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Yesterday, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) approved a plan to allocate $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

Pending approval by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and Gov. Sonny Perdue, MARTA will use the proceeds to balance its FY2010 budget and avoid drastic service cuts. In turn, the agency will reallocate $25 million of its capital dollars to fund transit-related projects in the MARTA service area.

The ARC's Transportation and Air Quality Committee proposed the funding swap after the Georgia legislature failed to pass legislation that would have provided transportation funding and allowed MARTA to access $65 million in its capital reserve fund to help address the agency's operating deficit.

MARTA's board is expected to approve the agency's FY2010 budget at its June 22 meeting. The next fiscal year begins July 1.