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The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is one step closer to obtaining $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to help the agency overcome its budget woes.

Yesterday, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority approved an Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) proposal to reallocate $25 million in stimulus dollars to MARTA. The funds will enable the agency to balance its FY2010 budget and avoid drastic service cuts. In turn, MARTA will reallocate $25 million of its capital dollars to fund preventive maintenance.

The measure now must be signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

ARC's Transportation and Air Quality Committee proposed the funding swap last month 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 operating deficit.

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