The Atlanta region has had plans to expand transit for decades and decades. Now we have another opportunity to move forward with rail transit with the Atlanta City Council voting unanimously to implement light rail on the 22-mile Beltline corridor. We also have Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, in an exclusive interview with SaportaReport after the […]
Tag: More MARTA
Posted inColumns
Atlanta’s Kelsea Bond on Beltline light rail: ‘We need to get back on track’
All signs point to a growing consensus for rail along the Atlanta Beltline. The latest development? A proposed resolution by Atlanta City Councilperson Kelsea Bond of support for light rail all along the corridor is being co-sponsored by 10 of her colleagues. Originally, eight councilmembers signed on to the non-binding resolution: Liliana Bakhtiari, Michael Julian […]
Posted inLatest News
MARTA interim CEO teases to-do list ahead of World Cup arrival
At his first public press conference on Sep. 11, MARTA interim CEO Jonathan Hunt promised plenty more MARTA as the agency gears up for a tourism boom during the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and the changes are coming soon. Former MARTA chief counsel Hunt was named the interim general manager and CEO at the […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
MARTA and Mayor hash out claim that MARTA owes $865k, not $70 million
In a rare public address to the MARTA Board of Directors on March 13, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens laid out a number of recent issues between the city and transit agency — including a recent claim that MARTA owes $865,630 in taxpayer-funded More MARTA project costs instead of the $70 million found in a 2024 city […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
Rail transit key to Downtown revitalization
Atlanta has a strategic opportunity to embrace Downtown revitalization efforts by fueling new and improved transit service. In conversations with about a dozen business and civic leaders, it has become obvious that our city is at a pivotal juncture when it comes to Downtown and transit. First, stars are aligned to bring new life to […]
Posted inColumns
Opposition grows over MARTA’s plan to close Five Points station for years
The lives of 17,000 people will be disrupted by MARTA’s plans to close access to its Five Points Station for up to four years, beginning July 29.
Posted inLatest News
Former ATLDOT official to press MARTA on claim it has spent over $50M on bus services with little result
A former City of Atlanta transportation official plans to press MARTA to explain what he says is an unexplained spending of over $50 million on “enhanced” bus routes that created little or no increases in bus service. Douglas Nagy, a former Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) deputy commissioner, said he will press the MARTA Board […]
Posted inColumns
MARTA’s CFO Raj Srinath leaves at a crucial time for transit agency
The departure of MARTA’s chief financial officer, Raj Srinath, is being viewed as Atlanta’s loss and Jacksonville’s gain.
Posted inLatest News
Public meetings will review ‘More MARTA’ transit expansion update
MARTA will hold three public meetings next week about the updated project list for “More MARTA.”
Posted inLatest News
‘More MARTA’ audit confirmed as City Council presses for women/minority business program
The Atlanta City Council wins “More MARTA” audit battle, seeks a women/minority business program.
Posted inLatest News
MARTA now open to sales-tax program audit demanded by Atlanta City Council
MARTA leadership now says it will “capitulate” and make the council “satisfied.”
Posted inLatest News
MARTA and City Council spar over sales-tax audit; former transit official sides with City
A war of words has erupted between MARTA and the Atlanta City Council as councilmembers are demanding an audit of the largely stalled “More MARTA” expansion program and the transit agency says the politicians should “get out of the way.”
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Less is less with More MARTA projects
As a lover of transit – especially rail, my heart has been broken repeatedly by the unrealized opportunities metro Atlanta has had over several decades.
Posted inLatest News
MARTA priority project list coming soon, says transit agency head under City Council grilling
By John Ruch Grilled by an Atlanta City Council committee worried about abrupt changes and lack of communication on Jan. 25, MARTA’s chief pledged a priority list of new transit projects is coming soon and strongly hinted what some may be. MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood also told the council’s Transportation Committee that the Atlanta […]
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Atlanta leaders committed to fulfilling promise of rail on the BeltLine
Key Atlanta leaders remain fully committed to building rail on the Atlanta BeltLine.
Posted inColumns
Racing to provide transit: MARTA to serve burgeoning hot spots
The MARTA expansion plan reconfirmed this summer by MARTA’s board includes projects that are to serve a busy vortex of redevelopment in Atlanta – an east-west corridor stretching from Summerhill to West End.
Posted inThought Leader, Transit
A Moonshot for Transit
Jeffrey A Parker, General Manager and CEO, MARTA January 2019 (Below are abridged remarks delivered by Mr. Parker at the 6th Annual State of MARTA Breakfast, edited for content and clarity.) [The year] 2018 was a year of great accomplishments and progress for MARTA. Most importantly, it was a breakthrough year for transit. It demonstrates […]
Posted inColumns
Metro Atlanta also wants ‘More MARTA’ – as transit gains favor
More MARTA started out as a vehicle to bring more transit to the City of Atlanta.
Now it’s turned in to a cry for More MARTA in metro Atlanta.
Although the More MARTA $11.5 billion project list was tied to voters in the City of Atlanta passing an additional half-penny MARTA sales tax to be invested within the city, the last two MARTA board meetings were filled with people who wanted “More MARTA” in their jurisdictions.
Posted inThought Leader, Transit
READY FOR MORE? MARTA WANTS TO KNOW
MARTA Riders Encouraged to Provide Feedback on Proposed More MARTA Atlanta Projects More MARTA Atlanta, a partnership between MARTA and the City of Atlanta, is blitzing the city to make a final push to engage and hear from MARTA riders regarding the More MARTA Atlanta proposed project list. On Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 2 – 6 […]
Posted inThought Leader, Transit
Atlanta City Council Members Host More MARTA Atlanta Community Forums
City of Atlanta Residents Urged to Learn About Proposed More MARTA Atlanta Projects, Provide Feedback Atlanta City Council members are hosting community forums to educate residents and city stakeholders about the More MARTA Atlanta program and receive feedback on the proposed project list. Public input has been central to the More MARTA Atlanta program since its […]
