Key Stops of MARTA

By Paul Jung

I have profiled about important stops of Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transportation Authority. MARTA has nearly 100 stops in metropolitan Atlanta. From those 100 stations, there are a few key stops such as shopping centers, tourists’ attraction, education services, and other significant landmarks of Atlanta. These stops include stops reached either by the MARTA railroad stops or MARTA bus stops.

Metropolitan Atlanta is well known for its city infrastructure which has shopping centers that surrounds the city. MARTA covers the transportation of these shopping centers. Specifically, MARTA has a stop on Lenox Mall, which is a shopping center which has an area of 154,500 square feet, over 250 retail stores on 4 stories along with the food court. Lenox mall is one of the main shopping center of Atlanta. On top of that there are more retail stores around walking distances of Lenox mall, which are all major brand name stores such as Dicks Sporting Goods, Filene’s Basement, and Borders. The stop at Lenox Mall adds convenience to those who has to depend on public transportation to get to a shopping center.

MARTA stops on many education services as well. Just to name a few, MARTA has stops in Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Oglethorpe University, University of Georgia (transferring to Southeastern Stages), and Emory University. Figuratively, the number of students who attend Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Emory University, and University of Georgia combined is 100,286 students. Also, including employees and faculties of these institutions will make this figure greater. This means that over a hundred thousand of students can commute to their schools by using MARTA.

Some tourist’s attractions are accessible through MARTA. MARTA stops on “Peachtree Center” which is one of the major tourist attractions in downtown Atlanta. Peachtree center consists of many blocks of structure built with modern style including hotels, athletic facilities, retail stores, restaurants, and sky decks connected with a network of sky bridges. By having stops on major attractions, even tourists who do not reside in Atlanta can utilize MARTA to get to where they need to go.

Lastly, MARTA has special shuttles dedicated for special events. It has shuttles to the Atlanta Braves (Major League Baseball Team), Turner Field, and Atlanta Hawks (National Basketball Association’s Team), Philips Arena, and Atlanta Falcons (National Football League Team), Georgia Dome. These Atlanta franchises have many fans all around the city of Atlanta. Surely, some of these fans can take MARTA to watch their favorite teams play and not pay for parking or waste time in heavy downtown Atlanta traffic in their private vehicles.

In a metropolitan Atlanta, there are not many services or area that MARTA does not reach. Although many people living or working in the city of Atlanta has access to other modes of transportation other than MARTA, usually cars, to those who are dependent on public transportation, MARTA is a solid mode of transportation.

Taken for Granted

By Juan Viera-Dimarco

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is a landmark of our city’s progress. Although it is not perfect, it is the most efficient way to get around the inner city. In my opinion, MARTA is extremely underrated. Growing up in the suburbs, I rarely rode MARTA as a kid. Now as a Georgia Tech student living in midtown, I have come to fully appreciate its presence. Regardless of its simple north-south and east-west routes, MARTA has essential stops that everybody who lives in Atlanta has traveled to at some point in their lives.

It is five in the afternoon. The sun is still out, and you have just finished all of your classes. All of a sudden, you receive a text from a relative telling you that a very close family friend is in the hospital and needs to undergo surgery. Your stomach is in knots as you quickly imagine all the possible outcomes regarding your friend’s hospitalization. This actually happened to me last week. My mother sent me a message telling me to go to Northside Hospital and visit my sister’s best friend, whose family I have known since I was born. I put my books in my room and head to my readily available and trustworthy mode of transportation, MARTA.

Medical Center is located a mere four stops away from my Midtown location. It contains three hardworking and lifesaving hospitals: Northside Hospital, Scottish Rite Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospital. All it takes is two and a half bucks to reach the center of all the medical care you would ever need. Although people often complain that public transportation is uncomfortable and dangerous, MARTA contains the spaciousness of a car without having to worry about maintenance or paying for gas. Also, unless you are traveling alone late at night, MARTA is very safe.

Medical care is not the only benefit of MARTA. Let’s say you have a plane to catch in the morning. You wake up on time, finish packing all of your clothes, and leave your house with plenty of time to spare. You have done nothing wrong—the only problem is that it is rush hour, and I-75 is congested with loads of traffic. Because it runs from 4:45 am to 1:00 am and does not have to deal with traffic, the only solution to catching your flight is to drive to the nearest MARTA station. Whenever my family had this problem when I was a child, my parents would drive to the Sandy Springs station, everyone would grab a suitcase, and we would head on our journey to the airport. If we had driven to the airport, it would have taken two to three hours, my dad would have had to put us on a later flight, and we would have had to deal with the hassle of parking. MARTA took us directly to the airport in under an hour.

People take MARTA for granted. Many people do not even recognize the vivid orange, yellow, and blue striped MARTA signs near their homes. Some have never even heard of MARTA’s buses. Others have never had the opportunity to sit down, relax, and gaze at the beautiful surrounding landscape on a MARTA ride. All in all, people should at least be informed of MARTA’s two most important stops, Medical Center and Airport. When emergencies occur, people can depend on MARTA for a cost effective and efficient way to reach their destinations.

Buckhead Finest

By: Roberto Sanchez

The city of Atlanta has been seen to have many transportation problems throughout  the years. Problems with MARTA train rides being unsafe and localized in not very popular places, and having a very rare and inefficient bus transportation. Problems with the city planning having insufficient access for pedestrian. Problems with sprawl making distances between homes and accessible points of interest even more farther away. All of this problems have been seen in the city of Atlanta and in a way been ignored, but in the neighborhood of Buckhead, thanks to GRTA and other state funding, a public transportation called “The Buc” has been founded to help with transportation.

The neighborhood of Buckhead in Atlanta, was seen as a region of increase growth in commercial business and private housing. Hence, it was decided to build a system of public transportation to help move the people around mostly the commercial area of Buckhead. The bus system called “The Buc” has been operational since 2003 and it connects local office buildings, other transit stops, such as MARTA, and shopping destinations, such as Lenox shopping Mall. This new system of public transportation by bus, in an area of rapid growth is funded by The Buckhead Community Improvement District, which is a self taxing entity created by the public owners of the area, The Buckhead area Transportion Management Association “BATMA”, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting alternatives methods of transportation and overseeing the daily operation of the systems, and finally by The Georgia Regional Transit Authority “GRTA”. “BATMA” is the one mostly in charge for managing “the Buc” shuttle and they are operated by the American Coach Line.  This bus has been a success since it was started for the area, because it has been useful to move visitors to the areas and workers with different points of interest in the area. Some of the special features that make this bus so efficient and safe are that:

• All “Buc” shuttles are outfitted with wheelchair lifts to assist all those that can’t board on foot.
• All “Buc” shuttles are outfitted with AEDs(automated External Defibrillators) which can help in the event of a heart attack to any of the passengers on board. All “Buc” drivers are trained to use this AEDs devices and to be able to do CPR on a shocking passenger.
• All “Buc” shuttles are equipped with Nextel communications and have direct links to the on duty police in the area.
• All “Buc” shuttles are cleaned by the Samaritan House’s Clean Street Team

Not only has “The Buc” focused on making the transportation on the bus an excellent and comforting experience but it also thinks on its employees. Each year the buc recognizes one driver for its excellent work while driving and maintaining its passenger safe and secure with a good quality driving service. It even thinks even more on its operators and stop their hours of operations at two certain hours of the day for their operators to have a break. This may seem as a time where no people is able to move on the bus, but they have thoughtfully put this break times on specific hours of the day that people are either having a break as well or are working in their offices.

Buc has kept its business up to date with an efficient website that evenly gives the routes where each shuttle moves through in the area and its shuttle times. Its website is modern, eye-catching and easy to use and easy to travel through it. They even have a Facebook page, which when you like them you can see updates to their services and even check through its details and hours of operation and schedules.

Up to date, functional, efficient, fast, free are some of the adjectives that many people have given to the buc shuttle. Secure and diverse are other adjectives that I would add to it. Especially diverse for the different shuttles that it has in the area. Great for anyone that ventures through the area and especially good for transporting through the shopping areas that are located in the zone. A personal anecdote of my experience through this shuttle, is that as soon as I arrived to the area through the MARTA train stop I was able to mount up on the Buc shuttle and ride for free and safely and took me directly to the Lenox square, where we stopped to do some tourist activity in the mall. As a person that is not even from Georgia, I say it is a great public transportation service for anyone around the area.

NYC Subway System

By Kevin Chen

The New York Subway system is one of the best subway systems in the world for several different reasons. It is very accessible, inexpensive, and very practical and economical. It is one of the busiest and most used subway systems around the world. Right now, it is fourth in number of riders per year with 1.604 billion riders a year, behind only the Tokyo Subway in Japan, Moscow Subway in Russia, and the Seoul Subway in South Korea. I am a veteran of the subway system with hundreds of rides under my belt. I can honestly say that without the subway in New York City, the streets would be packed with pedestrians and the roads would be even more congested than they already are. Therefore, the subway in New York City is probably the city’s most important financial and land resource investment in its illustrious history.

A packed subway car in New York City.

Accessibility is one of the system’s most important and valued characteristics. The system now has a total of 468 stations all over the city of New York. On tracks in and between those stations, there are over 6,000 total subway cars. That makes it the largest subway car fleet in the entire world. The stations cover almost all of the five boroughs of the city, and there realistically isn’t a place in a city that isn’t within reasonable walking distance to a subway station. The busiest stations in the systems are around the midtown area. The 42^nd street Times Square station is the busiest of the lot with over 58 million riders using the station.

A sign for 42^nd Street station. The station has transfers for 12 different subway lines.

A ride today would cost you $2.25, which seems like a lot. However, many people don’t realize just how far the subway can take you. With a transfer, a person could travel 38 miles with one fare. Basically, you can get from one side of the city to the other for $2.25. One could argue that the gas mileage is cheaper than the ride fare if the trip isn’t too far. However, traffic and parking also need to be taken into account. Driving in the city not only loses you time because of the constant traffic in the streets; it loses you extra money because more often than not, a driver needs to pay for his or her parking. Driving in the city is a pain in the behind, literally and metaphorically. One’s behind is bound to get sore after sitting in traffic for an extended period of time. Also, they’re inevitably going to get frustrated with the lack of and the expense of parking, abundance of jaywalkers and bicyclists, and the overall congestion of major streets and intersections.

Typical NYC traffic.

Therefore, taking the subway to get around New York City from place to place is a great way to go. Unless you need a vehicle to transport something around, there is almost no reason a person shouldn’t take the subway. It is better than driving a car around a city in almost every imaginable way. Additionally, the emissions from cars are even worse in the city due to all the time waiting and sitting idle in the car. Sitting idle at a light, waiting for it to change does not mean that your car isn’t still harming the environment by letting out toxic emissions from its exhaust pipes. On the other hand, if you use the subway, you are using electric power to get yourself around. You are not harming the environment by releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Even though this is a pretty general idea that can apply to any subway system in the world, the one in New York is specifically efficient and economical because there are simply a plethora of cars on the streets and the emission and pollution problem would be exponentially worse than a city that isn’t nearly as crowded.

A car exhaust pipe expelling harmful emissions.

All in all, in order to have a successful transportation system, it must be accessible, not too expensive, safe, and generally clean. This subway system does most of those things very well, so it qualifies as a great public transportation system. Clearly, the New York Subway system is a great example of how a public transportation system should work. It’s affordable, efficient, accessible, and friendlier to the environment. In the contrary, Marta isn’t a great public transportation system yet. There are several different problems that have compelled some people to believe that the future of the Marta system is grim. Some of these problems include limited accessibility, racial barriers, and the lack of funding from the state. However, if Marta takes action and strives to be more like the public transportation system in New York, its future definitely won’t be grim.

A street entrance to the one of the best subway systems in the world.

There are seemingly endless good things to mention about the NYC subway system. How about the negatives or cons of the NYC system? Fortunately, there are only a few minor drawbacks. One of them lies in taking the subway around is the security, or lack thereof. Another issue with public transportation is that is isn’t as clean and sanitary as a car sometimes. There are some subway systems around the world that do a pretty good job with sanitation and cleanliness, but the NYC subway is most definitely not on that list. Some of the stations are pretty bad; there is raw sewage between the tracks and once in a while, you see a rat making its way through the station. Others, such as 59th street station and 42nd street station, are pretty clean. The MTA (metro transportation authority) has taken action to try and clean some of the dirty stations. Also, they have taken steps to improve the experience of the rider: they have put signs up with train arrival times, they have upgraded some of the really old train lines such as the E line, and they have built people-friendly machines that sell metrocards and single fare tickets.

A graffiti covered NYC subway car.

Every public transportation should strive to be similarly to the NYC system in the areas of accessibility, practicality, and economic sustainability. If Marta took a few steps to expand and develop Marta into a system similar to the one in New York, there will definitely be more passengers per year and its situation would not be as bad as it is today. This is obviously easier said than done, but if small steps are taken over a period of time, it can be accomplished.

Works Cited –

42ndstreetsign. Image. http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktyw4qcImR1qzhmoco1_500.jpg. Web. 25

Sep 2011.

Carexhaust. Image. http://www.ngkeurope.com/typo3temp/pics/5766451707.jpg. Web. 25 Sep 2011.

Metropolitan Transit Authority. Mta.info|Facts and Figures. http://www.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffsubway

.html. MTA. 25 Sep 2011.

Nycsubway. Image. http://cdn.berryreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/nycsubway.jpg.

Web. 25 Sep 2011.

Nycsubwayhistory. Image. http://blog.defgrip.net/wpcontent/uploads/2010/10/nycsubwayhistory12.jpg

Web. 25 Sep 2011.

Subwaylarge. Image. http://i.huffpost.com/gen/103118/thumbs/s-SUBWAY-large.jpg. Web. 25

Sep 2011.

MARTA

Susan Roberts

As the train speeds through the dark, ominous tunnel, its passengers sit contentedly inside. A woman yaks away on her expensive cell phone. The homeless man in the corner sleeps soundly, dreaming a peaceful dream. A young child squeals with laughter and delight as her father plays peek-a-boo with her, and her brother runs back and forth from window to window. This train is not just a train, but a vessel of culture, bringing the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the seen and the unseen together. It carries these people at highly accelerated paces through the city of Atlanta and into the neighboring districts. It provides the poor with an easy, inexpensive form of transportation. It provides the rich with a convenient mode of travel. All of these different people are riding together, blissfully unaware of each other as they speed through the city. Though sometimes bad things happen on the trains, they feel safe here because they are not alone. They have all of the other MARTA riders that are there with them, and the possibility of bad things happening seems far away and unlikely.

Not only does it provide a way of travel and culture, but it provides enrichment and escape. Each person sits inside and is taken over by an odd sense of peace. The train lets people ride in a tranquil environment, not paying attention to anything but the blurred walls that rush by, lulled into the quiet passage of time as their thoughts drift in and out of their heads, undisturbed. While some of the trains are more crowded than others, the quiet never escapes those who know how to harness it. Even as the hustle and bustle rushes around them, they are all respectful of each other’s space and the space that is their own, never daring to leave that precious bubble. Sometimes the people make the decision to get work done, while others simply enjoy the ride, knowing that it will be their only moments of peace during the day. Though they might be crammed beside the window or standing in a group of strangers, they are mostly ignored, and they like it that way.

The train comes to a whooshing stop at an underground station and some of the passengers get off. New passengers take their places. A young girl smiles up at a man with a grumpy look on his face. His heart is warmed as he returns her smile. A different man drops his wallet and the woman beside him reaches down and picks it up, returning it to his outstretched hand. The kindness of a stranger hits him deep, and his entire day is put into new light. Were it not for this train, these people would never have had the chance to interact. This train is a harbor of mysteries, bringing all people to the same level as they are no longer affected by wealth or feelings of superiority. Though nobody is speaking, there is a sense of camaraderie. They are all brought here by only one thing and that is the need for transportation, yet most of them leave without the slightest of thoughts about that transportation. They don’t realize that the train has gotten them from point A to point B in a cost effective, timely manner. Some of them take the train just so that they can keep one more car off the road, while others simply use it because it is there. The train is inconspicuous in its travels from station to station, not to be the center of its riders’ attention, but to provide the simple service of transportation.

This clean, sleek, fast train travels back and forth all day long from the North Springs station to the Airport station. It is always there, so reliable that most of its riders have come to expect it, never giving it a second thought. The others are simply thankful that they are able to use the MARTA train and are grateful each time that it pulls into the station. Either way, this train, and the other just like it, never disappoints. Like clockwork, the train stops at a station, picks up the riders, and moves on to the next station. The screens that hang from the ceiling announce the remaining time until the train arrives, and tell that train’s destination.  The waiting passengers sit calmly, haste and worry set aside for a different time and place, knowing that all is well and that they will get to where they need to go.

Student Transportation

By: Hailey Armfield

At Georgia Tech there are some students that believe walking is just simply beneath them. Unless these freshmen have a car of their own, they need to find an alternate to the sweating and grueling hike up freshmen hill.  Students soon realize the convenience of student transportation systems. During the day, the Stinger and the Tech Trolley are two of the main modes of transportations for students.  Once students recognize that yellow and white coach looking bus saves them a lot of physical exhaustion, they develop the old humorous addiction called “Addicted Stinger Sap (ASS)” (Povinelli5).

Students begin to rely on the Stinger for every class even when there is an important event such as a test. George P. Burdell is our typical Tech student with the Addicted Stinger Sap. On the morning of his first physics test, George wakes up to roaring thunder and down pouring rain. Without much thought George walks and waits at the Stinger stop with a RAT cap on to shelter his face. With the black sky above him, George P. Burdell becomes aware while checking the second-hand of his watch that the Stinger is going to be late in the horrifying weather. George complexion turns to flaming shades of red.  The stress perplexes George because if he waits he could risk the bus being a no-show or he could leave and run up freshmen hill. George realizes that relying external things to transport him to his physics test may not be the best option. As he decides to start his trek across campus, the bus appears. The long glass doors open quickly and he jumps on the bus. After the doors shut, George looks around and recognizes that he is stuck standing on the stairs. On a normal day, George would normally sit in a seat, but today, probably caused by the weather, the bus is full. George is constantly shaking his wrist toward his eyes because he is nervous that he may not make his physics test on time. As he is checking the time, the bus driver turns the wheel and George suddenly loses his balance and hits his head while crashing into the door. George quickly stumbles to regain his balance on the steps, but now he has an immediate headache. George also feels uncomfortable with all of the passengers’ faces staring at him. The bus finally arrives at George’s stop and he hurries off the bus away from the mortification of the fall but only moves toward more suffering. George rushes into his class and starts the test when he find out that he is five minutes late.

Obviously, George P. Burdell’s Stinger ride was may the worst scenario you have ever heard. When George showed up for his test he was not only tardy but he was also drenched with stress and a headache. Students need to take responsibility for their class needs and they cannot fall into the trap of the Addiction Stinger Sap disorder. Although this happened to George P. Burdell, the Stinger is a great alternative for students to use when walking just seems out of the question.

The Stinger is a great option when time is not an issue unlike George P. Burdell’s case. The Stinger is very clean and offers many seats so on most average days there will be a seat waiting for you. The Stinger has three different routes that are color coded. Depending on your next destination you may hop on the red, blue, or green Stinger bus all of which brings you from one part of campus to another part. If you would like to adventure away from campus without the trouble of borrowing a car, there is the Tech Trolley to do the job. The Tech Trolley can bring you anywhere you want to go from the Campus Recreation Center all the way to the Midtown Marta Station. If you wanted to go to Tech square or go to Publix for groceries, the Trolley service makes it very convenient to walk outside your dorm and jump on the bus.

The two student transportation systems, Stinger and Tech Trolley, are great especially if the weather is terrible; the streets of Georgia Tech’s bubble occasionally flood and in the winter months the weather can be harshly cold. The student transportation systems are definitely useful for students traveling with a lot of time on their hands. Be careful because the buses sometimes don’t arrive right on time due to traffic it endures throughout its routes on and off campus.

Burdell, George P. Personal Interview. Sept 26 2011.

Povinelli, Chris. “Traffic Jam.” Technique [Volume 62, Issue 28] [Atlanta] 13 May 1977: 5. Web.

A Day in MARTA

By William Luca

Being the ninth largest public transportation system in the US is no easy task and MARTA is up to the challenge.  The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is a very efficient system. When you arrive in the morning you approach the automatic ticket machines, buy your ticket, cross the electronic doors and wait for your train. All of this happens in a relatively small amount of time, usually 5-10 minutes.

Because it is a fast and efficient system, MARTA is an excellent option for executives who come into Atlanta for business meetings or other work-related events. The connection of MARTA to sectors of the city like Peachtree, Midtown, Five Points and of course the Airport gives them access to all the other lines of the MARTA system and of course, the main financial districts of the city.

Besides being a great option for visitors, MARTA is also useful to the residents of the city itself. While riding the train, they can be seen catching up on work, reading e-mail or reading a book among other things. This is one of the main reasons why people chose to take MARTA instead of driving to work. Even though sometimes the time it takes for them to get to work can be more or less than driving a car, riding MARTA provides them the opportunity to increase their productivity.

Photo of the MARTA Airport Station:

Being able to see people taking out their smartphones or just be calm enough to grade some papers is a great example of the security of riding the system as a whole. The video surveillance on the stations and the speaker systems located in the trains contribute greatly to make this possible.

Riding by yourself is a great way to use MARTA but riding with friends is an awesome experience too and it surely can make time fly. Talking while waiting for the train and hanging around together in wherever destination you are headed to are great examples of this. If your friends are used to taking MARTA, they can take you to the best places of the city in a matter of minutes. It is definitely one of the best ways to get to know the city of Atlanta.

The combination of security, efficiency and its connection to the airport makes MARTA an important factor for the development of the touristic industry. It is also important because it is one of the main “first impressions” for tourists when they arrive to the city. The fact that you can visit several of the main sightseeing spots on the city makes Atlanta an easier city to get to know. The red route for example offers a great way for tourists to get to the main attractions of the city. Some examples are: Lenox Mall, The World of Coke, the Georgia Aquarium, Six Flags and the Georgia Dome.

Here is a map of the MARTA railroad system:

All of the tourist activity happens mainly from noon to the late afternoon. And as the day comes to an end, all of the commuters are now heading back to their homes, hotels or even the airport. This is in fact one of the busiest hours of the day. Starting from the Five Points station, all of the trains are filled with people.  Suddenly, the different types of persons that were riding MARTA during several times of the day are now mixed. It is curious how one of the main differences among its riders is what they carry. It is a briefcase, some shopping bags or a suitcase.

With almost all the people already gone, MARTA seems empty at night. Sometimes, small groups of people ride it while coming back from a dinner or any other event. The safest way to ride the trains at night is with a group of people. Like in every situation during late hours, it is important to be aware of your surroundings while riding MARTA at night.

As the closing time approaches it is hard to imagine how many people rode the trains during that day. To think that approximately 294,000 persons according to the MARTA website use MARTA to get to where they need to be is impressive. And even more impressive is the fact that those same trains have to be ready to transport that many people the next day and every day of the year.

MARTA has an outstanding commitment to provide their users with a way to make their lives more efficient. It also plays a vital part in the development of the city and the way its residents are connected. It is a world-class system in every aspect of the word.

Works Cited

“Photo of the MARTA Airport Station.” ”Airport (MARTA station).” Wikipedia.org. 22 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.

“Map of the MARTA railroad system.” VisitingDC.Com. 2011. Web. 28 Nov 2011.

Wikipedia.org. “Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org, 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Atlanta_Rapid_Transit_Authority&gt;.

MARTA

Harrison Aiken

The Students for Progressive Transit (SfPT) team’s goal is to make transportation easier for students to find, to increase awareness of different types of transportation and to help students decide on the most efficient transportation method. The Georgia Institute of Technology is located in the middle of the city. This being said, there are many ways for students to get around. For instance, to get to class a student can drive, walk, bike, or even unicycle (as Tech student famously do) to class. Georgia Tech even provides a Tech Trolley for students.

There is another mode of transportation, however, which is useful to students who need to travel outside of Tech. MARTA , or the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, is a bus and rail system used in the counties surrounding the city of Atlanta.  MARTA provides an efficient and easy form of transportation for students who need to leave campus. It proves invaluable to all Georgia Tech students. Many freshmen do not have cars, and can use MARTA if they ever need to go home. Also, older students can use MARTA to leave campus and work at Co-Ops or internships. The railway, which is located only a few blocks from Georgia Tech travels north up to North Springs (GA-400 exit 5), northeast to Doraville, east to Indian Creek (just outside 285 perimeter), south to the airport, and west almost to the 285-perimeter.  Students can also use MARTA during their leisure time. They can take the train to get to many points of interest, including restaurants, bars, concert venues, athletic events, museums, the airport, etc. Using this system would be the most economically sound choice for students. Instead of calling a cab and spending $20 for the fare, students could go to the railway and buy roundtrip tickets for $4 2.  For example, if there was a concert at Lakewood Amphitheater, a student could easily walk to the MARTA station, walk up to the self-pay machine, and purchase a $2 3 one-way ticket.  Then, the student could walk to the rail, and wait for the train.  Using the maps, this person would decide they would have to hop on the train going south.  Once the Lakewood exit has arrived, there will be an announcement letting the riders know to get off.  From here, a student could walk out of the MARTA rail station, and wait at the bus stop, where the bus would drop him off at Lakewood Amphitheater.  This is a very easy process, and is just as easy on the way back.  Students would probably take advantage of this transportation more often if they realized how easy it is. Choosing a car over MARTA just does not make sense in an urban setting. First of all, parking is hard to find. Secondly, when you do eventually find parking you will find yourself set back $10 because of the fees. Many students from Georgia Tech do not realize this because they were raised in a suburban environment where parking is free and abundant.

One turn-off of using this form of public transportation is safety.  Will it be safe to use MARTA by myself?  Can it be used it at night?  The answer is yes.  MARTA has security at all hours of operation, which includes security guards and the occasional policeman, as well as cameras.  Granted being alone in the station at 2 o’clock in the morning might not be the best idea, and crime can still happen, a commuter should not be worried.  It would be advised to travel in groups this late at night, but during the day and early in the night MARTA is safe.  As someone who has ridden this rail late at night, I did not feel unsafe at all, since there were security guards or cameras at every stop.  MARTA is safe for students to use, and if they ever feel uncomfortable, they can travel in groups, or stand with the security guards until the train arrives.

The students working with Students for Progressive Transit educate students about MARTA and let them know that the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is one of the best transportation choices. Just because this transit system runs through and around the city, but not through Georgia Tech, does not mean that it should be avoided.  Students will find at sometime during their college career that they need to leave the campus and go downtown for something, or need to fly home, and that is when they should use MARTA. It is simply efficient and is a great way to travel when on a college budget.

 

 

 

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. 2009. 3 October 2011 <http://www.itsmarta.com/default.aspx&gt;.

The I-285 and Belt Line of Georgia Institute of Technology

 

By Aakash Shringare

A  part of President Edwin D Harrison’s legacy to Georgia Tech is the expansion of the Georgia Tech campus by almost twofold with dedicated planning and genuine forethought. During the 1960s, federal, state, and local support for urban renewal was readily available and Harrison took advantage of this situation.He contracted for two separate master plans and added 128 acres to the campus. One of these master plans led to the creation of a traffic loop called Tech Parkway, now known as Ferst Drive.(President Edwin D. Harrison’s Papers, Biographical/Historical note, Georgia Tech Archives.)

Map of Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963

“A 70 percent increase in enrollment was expected by 1985 (in Georgia Tech)and Georgia Tech’s consulting firm Perkins and Will Partnership , a Chicago, Ill., campus planning firm recommended that Hemphill Avenue, 10^th Street and North Avenue  be blocked off as part of the Tech campus, and that it be relocated and renamed “Tech Parkway”**.

The relocated road would leave Northside Drive about 8th Street and then generally run east of Northside Drive and Marietta Street, paralleling them until it ties back into the intersection of North Avenue and Luckie Street.(Note that this was the time when Tech campus was expanded westward*and there was a need to “hug” in the newly acquired 60 acres of land. This would make the internal transport and commuting within the campus easy and accessible to resources like the Tech Stinger (now called the ‘Stinger’). This increased the mobility of Tech students within campus and encouraged the use of bicycles and the bus services within campus.)

Map of Georgia Institute of Technology in 1970

       The Relocation of Hemphill, in the planners’ view “can exert a dramatic revitalizing effect on the commercial district along Marietta Street, extending as far west as the rail road.”

“The point is”, they said, “that the objectives of the planning process cannot be limited to the improvement of the Tech campus. Their intent and effect must inevitably bring new life to the surrounding community as well.”

The plan recommended that Tech not provide on-campus parking for resident students, but only for commuting and graduating students and faculty and staff members.”[The Atlanta Journal Constitution, 4-11-1965]

A continuous interior loop drive [Ferst Drive] was recommended which would connect and provide access to all major campus areas without penetrating any of them. Parking facilities would be providing at convenient intervals of the loop drive.This meant that the vehicles would be excluded from the academic heart of the campus so as to not to compete with the pedestrians and fill potential green spaces. At the same time provide parking spots for Georgia Tech students, staff and faculty members. The loop is (now) also the core route of the Red and the Blue Stinger Bus Service.

Today this loop is similar to the I-285 around Atlanta, which avoids the external traffic. Also it is and can be like the planned Atlanta Belt Line, where the Stinger is given priority similar to the various transit options considered for the Atlanta Belt Line.Who knows, Georgia Tech may have its own street car one day! If one observes, the core buildings are in the center of the loop. This means no matter where we are on the loop it’s always easy to get there. We just go straight in towards the centre. Our campus in on a gradient, east campus is at a lower level as compared to the center and the west campus is higher as compared to the center. This is where the loop plays a vital role. The Stinger bus service stops at strategic positions on the loop, so if one has to reach the center from east campus one could take the bus till one reaches to the same level as the destination inside the loop and then walk in. At the same time it is easy to walk down the slope from westside to the center or from the center to the eastside. For example, I take the Stinger from North Avenue to the Tech Tower and come to the Library and at the same time I make it a point to walk from the CRC (westside)to my dorm, Towers which is located on the east end.

We use the loop around our campus every day without ever realizing the planning and foresight it took to come up with an elegant yet efficient idea that benefits everyone, campus users as well as the commuters trying to avoid it. It also acts as a symbol for the territory of Georgia Tech. [I am sure a UGA student feels threatened once he/she is inside the loop!)On a serious note the campus itself is an active component for the efficient “mobility” around its locality.

The 100 page long book report compiled by Perkins and Wills, under the order of President Edwin D Harrison provided guidelines for future development of the campus. The Campus today as we see is itself the topic of my profile and manifests its design in helping us to commute within or across the campus with the most efficient and easy way. The very nature of Georgia Tech’s technical excellence is fabricated in the design of our campus and emanates itself with the provision of services encouraged by SfPT such as Stinger Bus Service, bike use around campus, and  walking without the interference of vehicular traffic.

 

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Work Cited

• Georgia Tech Library Archives
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Capital and Space Planning Management,Georgia Tech (Digital Archives)

My Special thanks to the staff of the Georgia Tech Archives for helping me with my research.

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* Because of major traffic arteries to the south, east and north of the present campus (North Avenue, Northwest Freeway, 10^th Street) the reports concluded that the most logical direction of growth should be to the west- towards Northside Drive into urban renewal land.

** Refer to the two uploaded images of the GT maps from 1963 and 1970.

My Typical MARTA Experience

By Conrad Hatcher

Most citizens of Atlanta currently use, or have at least heard of MARTA. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) was established in 1971. MARTA however has a bad reputation today, with most people claiming it is unsafe, unreliable, and unpleasant overall. Having lived in Atlanta for over five years now, I have traveled on both the MARTA bus and rail lines. Recently I had to ride MARTA to travel to Hartsfield Jackson Intl. Airport. I took this opportunity to observe and document my experience in hopes to figure out why MARTA is not as popular in the public eye. I observed such aspects ad the station and the surrounding appearances, the amount of travelers and their characteristics, the speed and timeliness of my trip, and the convenience and location of stops.

            Being a Georgia Tech student, I chose the closest MARTA station which was the North Avenue station. I walked the two blocks from my dorm and arrived at the station. I took note of the outside appearance of the station. There were small areas to sit with minor landscaping which looked as though it had not been renovated for quite some time. I also noted the kinds of people I saw around the station. Most were African Americans, with some wearing suites. I assumed these men were using MARTA to get to their designated workplaces. Among the other people, I saw a few tourists and what appeared to be a homeless man. This homeless man actually approached me as I was purchasing my ticket. He started the conversation asking where I was heading to. I replied, knowing I was safe inside the fairly crowded station. He then asked if I knew the two word “good saying.” Puzzled, I replied that I did not know. He then muttered, “God bless” and then proceeded to ask me for money. I told him that I had no cash and he was on his way. I then approached the automated ticket vending machine and purchased a one way ticket for $2.50. Using the machine was simple and quick. I grabbed my Breeze pass and approached the south bound terminal. One thing I noticed was the whole station was dimly lit. I don’t know if this is intentional, with saving energy in mind, but I feel like the whole station could have a few more lights placed here and there. As I continued toward the platform, I passed a few vending machines that were well maintained and modern. Also, I noticed the trash receptacles were full to the brim and there was trash on the ground around some of them. I rode the escalator down to the platform where a southbound train was already waiting.

     I quickly took a seat and took note of my fellow passengers. There were a few men and women in suites and there were some people who were in everyday clothes. Of the 10 people in my particular train car, 3 were Caucasian and the other 7 were African American. Each train car was equipped with air conditioning and a small informational television screen that displayed television show clips and advertisements. After about 2 minutes the train departed at a fairly fast pace. The majority of this portion of the trip was underground. Eventually the car escaped the tunnels and was running parallel with I-75. I looked out the window and saw Turner Field as we passed. As we approached the next stop, I saw abandoned warehouses decorated with graffiti and barbwire fences. The train stopped and I looked around, confused at the fact that a stop was here. There were no houses, stores, or workplaces. There was literally nothing around. I looked back at the abandoned warehouses and realized that maybe at one point workers could have taken this train to work. The train then continued on, a few passengers got off and a few got on. Most seemed to be taking MARTA for non work related issues. As I neared my stop, I thought about my whole experience. I never once felt unsafe in or around the station. As the announcement for Hartsfield Jackson International Airport sounded, I looked at my watch and was amazed at how quick I had made it there. The train came to a stop and I grabbed my bag. The stop was connected to the airport already so once I exited the station I was inside the airport.

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     I sat down in the airport and contemplated my journey and wondered why MARTA is in the shape it is. It is fast, cost effective, and it works. All in all, MARTA does what it should. However, I feel like if MARTA got more funding it would have higher quality of stations and train cars. Ultimately, it will get you around the city in a timely manner and that is pretty good to me.