You ain’t wrong, it’s not hard and I’ve done it many times, but as a native to Atlanta I do have to call out that most folks are averse to MARTA because as a general rule it sucks.
I don’t have light rail in my city (one of the top 15 largest US cities). One of my favorite things to do when visiting other cities on vacation is use their public transit. NYC’s MTA is middle to low quality/price compared to other North American cities. I won’t even compare against Europe, because theirs are so much better overall than ours.
For North America, NYC needs to up their game compared to the DC metro, Chicago’s L, or Seattle’s Link. San Diego an Toronto are also both nice, but not nearly as much coverage of the metro areas. Boston also gets high marks even though their system and rolling stock looks absolutely ancient. Philly’s Septa is about on par with NYC’s MTA in my opinion, but the cost of MTA is one of the higher priced services for what you get. Chicago CTA’s $5 full day pass Ventra card is the best value I’ve seen in the country.
Seattle has very limited places you can get to on it. SeaTac to downtown is great but neighborhood connections are all via bus. We are working on it and hopefully by the time my kids are adults they can actually get around the city using it.
Solidarity to drivers though, fuck rideshare companies.
Seattle has very limited places you can get to on it. SeaTac to downtown is great but neighborhood connections are all via bus.
You’re burying the lede on one of Seattle’s coolest things about Seattle’s buses and Link trains. Your Trolley busses!
Seattle does something I haven’t really seen elsewhere for their light rail. The trains are powered by overhead electrical catenary wires, and the rails in stations and many tunnels are level to the ground.
So some of the tunnels under the city are just level paved which means the Trolley buses can use the same tunnels as the Train! It was surreal to be on the bus with the diesel engine running through city streets, then the bus took a ramp down to the “train tracks”, hooked up to the catenary overhead, diesel engine stops and electric motor purrs to life, then you’re driving in the same tunnel under the city that the Link train does at other times.
Seattle also has a completely separate light rail transport in its Monorail!
I didn’t even mention the S.L.U.T!
Seattle public transport gets high marks from me for usability and value.
MARTA is so inconvenient. I’m lucky; my family only lives twenty minutes from the airport so I just have to call them when I get in. And even though they’re so close, there’s no public transportation option to even get close to where my family is.
And God help you if you want to take the bus; those MARTA buses come when the mood hits them.
I’ve used the MARTA once when I had a long layover in Atlanta and decided to visit the city center. It was fine, really (the metro, not the city. The city was dead. Does anyone even live there?)
I’m from Australia; Everyone I know will default to public transport when travelling. My partner and I normally book our accommodation with public transport in mind.
Using a different public transport system is really not that big a deal…
I rank MARTA pretty low compared to other cities. Cleveland’s Rapid (RTA) ranks quite a bit higher than Atlanta’s MARTA to me. However, my city has zero light rail, so I’m still a bit envious of MARTA. As shit as it is, what is more shit is nothing except city busses.
The MARTA line at the airport is heavy rail. You’re right not to rank it that high because there are basically only two main heavy rail lines (with a couple of spurs) so there are a lot of places it doesn’t go, but for the places it does go, it gets there just as fast as any other real subway.
So people needing a rideshare at the Airport should jump on the MARTA (light rail) at the airport and take it one stop away to get their Lyft/Uber?
You ain’t wrong, it’s not hard and I’ve done it many times, but as a native to Atlanta I do have to call out that most folks are averse to MARTA because as a general rule it sucks.
Also this is the US and most people aren’t savvy enough to figure out public transportation unless they’re in NYC.
I don’t have light rail in my city (one of the top 15 largest US cities). One of my favorite things to do when visiting other cities on vacation is use their public transit. NYC’s MTA is middle to low quality/price compared to other North American cities. I won’t even compare against Europe, because theirs are so much better overall than ours.
For North America, NYC needs to up their game compared to the DC metro, Chicago’s L, or Seattle’s Link. San Diego an Toronto are also both nice, but not nearly as much coverage of the metro areas. Boston also gets high marks even though their system and rolling stock looks absolutely ancient. Philly’s Septa is about on par with NYC’s MTA in my opinion, but the cost of MTA is one of the higher priced services for what you get. Chicago CTA’s $5 full day pass Ventra card is the best value I’ve seen in the country.
If you ever come to Kansas City,vour buses and streetcar are fare-free. 🤟
Kansas City MO or KS?
This is on the Missouri side. There’s a streetcar that runs the main corridor of the city, and buses that service the area regionally.
This is on the Missouri side. There’s a streetcar that runs the main corridor of the city, and buses that service the area regionally.
Seattle has very limited places you can get to on it. SeaTac to downtown is great but neighborhood connections are all via bus. We are working on it and hopefully by the time my kids are adults they can actually get around the city using it.
Solidarity to drivers though, fuck rideshare companies.
You’re burying the lede on one of Seattle’s coolest things about Seattle’s buses and Link trains. Your Trolley busses!
Seattle does something I haven’t really seen elsewhere for their light rail. The trains are powered by overhead electrical catenary wires, and the rails in stations and many tunnels are level to the ground.
So some of the tunnels under the city are just level paved which means the Trolley buses can use the same tunnels as the Train! It was surreal to be on the bus with the diesel engine running through city streets, then the bus took a ramp down to the “train tracks”, hooked up to the catenary overhead, diesel engine stops and electric motor purrs to life, then you’re driving in the same tunnel under the city that the Link train does at other times.
Seattle also has a completely separate light rail transport in its Monorail!
I didn’t even mention the S.L.U.T!
Seattle public transport gets high marks from me for usability and value.
DC has the best fucking subway. It goes everywhere you want to go and is convenient as shit about it.
DC metro stops also hold record for the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere as well as 6 of the top 10 spots of longest escalator in the USA.
Fun fact: MARTA and the DC metro use the same rolling stock because they were built at about the same time.
DC has the best fucking subway. It goes everywhere you want to go and is convenient as shit about it.
I had an easy time figuring out San Diego’s public transportation system because I’m from there. Also it runs really well.
San Diego has a good, simple system for sure.
You know that Chicago and DC both have robust public transit systems too, right?
MARTA is so inconvenient. I’m lucky; my family only lives twenty minutes from the airport so I just have to call them when I get in. And even though they’re so close, there’s no public transportation option to even get close to where my family is.
And God help you if you want to take the bus; those MARTA buses come when the mood hits them.
Many years ago comedian Lewis Black called MARTA “the subway to nowhere” and I’ve never heard a more apt description
Revisiting and I thought I’d expound, having now lived in a city with somewhat reliable busses it’s insane how bad the bus system is in Atlanta
I’ve used the MARTA once when I had a long layover in Atlanta and decided to visit the city center. It was fine, really (the metro, not the city. The city was dead. Does anyone even live there?)
Why did you say that name?!
Where is she?!
Most travelers won’t want to learn a new rail system. They’ll probably just get a cab at the stand.
I’m from Australia; Everyone I know will default to public transport when travelling. My partner and I normally book our accommodation with public transport in mind.
Using a different public transport system is really not that big a deal…
I’ve been ripped off by enough cab drivers across the United States that I only use taxi cabs as a very last resort.
MARTA doesn’t have enough rail lines to justify that hesitancy.
The MARTA line at the airport is full-blown heavy rail, thank you very much!
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Ok, MARTA really is kind of shit.
I rank MARTA pretty low compared to other cities. Cleveland’s Rapid (RTA) ranks quite a bit higher than Atlanta’s MARTA to me. However, my city has zero light rail, so I’m still a bit envious of MARTA. As shit as it is, what is more shit is nothing except city busses.
The MARTA line at the airport is heavy rail. You’re right not to rank it that high because there are basically only two main heavy rail lines (with a couple of spurs) so there are a lot of places it doesn’t go, but for the places it does go, it gets there just as fast as any other real subway.