Pictured L to R: MARTA Sr. Director of TOD Amanda Rhein, MARTA Chief-of-Staff Rukiya Thomas, Chamblee Mayor Eric Clarkson, MARTA Board Member William Floyd. Lynn Pattillo. MARTA Board Member Robert Dallas MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker and Pattillo Real Estate COO/CFO Josh Harrison, CPA $25M “Trackside” Project Marks MARTA’s Latest Transit Oriented Development The Metropolitan Atlanta […]
Tag: MARTA
Posted inUncategorized
Alternative Transit Relief Fund: A new grant program to help nonprofits affected by I-85 bridge fire and collapse
The Community Foundation is announcing a new, short-term grant program called the Alternative Transit Relief Fund to help nonprofits offset the impact of the I-85 bridge collapse for their staff, volunteers and constituents.
Posted inColumns
Time has arrived for politicians to step up and fund transit, mobility
By Guest Columnist PAUL MCLENNAN, a retired member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732, co-host of WRFG’s Labor Forum and human rights activist
With the closing of a major interstate in the heart of the city, Atlanta is facing a major transportation crisis. Traffic came to a standstill. Some parked their cars on side streets and chose to walk miles to get home. Schools have been closed. Workers must spend longer hours in their commute. Businesses and productivity will take a huge hit.
Posted inColumns
MARTA reaching tipping point over bus service for disabled riders
MARTA’s bus service for disabled riders is in the legal crosshairs. MARTA is to appear in federal court in Atlanta to defend its paratransit service just weeks after being told to scrub its privatized paratransit program and operate buses with MARTA employees.
Posted inLatest News
MARTA hasn’t decided on response to costly ruling regarding paratransit service
MARTA’s leadership has not determined if it will appeal a ruling that it must return its paratransit service to an in-house operation and compensate employees who lost wages or benefits as a result of the privatization of paratransit in 2016.
Posted inMain Slider
Better late then never: ‘A path forward’ for Ga. transit funding
No more flying pigs?
Georgia’s Legislature has suffered a failure to launch on the issue of public transportation for years, but that may finally be changing. A legislative study committee report released last month recommends that the state provide operating funds to local transit agencies all across Georgia – including MARTA.
Yes, it’s only a study committee and waaay to early to start celebrating. But this promising and long overdue development has implications that are too important for even the most cynical among us (me) to dismiss. While flying pigs exist only in fantasy, a serious discussion about dedicated transit funding in Georgia is already taking flight.
Posted inColumns
MARTA seeks partner to expand its Lindbergh Center Station; work to start in 2018
MARTA plans to begin the second phase of development at its Lindbergh Center Station in 2018 with a grand opening as early as 2020. Some buildings along Piedmont Road could be as high as 225 feet, or about 20 stories, under current zoning.
Posted inLyle Harris
MARTA scores (again) with Avondale transit-oriented development
In case you hadn’t noticed, MARTA is on a roll
Still basking in the afterglow of a wildly successful sales tax referendum on Election Day, the transit agency on Monday broke ground on its next Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) at the Avondale station in Decatur.
Posted inWABE
Commentary: The transit divide widens with election
The Nov. 8 election produced a major win for MARTA. Nearly 130,000 Atlanta voters, or 71.34 percent, approved a half-penny sales tax to expand MARTA within the city limits.
At the same time, the city voted to increase overall transportation funding by a .4 of a penny sales tax.
This is in addition to the one-cent sales tax that the city of Atlanta has been investing in the MARTA system since 1971 – when Fulton and DeKalb counties also voted in favor of the regional transit system.
Posted inLyle Harris
CEO-Elect Michael Thurmond offers “new vision” for DeKalb County
For local voters suffering from PESD – Post-Election Stress Disorder – DeKalb County CEO-elect Michael Thurmond provided just what the doctor ordered.
Flush from an election night victory, Thurmond delivered a thoughtful and inspiring speech last Thursday that hinted at his “new vision” for repairing the county long beset by racial divisiveness, bureaucratic mismanagement and political scandal.
Posted inSubmitted Photos
Photo Pick: DeKalb Ave Complete Street by Carl Holt
Please read this message from Carl Holt & consider attending a meeting on the issue Thursday, November 17, 6pm-8pm at Liberty Baptist Church: “DeKalb Ave connects Downtown Decatur to Downtown Atlanta, serving many Eastside neighborhoods. For much of its history it was lined with commercial and industrial zoning, but now has single family homes, multifamily home […]
Posted inThought Leader, Transit
Vote Yes to MARTA
The following was submitted by Carl Holt, an Atlanta voter who has been a supporter of MARTA for a long time. We appreciate the input from all of our customers and look forward to the vote on November 8th. On November 8th, voters in the City of Atlanta will be asked to fund MARTA’s largest […]
Posted inThought Leader, Transit
Investing in Atlanta Transportation Today For a More Livable, Sustainable Future
By Brian Gist For too long, transportation in Atlanta has been synonymous with driving, with plenty of cars and congested roads, but few other options. Transit service has been notoriously infrequent or unavailable in many areas, making metro Atlanta among the worst in the country for the ability to access jobs via transit. Sidewalks desperately […]
Posted inLyle Harris
With MARTA, ownership has its privileges and responsibilities
Quick question: When’s the last time you washed a rental car? If the answer is “never,” you’re hardly alone. The timeworn adage that most people take better care of physical assets that they own outright has been confirmed by scientific research and just plain common sense.
However, the innate human impulse to be a good custodian of one’s possessions is attenuated (or disappears) when it comes to public goods such as our transit infrastructure, including MARTA.
Posted inSubmitted Photos
Photo Pick: Inman Park Neighborhood Association hosts Urban Conversations on T-Splost & MARTA
Join Urban Explorers of Atlanta at the Historic Trolley Barn in Inman Park for a special edition of “Urban Conversations” as they discuss two measures that could shape the future of Atlanta in a significant way. A team of distinguished of city leaders who will explain what two referendums that City of Atlanta residents will vote on on […]
Posted inLatest News
MARTA seeking to grow ridership by expanding partners who get discount fares
MARTA intends to grow the number of businesses in its discount Partnership Program and on Thursday is slated to open bids from vendors that want to provide the service. The contract will be for less than $200,000 according to the bid.
Posted inWABE
Commentary: Momentum building for MARTA to Gwinnett County
For decades, Gwinnett County has had opportunities to join MARTA and build rail service, but voters have turned down every proposal so far.
Rev. Harriett Bradley missed her bus transfer to get from Norcross to Lawrenceville so she ended up taking Uber to get to the Sierra Club transit forum earlier this month.
Posted inLatest News
MARTA to replace rail car fleet by 2026; seeks cars that can travel streets, freight lines
MARTA intends to replace all of its train cars by 2026 and has asked vendors to provide information on both new cars and the best way to extend the life of the existing fleet until the new vehicles arrive, according to bid solicitations that are due Aug. 30.
Posted inSubmitted Photos
Photo Pick: MARTA 5 Points ceiling collapsed by Patrick Garman
Click Here for Image #tbt to the time Marta’s ceiling collapsed at the Five Points Station entrance by Patrick Garman (Photo taken August 4th 2016)
Posted inLatest News
MARTA plans aggressive steps to expand sustainability efforts
MARTA is expanding its sustainability program and on Friday received proposals from seven companies vying for a contract to recommend and implement steps the transit system can take to further reduce its usage of water and electricity.
