MARTA's board OKs $2.7 billion transit expansion plan

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) has approved a $2.7 billion transit expansion plan, marking the agency's largest transit investment in more than 40 years.

The "More MARTA Atlanta" program will fund 17 major transit projects in the Atlanta region, including construction of a new 22-mile light-rail system, two new transit centers, upgrades to existing rail stations and the introduction of bus-rapid transit service.

"Think of this as a major and transformational down payment on our future commitment to the city and to the region," said MARTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Parker in a news release. "This is an important milestone, but it's not the finish line."

MARTA staff determined which projects to fund following a two-year examination of technical data, performance measurements and community surveys, agency officials said.

The program will be partially funded by $2.7 billion in revenue generated by a half-cent sales tax approved by city voters in November 2016. Additional public and private funding will be sought to advance and expand key aspects of the program, MARTA officials said.

The next steps in the process include developing costs and schedules associated with individual projects, and beginning the hunt for additional funding.