Fresh Loaf

The AJC had an excellent story this weekend about skyscrapers proposed during Atlanta’s boomtimes that have been delayed because of the economic collapse. Essentially, the story was about the “city that was never built.”

But there’s another story, one the liberal media dare not report. It’s not just the majestic skyscrapers along Peachtree that remain unbuilt. There’s an entire mini-country that remains unbuilt.

In Nov. 2007, the Atlanta Development Authority and Metro Chamber officials traveled to Europe to meet with business leaders about potential economic development opportunities. While in the Netherlands, they visited Madurodam, a miniature replica “country” that’s considered “all of Holland in one small city.” Much unlike Atlanta, it has functioning railways and, according to the photo above, what appear to be walkable streets.

Officials, thinking something similar might boost Atlanta’s tourism, said they’d scout potential locations in or around Atlanta and deliver details later.

But we never heard anything. And to be quite honest, the children are suffering, y’all. After the jump, the baffling story of Mini-America — and some details about the project.

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On April 16, President Barack Obama gave rail lovers some long-awaited good news: As part of the president’s stimulus plan, he offered $8 billion to begin linking major U.S. cities with high-speed rail lines — and an additional $5 billion more to improve rail service over the next four years.

“We need high-speed rail,” Obama said. “It’s happening right now. It’s been happening for decades. The problem is, it’s been happening elsewhere, not here.”

By “elsewhere,” the president was referring to Europe and Asia. But he could just as easily have been talking about Southeastern states other than Georgia. Thanks to a lack of vision, little to no funding, and an almost cartoonish addiction to roads, the Peach State’s far behind many of its neighbors when it comes to rail.

Transit and transportation advocates say if the state’s leadership doesn’t work to catch up, Georgia could miss out on a nationwide rail renaissance.

Click here to continue reading this story.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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In other words, nothing was accomplished.

Last night, Scott Henry and I embedded ourselves in the Gold Dome, risking life and limb to chronicle the final night of the legislative session. Thanks to the House press box’s Internet service acting screwy, we weren’t able to offer you minute-by-minute updates on the shenanigans.

That might’ve been a good thing. If you’re a fan of transit and getting around, you would’ve been disappointed with the news.

Despite piss-poor travel times and a mountain of studies that show the state needs more cash to build roads, bridges and transit, the General Assembly — for the second straight year — failed to pass a transportation funding bill. The Metro Chamber’s Sam Williams pointed the blame at the state’s “lack of leadership.”

The bill that would’ve allowed MARTA to have control over the one-cent sales tax in Atlanta, Fulton County and DeKalb County — its main source of funding — to fund daily operations? Failed. MARTA officials, who looked like they were at a wake after they heard the news, said drastic cuts to bus and train service were on the way. Veteran lobbyists called the move “irresponsible.”

Yet the lawmakers still had something to smile about, and as is the tradition, tossed shredded paper in the air as Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle gaveled the legislative session to a close at midnight. CL shutterbug Joeff Davis noted it earlier — lawmakers made a mess that someone else will now have to clean up.

We’re gonna let this one soak in and pore over what passed and what failed. More to come later.

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A whole cadre of big thinkers — from government honchos to water planners to business leaders — convened at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Monday morning to brainstorm about water issues and figure out how to avoid another one years down the line.

“The big issue this year [in the General Assembly] won’t be transportation,” said Sam Olens, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and the Atlanta Regional Commission. “It’ll be water.”

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