Atlanta Transit Leaders Hopeful For Future Long-Term Funding
Metro Atlanta transit leaders are pleased about the gains made during this year’s legislative session, despite MARTA coming away with no dedicated stream of state funding.
“We didn’t hit the grand slam but we did make major progress,” said MARTA chief Keith Parker.
Among those gains: MARTA is getting greater flexibility with its tax dollars, and transit systems across the state, including MARTA, will split $75 million in new bond money.
State lawmakers appeared poised to allow Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton Counties to raise the MARTA sales tax by a half percent, potentially creating a windfall for MARTA. But the agreement fell apart on the last day of session. Still, Congressman David Scott is hopeful about the future.
“I believe this, in the next session of the Legislature, I think you’ll see MARTA move ahead and get that half cent,” said Scott.
For now, MARTA is moving forward with environmental assessments on three rail expansion projects: one north along Georgia 400, another east along I-20, and another to Emory University. New funding would be required for actual construction.
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