Georgia moves to establish transit funding mechanism

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) officials yesterday endorsed the Georgia Legislature's recent action to establish a mechanism to annually fund capital transit projects that support economic development priorities throughout the state. 

The Georgia Senate unanimously passed HB 511, which establishes nine trust funds to ensure that fees collected for a stated purpose are spent on that purpose, MARTA officials said in a press release.

This includes the Georgia Transit Trust Fund, which will hold the 50-cent ride fees for ground transportation established by HB 105 last year for the governor and legislature to appropriate to capital transit projects. 

“The Georgia Senate also has the opportunity to join the governor and the House and support the line-item $6 million for-hire-ground-transportation dollars to make infrastructure improvements necessary to support Microsoft’s investment in Georgia, as well as $1 million for a new bus maintenance facility needed to support growth in the Athens-Clarke County transit system,” said MARTA Chair Rita Scott.