Atlanta Automobile & Public Transportation, Essay Example

Introduction

Atlanta, Georgia is notorious for its busy highways and massive traffic jams during peak rush hour periods. These events often wreak havoc on local roads because it becomes very difficult to move around the city from one point to another. Individual automobiles are a primary source of this congestion, as many drivers use their own vehicles to drive from one place to another within the metropolitan Atlanta area. This is a serious condition because Atlanta has some of the most challenging roadways in the United States. Therefore, other alternatives must be explored in order to determine the best possible approaches to improving overall traffic and the condition of these roadways for local residents. The public transportation system in Atlanta must be evaluated more closely in order to determine its overall impact on local residents and the traffic situation as a whole. The combination of automobile traffic and public transportation must be considered in the context of their influence on the Metropolitan Atlanta community and its overall impact on the roadways within this area.

Analysis

Atlanta possess considerable challenges with its highways in their current state, as a variety of circumstances have been instrumental in shaping Atlanta’s current transportation challenges. For example, the city’s current public transportation system is severely limited, which poses a real threat to the roadways and the level of congestion that currently exists in and out of the city (Lockie, 2014). This is a serious concern for the Metropolitan Atlanta community and the people who reside there, as it is difficult for the community to overcome its transportation challenges using existing methods (Lockie, 2014). Furthermore, the city only operates 1,600 licensed taxicabs, which represents a challenge to the community at large (Lockie, 2014). These factors play a significant role in shaping outcomes for local residents and in demonstrating the potential impact of transportation woes on local residents, particularly during rush hour periods (Lockie, 2014). These concerns require a greater understanding of the challenges associated with Atlanta’s transportation challenges, particularly those related to an ever-increasing number of cars on the road versus the availability of public transportation for mobility purposes (Lockie, 2014).

It is known that “Atlanta’s sprawling urban form isn’t unusual for big southern cities, but one thing that happens is that the more you sprawl the more jurisdictions need to coordinate to build a working transportation network. And Georgia’s various class, racial, and regional divisions seem to have made that very challenging for the Atlanta area” (Yglesias, 2014). Under these conditions, it is important to identify how these challenges pose serious risks to the long-term potential of Atlanta’s growth and survival as a large metropolitan community (Yglesias, 2014). Without a feasible infrastructure reform plan in place, Atlanta is likely to continue to suffer at the expense of urban sprawl, without any clear direction for the future (Yglesias, 2014). This is a challenging series of events because it limits the ability of the city to be successful in its efforts to growth and thrive when transportation options are so limiting (Yglesias, 2014). It is important for the city to begin to develop a strategy that will be effective in providing a new set of resources that will support the city’s growth and sustainability as a southern success story over the long term (Yglesias, 2014).

The city’s public transportation system known as MARTA is a popular choice for some local residents, due in large part to its proximity to their homes; however, this service is lacking on many levels and requires many improvements in order to retain the loyalty of its current customer base (Sabulis, 2012). In addition, the availability of service is questionable at best and is often frustrating for many users: “Waiting 15 minutes for a train, and 25 minutes for a bus, during rush hour is a lot to ask. In comparison, rush hour trains arrive every nine to 12 minutes in Boston, depending on which line you’re riding. In Chicago, it’s three to eight minutes between trains” (Sabulis, 2012). Under these conditions, it is necessary to evaluate the current challenges that the city faces as its public transportation customers become increasingly frustrated with the current conditions that exist, thereby requiting new efforts to overcome these challenges and to improve service for local residents (Sabulis, 2012). The lack of cohesiveness associated with the public transportation infrastructure in Atlanta requires greater attention and focus, as this infrastructure severely limits the ability of the city to be successful in maintaining its current level of growth.

The development of a successful balance between the current infrastructure and the expansion of this infrastructure to accommodate a growing population requires a greater understanding of the challenges associated with developing new strategies to improve the local infrastructure and to provide greater support for the challenges that this community faces, particularly as city appears to be limited in its efforts to address the public transportation system relative to its current needs. The limited opportunities that are currently available must be modified in order to accommodate this population, while also considering other challenges that the city must address that will be effective in accomplishing the desired objectives in order to achieve long-term growth and development.

Atlanta’s infrastructure problems must be addressed more closely from a number of perspectives, including the needs of local residents and the development of new strategies to address these concerns. With the ever-increasing transportation challenges that exist, it is important to determine how to best approach these concerns and the issues that are relevant in supporting infrastructure reform. It is evident that there is a lack of cohesiveness in addressing these concerns and how to best move forward in achieving a balance between these needs and the wants of local community members. In addition, the availability of resources must also be considered because without these resources in place, there is limited opportunity to grow and thrive in this capacity. These factors must be considered more closely and must provide a greater level of understanding in regards to the city’s transportation system, including its roadways and the public transportation infrastructure, in addition to the individual use of automobiles throughout the city.

Conclusion

Modifying the current transportation infrastructure within the Atlanta region requires an effective approach to this process, thereby increasing the potential for new challenges that could either improve the situation or cause further harm. These factors demonstrate the importance of new perspectives that will be effective in providing an updated framework or infrastructure for the Atlanta community in order to improve transportation outcomes for the city and its people. There are considerable forces that impact the growth of the community and the success of its people; however, this process requires a greater understanding of the issues that Atlanta faces as it continues to be effective in expanding its growth strategy over the long term. By adopting a new perspective regarding the city’s transportation infrastructure, it is important to obtain the support that is required to ensure that the city is prepared to meet the challenges and demands of 21^st Century living. This process is critical to the success of the city and its people in the coming years, particularly as other cities are able to compete for business and potentially attract new residents, thereby decreasing Atlanta’s population as a whole if these concerns are not addressed in a timely manner.

References

Lockie, M. (2014). Atlanta’s next transportation problem. MSNBC, retrieved from http://www.msnbc.com/the-cycle/atlantas-next-transportation-problem

Sabulis, T. (2012). MARTA transit, but not rapid. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, retrieved from http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-forward/2012/11/26/funding-transportations-future/

Yglesias, M. (2014). Atlanta is a regional transportation planning disaster. Slate.com, retrieved from

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/01/29/atlanta_traffic_nightmare_terrible_regional_planning.html