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Modified MARTA bus routes take effect on Dec. 5

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Three times a year, MARTA officials assess traffic patterns and ask for public input to find out where riders want to go and when. Transit officials then take all that data and tinker with bus routes to make the most of limited resources.

MARTA riders will see the fruits of transit officials’ labor when more than 15 route modifications will take effect on Dec. 5.

After the jump, a MARTA-provided chart that lists the modified routes, days affected, and description of what to expect. 

Mark your calendars and enjoy!

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MARTA service cuts start Aug. 15

Friday, August 7th, 2009

MARTA will make cuts to bus and train service on August 15, a move transit officials say is necessary to pull the metro Atlanta’s largest people mover out of a budget shortfall.

Transit officials call next Saturday’s cuts some of the most severe in MARTA’s 43-year history. Bus routes 23 and 182 will be totally eliminated. More than 40 other routes will adjusted. If you feel like it takes forever for a train to arrive, well, you’re gonna have to wait a little longer. Oh, and starting Oct. 1, fares and parking fees will increase 25 cents and $1, respectively.

Why were the cuts needed? After the jump, the answer to that question, as well as a full list of bus route modifications and details about longer wait times between trains.

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Don’t Panic: Did Obama throw Israel under the bus?

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

After President Obama’s Cairo speech, one of the more bizarre memes to emerge from the Magical Dungeon of Nonsensical Anti-Obama Talking Points was the notion that Obama’s words were somehow harshly critical of Israel.

The most popular criticism: Obama’s speech threw Israel “under the bus.” Michael Goldfarb of the Weekly Standard said it. Former Bush One Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin said it. Best-selling professional Muslim-hater Robert Spencer said it, too.

Google — or, if you prefer, Bing — the phrase “Obama threw Israel under the bus” and you’ll find countless examples. By countless, I mean there were a lot, but I didn’t count them.

Rush Limbaugh didn’t use “under the bus.” Instead, he said Obama’s speech “threw Israel over the cliff.”

I’m not sure if getting thrown over a cliff is supposed to be better or worse than getting thrown under a bus. I suppose it depends on what’s at the bottom of the cliff. If there’s a giant trampoline or a nude beach with exceptionally bouncy sand at the bottom, then maybe the cliff ain’t so bad.

If, however, there are dragons at the bottom of the cliff, or a freaky modern art installation consisting of thousands of upward-facing pitchforks, then I’m taking the under-the-bus option.

(Click here to read the rest of this column. If you don’t, an angel holding a puppy will spontaneously combust.)

Perdue: We’ll get money for GRTA buses

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Gov. Sonny Perdue said today that he plans to find the $13 million needed to purchase more buses to accommodate the increasing number of people who are flocking to public transit because of high gas prices.

These boots were made for buses.

“I was disappointed this year when our Legislature overlooked the $13 million I placed in there for more GRTA buses,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll rectify that. We’re going to try to find that money to get those buses.”

He reiterated the fact in a conversation with reporters after his comments.

State lawmakers sliced the governor’s $13 million request from the budget during the most recent legislative session. The same lawmakers also failed to pass a sorely-needed funding mechanism that would’ve allowed voters to decide if they wanted regions in the state to be able to levy a sales tax for transportation projects.

When asked by a reporter if the rising prices of gasoline had caused him to consider possible state assistance to expand transit systems, Perdue said to wait and see. He added that he expects all transportation agencies to work together to create a solution — and that transit has to be a component.

But Perdue also put on his transit planner cap and hinted that the metro region’s sprawling landscape is more suited to rolling-tire buses rather than rail-hugging trains.

“When you look at statistics, there’s a certain density that’s required to make [transit] sufficient,” he said.

(Photo by Thomas Wheatley)