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Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) recently reorganized top management staff to reduce costs in light of sagging ridership and sales tax revenue, which are below fiscal-year 2003 projections.



Ten senior-level positions were eliminated, including General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel Ford’s chief of staff, and two deputy general managers. MARTA also consolidated assistant general managers for bus and rail into one position, and eliminated directors of transit system planning and development, transit research, and accounting positions, and the chief transportation and mechanical officer post.



MARTA expects the cuts to save $6.5 million, according to a prepared statement.



"Our objective is to recommend a budget which maintains expenses and the use of reserves at levels adopted in the fiscal-year 2003 operating budget without raising fares or cutting service," said Ford.



MARTA officials are identifying additional positions that might be eliminated — up to 100 positions could be impacted.