Save Marta

I've attended several of the "Save MARTA" community meetings. On 4/22/09, a meeting was held at Georgia State University (GSU) organized by the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA). The panel was made up of Marvin Tolliver, Government Relations for Marta, Margo Waters, Advocate for Disabled Citizens, C. Perry, Transit Riders Union Representative, and Terrance Courty, Atlanta Jobs for Justice. There were also other groups represented in the audience, and other union representatives present. The issue which currently exists is that MARTA has a budget shortfall as most organizations these days, but is not allowed to use approximately $65M in reserves it has because of state law.

Mr. Tolliver discussed the history of MARTA telling the crowd MARTA was created by a state of Georgia act in 1965, using a $0.01 sales tax. The five metropolitan Atlanta counties were approached to do a feasibility study on the creation of rail service. Cobb county elected not to participate, Gwinnett and Clayton counties participated in the feasibility study, and Fulton and Dekalb counties supported the tax. MARTA has an 18-member board which guides their decisions. Current law requires that MARTA maintains 50% of revenue for capital expenditures and 50% for capital reserves. MARTA's leadership advocates the removal of the restrictions on it's access to the reserve funds.

I followed transportation issues in Georgia during this past session of the Assembly very closely.

I support an expansion of MARTA, and the creation of a statewide light rail system. I believe in doing so the state could create more jobs, generate more revenue, and remove more cars from the highways. When we decrease the cars on the highways we improve our environment, decrease the cost of highway repairs, and there are fewer accidents. The Assembly left transportation unresolved during the last session for the second consecutive year. There was an attempt by Governor Perdue to create a new commission which would give multi-levels of power to the Governor and Lt. Governor through appointments over transportation. This measure was rejected even by Republicans, while most Democrats viewed it as a power grab.

What I learned at this meeting about MARTA was that there are several transit dependent groups who are grossly affected everytime there are changes made by MARTA. If a route is cut or fares are increased, those who totally depend on MARTA suffer, especially the disabled. The problem is very multifaceted. There were many points of view on this issue. I don't think it's a quick fix and I think we will be dealing with it for quite a while. There is a sentiment that Cobb county leaders reject expansion into the Cobb area because of racism. I've heard this for many years, but I think that it's more than racism. The racism feeling is that MARTA would allow minorities from the inner city to venture into Cobb's nice suburban areas. I tend to think it's more about the associated taxes. I do know that Cobb County Transit (CCT) and GRETA connect with MARTA and many of Cobb County's citizens use it daily and for special events such as concerts and sporting events. But MARTA trains could also go further south into Clayton County along I-75, and further north along GA 400. Both expansions would take cars off the road. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has offered to use funds from President Obama's Stimulus package to assist MARTA in the interim. The AJC reported on 4/10/09, the ARC recommended using up to $25 million for operating expenses." The vote on this action passed unanimously. This will serve as a patch on a big wound at best.

At the public meeting of concerned citizens, again, it was very difficult to get a consensus as to how members of labor and advocate groups felt. So I will offer my vision of how MARTA may be improved. I can appreciate the help from the ARC because this will allow MARTA to continue its operations with fewer reductions in service. However, next year MARTA will be faced with the same budget shortfalls. The state Legislature needs to remove the restrictions on MARTA's capital reserves. I followed a bill that would've lifted the restrictions which passed the Senate, but failed in the House. The approximately $65 million in reserves on hand would provide for fiscal 2010 budget deficits and the projected $40 million deficits for 2011. I think that MARTA's leadership along with an 18-member governing board is capable making sure that those funds are not squandered. Further more I think it's better that MARTA uses it's own money rather than levying an additional statewide tax during the current recession. As the next State Senator from District 35, I would reintroduce legislation to remove restrictions on MARTA reserve funds. The next community meeting will be held at the 5 Points MARTA station, Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at 5p.m.