More on LaHood’s visit
Filed under: ARTS & EVENTS, POLITICS, SMART GROWTH
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited Atlanta today for two reasons.
First, he spoke at the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Fifty Forward Transportation Forum. Secondly, he gave MARTA $10.8 million to install solar panels at a bus maintenance depot.
But in the process of doing these two things, LaHood inadvertently gave a forum to residents’ frustration with area transit and the transportation officials who decide if we have transit and where.
As I mentioned in my previous posts, LaHood fielded questions from the audience at the ARC event, including one from a gentleman who hopes someone in Washington can intervene on our behalf with the Georgia Legislature, to convince the folks under the Gold Dome that we need more money for transit.
I mean, isn’t that a bit like you making a complaint about the teacher when the principal happens to stick his/her head in your classroom?
One could certainly argue that if Georgia paid some attention to transit, no one would need to tattle to the DOT secretary!
Later when someone asked when the “high-speed rail” conversation would be coming to Atlanta, LaHood responded, “It’ll come to Atlanta if Georgia gets its act together.”
It’ll come to Atlanta if Georgia gets its act together.
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DOT Chief visit, Part two
Filed under: ARTS & EVENTS, GREEN BUILDING, SMART GROWTH
When I give my opinion here, I’m taking one of the liberties that, I think, blogging affords.
But as a former — very recently former — newspaper reporter, I always feel weird, for lack of a more eloquent phrase.
So I want to add some other context to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s visit to Atlanta today.
First off, if one of the feds is here, and he wants to talk about transportation, I would like to think he won’t forget us, and he will keep an eye on our progress, or lack thereof.
Also, any money for MARTA is good.
So LaHood brought the classic big check in the amount of $10.8 million to help MARTA become more energy-efficient.
By installing solar panels at the Laredo bus maintenance facility in Decatur, MARTA will save at least $150,000 a year for the next 45 years.
Lord knows, MARTA needs an extra $150,000. I think MARTA may even need an an extra $1.50, while we’re on the topic.
And the initiative will translate into other money for MARTA because the excess electricity the panels generate at the facility will then be sold to Georgia Power, bringing in some much-needed income.
What organization doesn’t want to be more energy-efficient these days?
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