Is this a sign?

Illegal signs on power poles, street easements, and medians are indicators of that community's social health.

These signs that promote buying junk cars, tax services based on number of children, and carpet cleaning for fifty dollars show visitors and residents that this area does not show pride in its appearance and in keeping with local laws and ordinances.

DeKalb County states that no sign should be placed on a power pole, within a sidewalk easement, or any county owned property.

I always thought this would be the easiest crime to catch someone at.  They are putting their phone number on the sign?!?  How can these people not be caught? 

If that does not work, go to sign shop off North Decatur road that promotes making these signs.  With little effort, this growing problem could be resolved. 

This past 23rd of January, DeKalb County started a Neighborhood Ambassador Program. A two night program that at the conclusion, a resident could legally remove signs.  A big componant to this is, knowing what illeagal and what is not.  Two night may be a bit excessive, but no one asked me. 

I think this is a great idea, but it is also a lost potential source of income for the police and/ or community.

For example, the gas station at the intersection of Rockbridge and Stone Mountain Lithonia Road had, at last count, 12 signs in the small patch of grass and nailed to the adjacent power pole. If this station was fined because it is the host of these illegal signs, I'm sure they would be removed daily.

The only way to get people to do something is to hit them in the pocketbook.

Maybe when the owner gets fined a few times, he would re-evaluate his property and notice that people have been disrespecting his property because he is has not shown that he even cares about this property.  The sign above the door should read, "We appricate your business, but do not care how our business reflects on your community." 

If the businesses take care of their area, and the Neighborhood Ambassadors and county employees handle the rest, this problem could be solved. 

The vast majority of DeKalb residents are proud people, but a few rotten apples are trying to take a piece of that.  They are disrespecting people’s property and blatinlly telling everyone that laws do not apply to them. 

In the mean time, take pride in your own area - If you see a sign, stop, take it down, and throw it away.

Take Pride DeKalb!

Do you want to have 3 1/2 extra days a year? Marta doesn't?

Image from Wiki

Mass transit versus Driving
Or
Economy versus Comfort
Or
Green versus pollutant
Or
Obnoxious riders versus obnoxious tailgaters

Whatever comparison you use to decide if you drive in or take the train  -there are two factors that trump all comparisons






Time and Money




How long does it take to get there, and how much is this going to put me out?

Marta could help sway this equation in their favor by running express and local trains. This would save commuters nearly an hour off their travel time each week.  A total of 3.5 days per year.





On January 3rd, my office moved from downtown to midtown.
Coming in from Stone Mountain, this forced me to transfer at Five Points.

My commute was a short drive to Indian Creek, and then catch the 7:52 train to Five Points. Now a third leg has been added.  The dreaded transfer to the North line!

The success of this transfer is dependent on Marta keeping their posted schedule. If anyone has ever tried to ride the train off of the schedule, you have to wonder why the even post them.

Back to the issue in hand, as it stands now, time and money are about a wash. It takes a about 10 more minutes on Marta, and cost a bit more to drive when operating costs are figured in.

But what can Marta do?
Easy, make it more efficient and faster.
Make it a no brainier to take public transit.

How?

Eliminate time wasted by slowing - stopping - and talking off at stations where there are not any riders.


Stop at stations where people board.
To find where the holes are, I did a non-scientific survey.

I called it "How many people are getting on the train."
I counted how many people walk through the same set of train doors that I just walked though.

And the results:
Indian Creek 17 people
Kensington 10 people
Avondale 8 people
Decatur 2 people
East Lake 1 person
Edgewood 0 people
Imman 1person
King 0 people
GA State 0 people

Conclusion: Marta should run an express train to reflect the demand.

There should be an express train that bypasses stations where passengers are not boarding.
The infrastructure is already present.
Green - Local
Blue - Express

Marta could save approx 1 minuet per station skipped (slowing down and taking off).
Express train would bypasses:
East Lake 1
Edgewood 0
Imman 1
King 0
GA State 0

What that equal?
=5 minuets shaved off each trip
=10 minuets per round trip
=50 minuets per week
=2,600 minuets per year or

=43 HOURS SAVED IF THERE WAS AN EXPRESS TRAIN!

Marta is wasting 3.5 days of your life by not responding to ridership.

Feel free to let them know:
Click Here to Contact
Marta is also on Twitter: @MARTAMARKETING

Marta is Attempting to Combat Global Warming

Logo from http://itsmarta.com

We've all have said this, or been victim to the saying, "Did you grow up in a barn?” Typically, it is in reference to someone leaving the door open and letting out all the conditioned air.

This concept seems so basic - shut the door to keep the conditioned air in the room and money in your pocket.

As basic as this is, the counties 7th largest transit network cannot grasp this concept. Marta seems to facing ‘doomsday’ budget scenarios each day, but does nothing, noticeable to curb their current waste.  I have a way Marta could improve passenger comfort AND save money: Shut the barn door!

Evaluation: Westbound (Indian Creek to Five Point Station) When the train is delayed or at the end of the line, all the doors to train are open.  This causes a dramatic temperature difference in the interior of the train car when sitting idle at a station.
Once all the condition air leaves the train car – the train is ready to leave the station.  By Avondale, the train is at passenger capacity.  The heating/ cooling systems cannot keep up with the demand and thus must work harder and less efficient. 
By the time the temperature catches up with the demand, there is inviolably a delay at Edgewood, or Inman Park.  While the train idles at the station, Marta keeps all doors to the train wide open, this of course, let’s all the conditioned air out. 

Solution:
1. Keep one set of doors, per car, open at the end of line stations.  Common sense tells us, this will decrease the amount of conditioned air from leaving the train. This will keep a consistent temperature and save money for the transit system.
2. Shut the doors when trains are stalled at the stations due to ... Whatever stalls a train that only runs every 15 minutes.  Benefits mentioned above, will even apply here.
3. Throw the existing trains into Lake Lanier; they will do more as fish habitats than passenger cars. Upgrade to an efficient train fleet with common sense operation. Marta's trains have to be the most dated trains in the country. There have been advancements in train car design, and technologies have advanced.

I understand that Point 1 and 2 are easier than 3, but who knows.

Let's hope that Marta takes some pride in running an efficient, comfortable, and innovative transit system.  Ideas must evolve in order to better the system and community.

Share your thoughts with Marta
Click Here to Contact
Marta is also on Twitter: @MARTAMARKETING

Dear Mayor, I drive around your downtown

Image from here

A note to the Mayor, City Manager, Public Works, and Planning & Zoning about the entrance of Historic Stone Mountain Village

Attention:
Mayor: Ms. Patricia Wheeler
City Manager / Engineering: Mr. Barry Amos
Parks and Recreation/ Public Works: Mr. Jim Tavenner
City Clerk / Planning & Zoning/ Bldg Dept: Ms. Denise Hicks

GRAPHICS TO PROPOSAL

The City of Stone Mountain is a wonderful community that is surround by history and natural wonders. 

The people are investing in the cities future by its Main Street project and Downtown redevelopment infinitives. 

The city has a feature that other cities would love to have – the iconic Stone Mountain!

People, near and far, are coming to downtown Stone Mountain to participate in the growing art scene and attend city sponsored events.  

However, a large amount of potential visitors, business partners, and residents are turned off because of the difficult downtown access due to traffic congestion at the entrance to the city. 

This first impression becomes an eye sore as traffic stalls due to one car trying to access Stone Mountain Park.  Frustration grows, and the labor the residents, elected offices, and business partners is never seen because everyone avoids downtown because of the extreme traffic conditions. 

This hurts the City of Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain Park, and the business owners. 

The attached is a remedy that can add value to the residents of Stone Mountain and its development.

1.       Evaluation

a.       Traffic

 i.      One vehicle turning left to Stone Mountain Park off Ponce causes a backup of traffic that can push all the way to the off ramp.   

b.      Appearance

 i.      The existing filling station and parking lot is an eye sore to the cities entrance. 

 ii.      Power lines going every which way blocks the view of Stone Mountain and focus attention to the filling station

c.       Reckless driving

 i.      Impatience drivers take congested traffic into their own hands by driving though the vacant lot adjacent to the filling station. 

2.       Solution

a.       Roundabout

 i.      A roundabout allows for a consist flow of traffic.  Having (1) car turning left will not disturb all of the traffic. 

 ii.      Due to the nature of the 5 way intersection, all roads can be integrated into the roundabout.   

iii.      Create  green space.  The center of the roundabout can become a wonderful signage opportunity or landscape feature for the city, rather than an eye sore. 

b.      Power line

i.      Bury power lines.

1.       Create a visual corridor to the feature of the city – Stone Mountain. 

c.       Landscape / Streetscape

 i.      Create a visual barrier to the run down filling station and gravel lot.

1.       The welcome to Stone Mountain should not be - Welcome to Stone Mountain, here’s a gravel lot and a rundown filling station. 

 ii.      Create a granite wall with landscaping that create a vehicular way, dedicated separate bike drive and finally the designated parking area that has a singular entrance. 

1.       There is no separation between the filling station and the street right now

When the city takes pride in what they do, the citizens will follow.  

If the city allows building to deteriorate, infrastructure to be ran any which way, and for basic traffic laws to be broken - it will attract undesired residents and company.  

Take Pride Stone Mountain Village

I'll update with any responses or actions!