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Last week, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) approved spending plans for fiscal-year 2009, which begins July 1.

BART signed off on a $675.8 million operating budget that includes funds to continue replacing worn carpet on 300 cars with rubber-like flooring, nearly double the rate of new car seat installations and maintain 24 new rail-car cleaning positions.

Meanwhile, MARTA approved a $395.5 million operating budget and $386.5 million capital budget. The spending plan includes funds for the agency’s planning program, as well as dollars to replace and rehabilitate facilities and equipment.

MARTA’s budget does not call for a fare increase or service cuts, but the agency will use $43 million from its reserve fund to balance the budget. The economic downturn is resulting in lower sales tax revenues and legislation that enables MARTA to use 5 percent of capital funds for operating expenses will expire at year’s end, the agency said.