MARTA disputes audit that says it overcharged Atlanta for transit expansion

An audit has found that the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) owes the city up to $70 million after overcharging the Atlanta expansion program for bus and other operational services. MARTA officials are disputing those numbers, however.

The firm Mauldin & Jenkins used "flawed methodology" in its audit of the More MARTA expansion program, which is funded by a half-penny sales tax approved by voters in 2016. The program included new heavy- and light-rail lines, as well as expanded bus service. The Atlanta City Council requested an audit of the program in 2023.

The auditors incorrectly applied a "COVID-based formula to reverse engineer what they believe should have been charged for bus service in 2017, 2018 and 2019, resulting in false calculations," MARTA officials said in a statement posted on the agency's website.

"MARTA charged for the cost of actual bus service during those years and the city officials then in charge were aware of the costs, as the minutes of monthly meetings prove," they said. By retroactively revising data using a COVID-era formula and incompatible methodology, the auditors provided "erroneous findings."

MARTA officials informed the auditors of their flawed methodology and are disappointed that the agency's responses were not included or referenced in the audit, they added.

"Despite these errors, MARTA will continue to work in good faith with the city to improve the [intergovernmental agreement] and strengthen the overall success of the More MARTA Atlanta program," they said.

MARTA's response to the audit can be read here.