HB277: A Pictorial

The other day, when discussing the new transit bill, HB277, I mentioned we had one Win.  Section Five of the bill has to deal with a MARTA expansion, allowing for the region to expand MARTA to the original five-county system that had always been the plan. 

This is how it works (to the best of my I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-talking-about abilities, and in my oversimplified dumbspeak, with pictures):

HB277 includes an amendment to the existing MARTA Rapid Transit Contract and Assistance Agreement (RTCAA) to allow for all counties originally included to vote this November to opt-in to MARTA.

 The first step is for the MARTA board to adopt this amendment.

Once that happens, it goes to the five county commissions plus the city of Atlanta that were to be included in MARTA, this is Dekalb and Fulton counties plus Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton.  Two out of the three existing MARTA jurisdictions (the city of Atlanta, Dekalb, and Fulton counties) must approve the amendment first

and the given county commissions must approve as well.

This has to happen within 60 days of the MARTA board approving the amendment, so the counties need to jump on board FAST.  If the two existing jurisdictions plus any of the other three counties approve, it then goes to a vote in that county this November.  It can only happen this November, so this entire process has to happen before October 3rd.  But if it does, then voters in those counties would have the opportunity to pass a one cent sales tax to join MARTA, bring in an influx of cash, help us grow the system and even to begin some commuter rail with the Lovejoy line, finally giving us the system that we're all dreaming of.

Photo Shoots!

We're still waiting on those DVDs from the photographers, but until then, I was able to jack this off of the photographer's website. 

Don't engage the crazy

That's always a rule of mine, don't engage the crazy.  This means avoid the nutjobs on transit at all costs.  Don't look them in the eye, don't talk to them, don't acknowledge their existence.  It's really easier this way, most crazies will just move on.

Well today the crazy got the better of me. 

I hopped on the train headed westbound to go downtown to a meeting.  At Decatur some older gentleman with brief case boards and then gets really confused when the train announces that the next station is Indian Creek (i.e. westbound for you folks that don't have the system map memorized.  You better get on that, there will be a test next week).  Flustered, he says, "O!  I'm on the wrong train!" And as he turns to leave the train, the doors close.  Another lady and I assure him that he's on the right train, that the announcement system was off.  I, of course, went on to explain how it gets me too, sometimes.  I think the trains are out to get me.

Said older gentlemen continues talking to me, telling me he's new to town and MARTA and how he's still learning.  Of course, in my continuing search for good blog material, I asked him why he's decided to take MARTA and he says some line about how when he flew in he rode it to the VA and it was nice.  As he's talking, he proceeds to tell me how he's retired and moved here and found a real nice shelter on Peter's Street, a mission.  Then he proceeded to ask me about where I go to church and tell me about the church he's found.  And as our visit was done, he gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Today's Lesson?  Don't let the brief case and clean older fella fool you, crazy is out there, and it will find you, despite your best avoidance strategy. 

MIA in the ATL

Did you miss me on my week hiatus? (or a little longer, something like that, sorry)

So it has been crazy busy and I have a lot to catch up on. A transit funding bill was passed (trust me, I'll get to this one), I went Amtrak camping, we had another photo shoot, I went to San Francisco, and I joined the ranks of the (semi)unemployed. I'm still at the shelter, but don't have a day job in Cobb County. I'm excited for the time to catch up on my blog and find that kickass job I've been dreaming of (hint, hint, MARTA) but I'm distressed because I no longer have a reason to ride CCT. Should I to change my name to MARTAgirl now?

Let's talk transit funding. This is a topic near and dear to my heart, I love MARTA, I need it to run, what else would I blog about? A bill got passed a Thursday ago, on the 38th day of session. Basically, this bill:

a - creates TSPLOSTs to be voted on in 2012 that would be in effect for 10 years
b - relieves the MARTA 50/50 restriction for three years
c - says new money voted for in the TSPLOSTs can not be used for MARTA salaries
d - says allows Clayton County to vote for a sales tax to fund transit
e - seriously maims the MARTA board

I'm probably missing something, but these are the points I want to talk on.

I'm disappointed.

I'll go with Dubose Porter on this one, this is barely a bandaid. I mean, good job Georgia for getting off your ass and doing something, boo for not doing anything terribly useful. We wouldn't see money from the TSPLOSTs at best until 2013, more like 2014 if it passes. And then it's only good for 10 years, which is about 10 years shy of the 20 year minimum to get and federal funds. So, FAIL.

Relieving the 50/50 restriction is nice, but three years? Really? You still can't trust them with their own money? And we all know that the relief isn't enough, because they've been burning through their capital reserves for necessary things, like the new FTA requirements in response to the accidents last year in DC. So, FAIL.

Can't use new funds on salaries? Because having people to drive the bus and operate the trains isn't really that important, right? And neither are the cops and station agents. FAIL.

Clayton County can vote to join MARTA. We just have to convince them this is something they want to do, and since their buses were absorbed by GRTA and sold due to federal regulations on the funds used to purchase those buses, they outta, it's their only chance at transit right now. This would also mean an influx on money for MARTA, so for once, WIN.

Slashing the MARTA board. MARTA and the board didn't show up during the final hours of negotiating the bill, so this would seem like a big old slap in the face. Mayor Reed even sent a cop car, lights and all, to pick MARTA CEO Dr. Scott up at MARTA headquarters, but, due to board instructions, she still didn't go. Maybe if she had, the bill would have been more favorable for MARTA. The MARTA board is full of older civil rights leaders who drive to the board meetings, so I'm not too sorry to some of them go. We need riders on that board, people who are more invested in MARTA, so I'm gonna call this a win. Now I need to campaign to get on the board. I hear there's a small stipend. Heck, I'd do it for an unlimited ride pass.

Three epic fails plus one ray of hope and a minor win equals

FAIL.

I has a sad

From where I grew up.

Transit Funding!

I know, you're probably getting sick of me prattling on about funding for MARTA.  All you really read this blog for is my stories of getting attacked by homeless dudes or the Boob Tap.  You even like the stories of me getting hit on, repeatedly.  But I started this blog as an advocate for transit, and by golly I'm going to MARTAgeddon and Draconian y'all til death.  Or at least until we get some money.  I'll let you bet amongst yourself which happens first.

But there may be some hope on the horizon.  Let's take a look at our playing field, as it stands on the morning of the 36th day of the session.  That gives us four more days, so maybe like two weeks.  Who knows.  They may need a break, I don't know how these things work.  I would probably need a break.  I spent one day at the capitol this session, I'm good until next year.

Anyways, so what we have on the table are:

HB 1393, sponsored by the awesome Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam.  This bill would remove the tax cap on Clayton County and would allow them to vote to pass a one cent sales tax for transit funding.

HB 277, a regional transportation bill (TSPLOSTs) which would allow regions to pass a one cent sales tax for transit funding and creates a 2020 Transportation Trust Fund Oversight Committee.  This one is in a joint transportation conference committee which consists of a bunch of republicans from outside the Metro region.  Why there are no Metro Atlantan reps on that one amazes me.

SB 39, again, another TSPLOST bill.

SB 120, Sen. Doug Stoner's bill to reduce the 50/50 restriction on MARTA.  This bill, written last year, is still in the House transportation committee.

SB 285, same deal, reducing the 50/50 restriction.  Also still in the House committee.

SB 520 passed out of the House transportation committee yesterday, so this one looks promising.  Along with removing the 50/50 restriction, this bill would also restore the public transportation office to the Department of Transportation, which should help transit statewide.  It would also rearrange the MARTA board.

I think that has us covered.  I think we need to show overwhelming support for HB 1393, HB 277, and SB 520.  Basically, I'm just picking SB 520 because it seems like the more substantial bill of the 50/50 ones.  What we do need, however, is for Clayton County to get transit, the 50/50 restriction to be lifted from MARTA, regional input on project lists, and funding for transit that has a flexible sunset provision (because you can't receive funding from the feds for transit that isn't funded locally for a minimum of 20 years).  So e-mail or call your reps, and the folks on that joint transportation conference committee and give your support for MARTA!

You can find out who your elected officials are here.

And those conference committee folks are listed out here.

Remember, transit isn't paid for at the fare box, it needs support from the state and local governments.  It's a joint effort, folks.  How can Georgia expect MARTA to go on it's own when no other large transit system in the nation does?

(PS - Like how I worked in that role call of my favorite blog posts?  I hope you read them.  All.)

Be the E

I am E.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Be the E is a call to action evoking Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you want to see in the world."  Publictransportation.org is partnering with Earth Day New York to promote the environmental aspects of public transit.  Each year, public transit use in the US saves 1.4 billion gallons of gas, the equivalent of 4 million gallons a day.  That's more than three times the amount of refined oil America imports from Kuwait.  Besides being smart environmentally, for everyone concerned about America's dependency on foreign oil, this is a no-brainer. 

Your call to action is this: take a photo of yourself giving the I am E sign.  Show that you support public transportation, then e-mail said picture to me at cctgirl@gmail.com.  I intend to make an awesome photo montage of your lovely faces and send it to our reps to show that Atlanta is E.  We need public transit and we care.

I've already got some friends that are E, are you?

Mean People Suck, Part Infinity

Dear Atlanta,

If you are riding the train and a person with a visual impairment who is accompanied by a seeing-eye dog attempts to board, please let him walk through the doorway. This may involve thinking about someone other than yourself for a few seconds and finding a spot where you and your good vision could get to quickly, no longer blocking the entrance and/or the aisle. Better yet, perhaps offer some appropriate guidance such as, "sir, the first seat to your left is free" or "all of the seats next to the door are taken, but there is a pole for you to grab onto about a foot to your right." Finally, I suggest that if you don't have an actual disability, maybe you should get off of your lazy ass and let someone who is impaired to the point of needing a service dog sit down. Having nine children under the age of three doesn't make you disabled, just stupid. So grab the stroller and move out of the way before I move it for you.

Warmly,

The AC

P.S. - MARTA, maybe you could actually program the pre-recorded announcements on the train to accurately describe the direction in which the train is headed, or I don't know, something crazy like getting the names of the stations and/or the lines correct. I hear that most blind people can't read and it might make their lives easier if they didn't get themselves to the Southbound platform at Midtown only to be told that the train that they just boarded is headed to Doraville and the next stop is Lindbergh Center. Thx.

Busghetti

I have been swamped, and I have a lot to catch up on.  I have hours worth of video to figure out what to do with, the legislative session resumed today with 7 days left to come up with some transit solutions, and One took me Amtrak camping, plus another photo shoot last night.  So until I can get my head straightened out, this is what I saw at 8:10 AM Sunday morning on the 110.

That's right, they were eating a plate of spaghetti on the bus.  Ever hear of that rule, no food or drinks on MARTA?  I can see sneaking a chip, or a closed coffee mug (I have been known to do such a thing, that 7 AM commute is a tough one!) but a fricking plate of spaghetti!  That's ballsy!

I will have to say that was the most entertaining bus ride I've ever had.  It may have been the tired delirium from just getting off Amtrak after catching the train at 6:15 AM after packing up a camping site, but these people were crazy.  I think the 110 on Sunday mornings may be where it's at.  A drunk couple got into a fight (yes, at 8 AM on a Sunday), and some young couple decided to head off with spaghetti couple to smoke some.  This was after I got to listen to this woman talk about how she'd take off her cast and break her arm again to kick someone's @$$.  I'm not sure whose, hoping it wasn't mine.

Crazies always come out in the off-peak hours. 

Some more amateur shoots

So I got the stills off this camcorder.  Not the videos themselves, but the stills none the less.

They told Bob to pretend to be a pilot.  Bob is a retired pilot, so it must have been easy for him.

They weren't taking my picture, so I wondered away.  This is Ken, he retires in 24 days.  He's awfully friendly.  And very happy to be retiring.

The tacky token sign.  Just taped up there all hapazardly.  Tsk, tsk!

Airport Photo Shoot

Today was our first MARTA photo shoot at the airport.  We meet at 7 AM (yuck!) to work in the optimal lighting.  That meant I was up at 5:30, after a night of phone calls at the shelter. 

I kept having fun posing with my Breeze card in all sorts of fun pictures, but the photographer, Dan, kept telling me those weren't the sort of pictures they were after.  But it was loads of fun and I'm looking forward to the next shoot Sunday.I'm thinking that for this one, we need to have fun and be goofy.  We're supposed to revamp MARTA's image, right?  I think we need photos of the Boob Tap, people posing silly, and the like.  Who's with me?

Until I get the DVD of the shoot and unload my video ( ie figure out how to upload my video) here are some pictures from this morning:

PS the photographer who's donating his time to the studio is Dan at Studio 7 Photography.  Their stylist/ producer is Charlene.  Check them out!

Do you GEAN?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then head on over to the Georgia Environmental Action Network and sign up today!  The end of the legislative session draws near and nothing has been done to alleviate the transit funding situation.

The GEAN puts out Action Notices for various issues that allow you to send e-mails to your representatives.  Right now there's a transit funding Action alert up.  All you have to do is sign up, put in your information, and click yes and the system will send a lovely pre-populated letter to your reps.  And I say lovely because I helped write and approve it.  So I can verify it being the kind of thing we need.

Our representatives need to know that we care about MARTA.  Getting letters, e-mails, and phone calls from their constituents lets them know that these issues are important.  So pop on over there now and be heard!

Down on Ponce

One loaned me a book to read, one I had never heard of but sounded fun.  And it wasn't even a train book or planning or none of that nonsense, it's a fiction book!  An actual fiction book.  I think it's one of three he owns.  And I gave him one of the others.

It's a book called Down on Ponce by Fred Willard, and it takes place in Atlanta.  That's right, the Ponce referred to is our own Ponce de Leon.  Published in 1997, the book features the Clairmont, Lil Five, Lanier, and even gives a shout out to MARTA!

Video Blogging

Seemed like an awesome idea at first, but when I got to Kensington this morning and started filming myself, I felt like a flake.  Like a big ole dork.  We had a lot of fun at lunch goofing off with the camera, so hopefully as I get used to it, I'll feel less like an idiot.  But I definitely need to learn how to use video editing software!  MARTA needs high quality videos, right?

You should check out their YouTube site here:

itsmartanews channel

And this is a really cool video on their channel:



So check them out, and when I get some videos done, ya'll will be the first to know!

Continuing Transportation in Clayton County

This weekend my parents were in town, which means that I got drug all over the greater Atlanta region, even down to the outlets south of the city.

I hate outlets. 

But, on the way there, we had breakfast in Jonesboro (Clayton County) at a Waffle House.  Yum.  I had a pecan waffle, of course.  And posted on the door of the Waffle House was this awesome sign:

This company, Continuing Transportation, is providing commuting options to Clayton County.  I know nothing about it, but I think it's great how the community is rallying together.  I also heard that churches were trying to provide service as well, using their own vans.

You can find out more about Continuing Transportation and their schedule on their blog.  The apparently only run in during rush hour times and at designated stops, but their website says that they will pick up at bus stops if they're not full and they see someone waiting.

Who's still waiting at bus stops?

Check them out at: http://atwtransport.blogspot.com

And if anyone's used them, let me know.  I might try them for the heck of it sometime.

Happy Easter MARTA!!!

I'm starting to get disappointed in you, Atlanta.  You're letting DC get the better of you, and how am I going to look to all my friends, like Metro Man?  I always use WMATA as a comparison as to how awesome MARTA is, like WMATA had another bus wreck last weekend.  I don't know when the last MARTA bus wreck was, but since I don't remember it, I'm gonna say it's been a while.  I keep up with these sorts of things.  And MARTA's not derailed in like, this century, I think.

Anyways, for all the awesome MARTA is, the Washington Post sponsors a Peep Diorama Contest.  And that, my friends, is pretty much the coolest Marketing idea ever.  Next year, I think it's time we peeped it up.

Happy Easter!!!

Photo is Unsuck DC Metro's contribution to the contest.  Peeps cramed in a tin can.  Metro fail, MARTA win.

Tokens in a down econmy!

MARTA is running the following campaign:

Which is quite awesome.  Turn in your old tokens for trips!  Yay!  I have two tokens, given to me by MARTA, in cute little cases.  I could crack those bad boys up and save myself $4, but I like them.  They're shiny, and were gifts.  Therefore, we'll keep those.

On the other hand, not too long ago I did a search online to buy tokens.  I wanted some to make myself and the Accidental Commuter MARTA necklaces.  I also was going to have a couple made into a pair of cufflinks for One, because these seem like the sort of thing he needs.  Yes, I am that much of a dork.  I found a lot of tokens, 100 tokens for $55.  Plus $4 shipping.  So, I figure, out of the 100 tokens, I need 4, 5 tops.  That leaves me with 95 tokens I could turn in for trips on MARTA.  This is a cost savings of $143.95. 

I think this makes me fiscally conservative, which helps offset the shopping trip I'll post about soon :)

No, I'm not really going to do this, because that would be ripping off MARTA, which is wrong.  So don't get any bright ideas, either.  But I am probably going to start selling MARTA jewelry soon.  :)

WMATA One Upped MARTA

AGAIN!  First they get pets, now they give their bloggers Jobs.

Hey MARTA, thanks for letting me do the photo shoot and video tape and all, but when do I get to be VP of something?

PS - One of those bloggers mentioned is actually from Atlanta and went to Tech for his undergraduate degree.  He's now in DC getting a masters in transit planning.  You can visit his blog here.

I went shopping!

OMG a girl goes shopping.  SO blog-worthy.

Actually, I bought myself a camcorder.  I was going to get one of those Flips, but when I went to look at them, I found an incredibly awesome JVC HD 60 GB hard-drive camcorder with all sorts of fancy bells and whistles on clearance for the same price as the Flip, so guess what I now own?  It's amazing, and blue, and pretty much the coolest thing ever.

So why am I blogging about a camcorder on a transit blog?  Cause MARTA gave me full access to film in and on and around MARTA.  As a part of my being discovered by for my awesomeness and adoration of all things MARTA, someone suggested I be able to film my misadventures.  Now I get to pretend I'm some sort of special and post to the MARTA YouTube channel.  I have no idea what I'm doing, but this awesome camcorder features one touch uploads to YouTube.  So at least whatever I do will be easy.

Yay!

The Georgian Terrance

Mr. 10B, who rides the bus with me in the afternoons when our schedules permit, answered The Accidental Commuter's call for the elusive Georgian Terrance sign.  He has now won her undying affection and can consider himself an official Transit Misadventure Rider :)

Thanks Mr. 10B!

For those of  you who read the blog and don't live in Atlanta, that is supposed to say "Terrace," which is why we're ammused.  Now it's funny.  Laugh.

Our problems are part

of a national epidemic.  However, MARTA was featured in USA Today:

In a fiscal pinch, transit agencies offer less for more

And I hadn't thought about but it, but it makes sense:

Job woes reduce transit ridership

It's going down in Florida!

It's always fun to see videos of people going crazy on the bus.  Why do people like to make fools of themselves?  And in case you didn't know, buses do have cameras.  Generally, when there's an accident, the driver slams on the break, or when the driver pushes a button, the cameras record and save 15 minutes before and after said incident.  So they may not catch everything, but if the driver's paying attention, then you wind up with footage like this. 

I hope this dude gets caught, so then we can laugh at him.

Clayton County Should Start Rioting

It is official, CTRAN is DOA.  I'm curious as to why the news covered it all day yesterday, but I haven't seen anything on today.  AJC, 11Alive, you have failed me.  I want a story about who went to work today and who didn't.  How many employees were no shows at the airport?

Last night the news covered how churches were rallying to offer rides to folks and how Chariman Eldrin Bells, the only commissioner to vote in favor of CTRAN, rode the last 503 bus out of the airport last night.  The 503, from Hartsfield-Jackson into Clayton, was the first route for CTRAN.  The airport abounds with low-paying jobs, the type of which bus riders favor.

I wonder how the airport might suffer when it's employees can't get to work in the wake of CTRAN's shutdown and MARTA's cut backs?  And why hasn't the airport come out in support of our local transit services?