Officials across south metro Atlanta say that while federal funding is no longer available for a proposed 31-mile multi-use trail connecting the area to the Atlanta Beltline, they remain committed to moving the project forward. The proposed trail network, which includes the Flint River Gateway Trail, generated momentum last year after a promising $64.9 million […]
Tag: Clayton County
Posted inLatest News
MARTA elects new board chair in a spirited debate
At its Thursday meeting, the MARTA board elected a new chair, accepted the resignation of two board members, disclosed that the Atlanta Streetcar has been taken out of service for safety reasons and unanimously approved bus rapid transit as its preferred mode of service to Clayton County.
Posted inLatest News
Reporter’s Notebook: BeltLine MarketPlace block party, new official Atlanta historic landmark, Fulton Superior Court chief judge stays on controversial case
On Aug. 18, 1965, The Beatles made their sole appearance in Georgia. The city was abuzz and, before the concert at Atlanta Stadium, former Mayor Ivan Allen presented the band with the keys to the city. Around 30,000 folks showed up that hot summer night 57 years ago, paying between $4.50 to $5.50 for tickets. […]
Posted inLatest News
Reporter’s Notebook: BeltLine’s Northwest Trail, lantern parade, $100,000 to Morris Brown College
Attention, Georgia voters: The statewide primaries are just a few days away. If you haven’t voted already, be sure to visit the My Voter Page to find your polling place for Tuesday, May 24. Early voting runs through Friday, May 20. So far, Georgians are submitting their ballots early in record numbers, with over 380,000 […]
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Metro Atlanta is riding the wrong bus into the future
We are in a moment in time when we can transform our region with a world-class transit network thanks in large part to the $1.3 trillion federal infrastructure investment.
Posted inAllison Joyner
Clayton State’s new president is the first African American to lead school in over 50-years
Currently, student enrollment at the institution is over 60 percent Black. By Allison Joyner Earlier this month, Dr. T. Ramon Stuart began his tenure at Clayton State University (CSU) as the fifth and first Black president of the institution. “It truly feels good. It’s an honor,” Stuart told SaportaReport. “It humbles me to be the […]
Posted inContributors
Black Women’s History Month: The women of Clayton County government
The Atlanta metro county has over 41 government officials that are Black females, the most in the country. By Allison Joyner Earlier this month, the Clayton Crescent declared that their citizens elected a record-breaking 41 Black women to local, state and federal positions in last year’s elections. State Rep. Sandra Scott told the nonprofit publication, […]
Posted inPhilanthropy, Thought Leader, Uncategorized
Clayton talks progress, bright future in conversation with United Way and public officials
Superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools Dr. Morcease Beasley walked to the stage of the Clayton County Performing Arts Center on the morning of Aug. 14 to celebrate the improvements he’s seen his students and community make over the past few years. Beasley was there alongside 150 business leaders, elected officials and a room full […]
Posted inLatest News
Commuter rail is MARTA’s choice for Clayton County
MARTA is recommending a commuter rail line to serve Clayton County.
At MARTA’s Planning and External Relations Committee meeting Wednesday, members of MARTA’s board heard a presentation on the “locally preferred alternative” to bring high capacity transit to Clayton County.
Posted inColumns, David Pendered, Main Slider
Metro Atlanta ranks 4th for charitable giving, Clayton County’s interesting position revealed in new study
A new report that shows metro Atlanta ranks fourth in the country in terms of charitable giving provides an interesting insight into Clayton County.
Posted inWABE
MARTA commuter rail possible for Clayton County
Original Story on WABE By Maria Saporta Play Audio MARTA buses have been rolling in Clayton County since March, but what the county really wants is commuter rail. The good news is that MARTA is working on it. When Clayton County residents voted last November to join MARTA with a full penny sales tax, their […]
Posted inWABE
Clayton County MARTA Could Be Big Economic Generator
By MARIA SAPORTA Original Story on WABE In one short year, Clayton County has gone from being the Atlanta region’s ugly duckling to its beautiful new swan. The reason is simple. MARTA. On March 21, MARTA will launch its first three bus routes in Clayton, and more bus lines will be added in August and in […]
Posted inColumns, David Pendered, Main Slider
Ca. high speed rail a display of persistence worth noting in Georgia
This month’s groundbreaking ceremony on the nation’s first high speed rail system, in California, provides a lesson in patience and persistence.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Clayton County’s vote on MARTA comes as county’s growth rate slows
As Clayton County prepares to vote this autumn on joining MARTA, a recent report from the Atlanta Regional Commission shines new light on the number of potential riders who reside in Clayton County.
The ARC’s unofficial population estimates show the county added 1,000 residents from 2013 to 2014. That was the smallest increase among the 10 counties tracked by the ARC report.
Clayton’s population shifts will be among the factoids that will bear watching as the campaign for the 1 percent sales tax gears up after Labor Day. Clayton voters rejected a proposed regional 1 percent transportation sales tax that was on the ballot in July 2012.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Clayton County’s proposed transit partner reports record profits
The railroad that owns the corridor where the proposed commuter rail line would be built in Clayton County has just posted record profits for the second quarter of 2014.
Norfolk Southern’s financial situation warrants attention as Clayton County voters prepare to vote in November on a proposed 1 percent transit sales tax. Likewise with some of its corporate decisions, such as one last week to sue the state of Maryland to block the public release of information about shipments of crude oil.
The future of commuter rail in Clayton County depends largely on whether Norfolk Southern agrees to share its existing freight corridor, presuming voters approve the proposed 1 percent sales tax.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Lawmakers support Clayton/MARTA deal, raise questions of equity
State lawmakers who oversee MARTA expressed a few reservations Tuesday as they generally applauded the potential of MARTA extending its service into Clayton County.
“This is a major step forward for transit in the region,” said state Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Brookhaven), who chairs MARTOC, the Legislature’s MARTA oversight committee. “Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come in terms of transit in metro Atlanta.”
Posted inDavid Pendered
Norfolk Southern in sound position if talks begin over rail transit in its freight corridor in Clayton County
Norfolk Southern appears to be in a solid negotiating position as advocates of Clayton County’s potential transit system prepare to ask the company to allow MARTA to operate passenger trains on Norfolk Southern’s freight tracks.
A MARTA study shows that $185 million could be saved if Norfolk Southern allows use of its freight line for passenger rail service. Norfolk Southern has sent a letter to MARTA that raised a red flag over the notion that passenger service could begin in seven years at the price contemplated in the MARTA study.
The issue will come to a head if Clayton County voters approve in November a 1 percent transit tax. Clayton’s Board of Commissioners voted Saturday to place the referendum on the ballot.
Posted inDavid Pendered
MARTA’s financial plan for serving Clayton County activated by Saturday vote to set proposed tax at 1 percent
The finances of the planned expansion of MARTA service in Clayton County gained clarity after Clayton’s Board of Commissioners voted Saturday to put a proposed 1 percent transit tax on the November ballot.
That’s because the 1 percent tax rate activates a feasibility study by MARTA, which envisioned only the 1 percent tax rate and not the 0.5 percent rate the board approved this week. The cost of rail expansion remains a significant variable in MARTA’s plan.
