems I say it’s about time! Even if gas prices do fall once you’re accustomed to rail it’s hard to go back to the car. I all but cried when my company moved from Midtown to Norcross knowing that I’d have to give up my MARTA train for The Perimeter. While the train wasn’t necessarily faster than driving to Midtown my commute time was put to use working which meant I could leave the office on time instead of working late and no road rage when I arrived at home. Goodness knows that at $52.50 for a monthly rail pass that’s less than the cost of a single tank of gas.
Obviously if it was possible to pave our way out of traffic congestion we wouldn’t be in the current situation. Rail (light, heavy, mono) is the only alternative to get vehicles off our existing roads.
By betty boop
June 13, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Sonny and the Ga Legislature have had numerous opportunities to do something about mass transit. Marta is the only large metro rapid transit authority that receives NO STATE FUNDS. And Sonny has just discovered that we are in crisis — how about the fact that he has ignored it his entire time in office.
Funny how he has become so concerned during a presidential election year when he has even been rumored to be a contender for some post in the Republican admin — even a spot on the ticket. What with gas heading for five bucks a gallon and the economy in the toilet and Ga being one of the highest foreclosure states in the country, Sonny had discovered mass transit. Betty Boop salutes him, Yea Sonny — buy your marta pass before they run out. Betty Boop
By betty boop
June 13, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Sonny and the Ga Legislature have had numerous opportunities to do something about mass transit. Marta is the only large metro rapid transit authority that receives NO STATE FUNDS. And Sonny has just discovered that we are in crisis — how about the fact that he has ignored it his entire time in office.
Funny how he has become so concerned during a presidential election year when he has even been rumored to be a contender for some post in the Republican admin — even a spot on the ticket. What with gas heading for five bucks a gallon and the economy in the toilet and Ga being one of the highest foreclosure states in the country, Sonny had discovered mass transit. Betty Boop salutes him, Yea Sonny — buy your marta pass before they run out. Betty Boop
By R. Hambrick
June 13, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
What about fixing Cobb County! No bus transportation on Sunday and Holidays. Can Marta take over CCT or what needs to be done for Cobb to realize that the population growth requires a fully functional bus system. I can understand a little about Holidays, but Sunday, give me a break!
By betty boop
June 13, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
R. Hambrick, I feel right sorry for you; but, when Marta (which despite its faults runs holidays and weekends) originally formed, Cobb was asked to participate in the one cent sales tax and participate in the system. In the county’s Repub arrogance, they declined. By now you would have had rapid rail, buses on holidays and weekends, and you would have been able to avoid that nightmare trip down 120, 75, Powers Ferry, 120 loop, 42 and all the other monumentally clogged arteries in and out of Cobb County. Too bad, so sad.
Gwinnett passed on the same opportunity and is choking in its own exhaust fumesl.
Both Gwinnett and Cobb had lost their growth rates to Henry County which is now the fastest growing county in the metroplex. Let’s hope they can profit from previous mistakes.
Betty Boop.
By rcb
August 1, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
How bout individuals petitioning the companies they work for to secure private motorcoach companies to provide transportation to and from work, picking up at various central locations throughout metro Atlanta, extending out to areas like Lovejoy, Griffin, Macon, and even into Savannah (not quite as frequent that far of course) to combat traffic and save $$ on gas!!! People could pay weekly a fraction of the gas costs as a group vs. individual fill ups. Let’s explore all of our alternatives, i think!
By ma272zda
November 12, 2008 6:02 AM | Link to this
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