The Atlanta Streetcar Boondoggle Time Capsule
In recognition of the streetcar project breaking ground today, I’m establishing this post as my “Boondoggle Time Capsule.” Here’s a list of places online where writers and commenters have used the word ‘boondoggle’ to describe the Atlanta Streetcar.
Seven years from now, after the streetcar has been running for a good five years, I’ll return to this time capsule and see how well the results match the descriptions below.
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http://clatl.com/atlanta/atlanta-streetcar-faq/Content?oid=2269459
It’s a huge boondoggle to support the King Center and allow the Mayor to preen his feathers. It will be closed after a few years when MARTA whines that it is losing money operating it.
Burroughston Broch on October 30, 2010
“powered via overhead electrical wires”
That’s my favorite part. What’s next? Steam engine rail?
This is a huge boondoggle.
oydave on October 28, 2010
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http://brookhavenbear.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/atlanta-trolley-dreams/
In truth, a lot of the people who are supporting this project wouldn’t know the difference between a street tram and a baby pram.
Suit yourself; it smells like a boondoggle to me, for several reasons.
Riley on July 23, 2011
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http://blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2010/10/15/a-streetcar-not-desired/
Here’s one thing it will do: Further convince skeptics that the transit projects that get built are the nice-sounding boondoggles instead of items targeted where traffic is worst.
Kyle Wingfield on October 15, 2010
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As a reminder, the well-established purpose of the streetcar is NOT to alleviate car traffic in Atlanta. Among other things, it’s meant to spur investment in — and provide connectivity for — downtown neighborhoods that have lost both in the wake of the interstate connector dissecting them.
Councilman Kwanza Hall said it well today (from Thomas Wheatley’s CL report):
City Councilman Kwanza Hall, who represents the area the streetcar will serve, said the transit line would help link the Old Fourth Ward and Sweet Auburn to downtown.
“Years ago, when investments were made in the Sweet Auburn district, they really weren’t investments that benefited the community,” City Councilman Kwanza Hall said, “These destroyed the African-American businesse that were so vibrant here. The new connector will be this streetcar. This means a lot to us.”
I’ll see you on the Edgewood Avenue platform in a couple of years, y’all. Looking forward to it.
Photo of streetcar construction from downtownatlanta
