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Number of the Month – Commute Times

April 2, 2011 in MARTA, Number of the Month, Traffic with 1 Comment

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random bit of local trivia.

27.1 versus 29.1

The average travel time to work for Fulton County residents, 2009 versus 2000. Yes, it has gone down!

Figures from the 2010 census are slowing being released. Unfortunately commute times (or as the census calls it, “Mean Travel Time to Work”) isn’t out. Yet I did find this bit of information. The census bureau conducts yearly surveys that get rolled up into five year intervals. So from the years 2005 – 2009 the average commute time for Fulton County residents was 27.1 minutes. This figure is less than the 29.1 minutes Fulton commuters spent in 2000. I’ll post some other north metro counties below to see how they compare. As a general rule, commute times have remained flat or declined slightly over the last decade while populations have boomed.

Why do I bring this up? City and regional planners are considering drastic actions to tackle traffic. Those include spending billions on MARTA rail expansion and zoning for very high density. Perhaps we should keep this traffic statistic in mind before we dramatically alter the shape and character of the communities we love.

Commute Times - North Metro Atlanta

County 2005-2009 Commute Times 2000 Commute Times
Fulton 27.1 29.1
Forsyth 30.5 33.2
Cherokee 33.4 34.4
Cobb 29.8 31.3
Gwinnett 32.4 32.2

Number of the Month – Mosques and Mixed-Use

March 1, 2011 in NIMBY, Number of the Month with 0 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

“More Than  100″ versus “About 30″

The number of Alpharetta residents that packed the City Council chamber last year regarding a mosque expansion… versus how many people attended last night’s Peridot mixed-use public hearing.

Both figures are estimates; the first from a local newspaper and the second being my estimated headcount from last night’s meeting. Just goes to show where local priorities stand.

Number of the Month – Alpharetta Jobs on Twitter

February 1, 2011 in Job Market, Number of the Month with 0 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

120

The number of Alpharetta jobs advertised on Twitter in the trailing 24 hours.

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=+alpharetta+job+OR+jobs+OR+career+OR+careers

Number of the Month – Property Tax Prediction

January 1, 2011 in Number of the Month, Politics with 1 Comment

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

6.250

The city millage rate for residents in Milton and Johns Creek in three years. Just a prediction on my part. Currently Milton and Johns Creek residents pay 4.731 and 4.614 mills respectively.

Why do I think it will be so high? A number of factors will play into it. First, the cities are still new and are having to ramp up services that used to be part of Fulton county or were offered by CH2M Hill. They are not taking advantages of economies of scale to the extent they should with their peers. Second, the economy has depressed home values and businesses have failed. This will put pressure on the millage rate. Third, in Milton’s case, the lack of a significant business base will hurt them in the longterm. If business isn’t footing the bill, there’s no one left but the homeowners.

Fourth, the cities cannot afford the existing infrastructure who’s maintenance used to fall under Fulton County. This will be especially hard for Johns Creek. Mayor Mike Bodker is already floating the idea of a bond referendum. This is significant coming from Bodker. He’s a fiscal conservative and wouldn’t consider this were it not necessary.

And fifth, I think Milton and Johns Creek will feel pressure from residents to expand their city park systems to keep up with Alpharetta, Roswell, Suwanee and Forsyth.

How will it all go down? Look for the basic millage rate for city operating funds to increase a little bit each year. The kicker will come from the bonds. I don’t anticipate a referendum vote to come along for another two years. Why? This will give the tea party activists time to settle down a bit before taxes are increased. Look for the bonds to be carefully worded to include roads and parks together in one happy package. Who could refuse?

What will it cost? Depending on how the homestead exemption math works, I predict an increase in property tax of between $175 to $200 a year on a $300,000 home.

Number of the Month – Roads in Forsyth County

December 1, 2010 in Number of the Month, Traffic with 4 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

2

The number of four lane roads for commuting into or out of Forsyth County. This number recently doubled as the GA-141 widening project just finished.

I know what you’re thinking… there are more four lane roads than that in Forsyth! Sure. You’ve got Ronald Reagan, McFarland and a few others. But as far as big roads that cross the county line… GA-400 and GA-141 are it. In my opinion this is the crux of the traffic problem for our neighbors to the north. GA-141 should have been four-laned 15 years ago, along with GA-9 and GA-20. The roads in Forsyth County are woefully inadequate.

Number of the Month – Sewer in Milton

November 1, 2010 in Milton, Number of the Month, Suburban Life with 1 Comment

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, just a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

14%

The percentage of the city of Milton’s acreage that the sewer system supports… and that’s just fine by them.

This has always been strange to me. Milton refuses to expend their small sewer system. Why? It gives them an easier way to say no to higher density and commercial development. Actually they don’t even have to say no. The rules regarding septic systems prohibit small lots. Proposed development is nipped in the bud before it can even be considered.

What do I think? I sleep easy knowing there isn’t a big concrete box full of poo buried in my front yard. So yeah, color me a fan of the sewer system. If you want to say no to certain development then fine, vote them down. Just don’t deny your citizens access to a sanitary sewer system, something municipalities have been providing for centuries.

Number of the Month – Murders in Cumming

October 2, 2010 in Crime in the Burbs, Number of the Month with 0 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month. Just a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

2

The number of murders in Cumming, year to date.

The robbery and execution-style murder at an Ingles in Cumming got a lot of attention in September. There was one other murder in Cumming this year that didn’t get as much press. Nevertheless, officials quoted in the paper were adamant that Cumming is a safe place.

Is Cumming truly a safe place? It depends on your perspective. Is it safer than the city of Atlanta? Absolutely. Is it safer than Alpharetta or Johns Creek? Not a chance.

Cumming’s murders also tend to be gruesome in nature. Don’t forget the 2006 farmhouse massacre that left four dead. Let’s hope our neighbors to the north don’t continue this violent trend.

Number of the Month – September

September 2, 2010 in Number of the Month with 4 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month. Just a random or meaningless bit of local trivia.

4 and 2

The number of big box retailers in the city limits of Milton and Johns Creek, respectively.

Milton is widely regarded as a rural city of horse farms while Johns Creek has more of a retail feel. Yet as it turns out, because of the strange city boundary between Milton and Alpharetta, Milton has a disproportionate number of big stores. This is mainly due to Windward Parkway. Portions of the north side of Windward are in Milton while the south is Alpharetta. I don’t know why Alpharetta didn’t annex this stuff when it had the chance. Nevertheless, Milton inherited more big stores than one might think they have. And by “big box retailers” I mean Walmart, Target, Fry’s, Home Depot and Lowes.

Number of the Month – July

August 2, 2010 in Affluence, Number of the Month with 3 Comments

I’m going to rip off a blog idea from fellow blogger Bob Strader. He has a monthly feature called the big number that he posts at the end of each month. His number is usually real estate related but mine will be whatever. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I hope Bob takes it that way because I love his blog.

13

The number of ads for cosmetic surgery, BOTOX or teeth whitening procures in the August 2010 issue of Points North Magazine.

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