When we started this venture, reporter Andria Simmons and I joked that I might be getting the worst end of the deal. Everyone knows that battling traffic in metro Atlanta — especially during morning rush hour — is usually an extremely frustrating task.
However, I knew that Atlanta Journal-Constitution readers would want to know how long it took to drive by car to the same destination that Andria traveled to via public transit.
So, we strapped a digital camera to my car and I embarked on the trip from Gwinnett Place Mall to the Cobb County bus transfer station in Marietta.
Starting out from the bus lot near the mall was easy, and I made it to the southbound I-85 entrance without a hiccup. That’s where the fun stopped, though.
The interstate was crammed with cars, tractor-trailers and buses, making it difficult to simply merge onto the highway. For nearly 30 minutes I was in stop-and-go traffic, with my speedometer topping out at a blazing 10 mph at times.
Even drivers taking advantage of the HOT lane were experiencing intermittent stops. (I envied passengers aboard a Gwinnett County Transit express bus that zipped by me while I was stuck near Jimmy Carter Boulevard.)
Once I hit I-75 north, it was smooth sailing. It’s amazing how efficient the roads are when you’re riding opposite the commuting crush.
I made it to the Cobb bus station in a few minutes. I called Andria to let her know that I had made the 28-mile trek in one hour and one minute. She told me she was still on MARTA.
Our little experiment clearly shows that getting around by public transportation in metro Atlanta is a time-consuming, frustrating effort. My rush-hour drive was no picnic, either.
It also illustrates the need for more transit options, and that we’ve got to figure out who’s going to pay for them. Otherwise, our quality of life will be stuck in neutral.
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