Atlanta’s transit agency is slowing its plans to extend its bus and rail lines, prompting criticism from city officials.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is scaling back its expansion plans despite a voter-approved ‘More MARTA’ sales tax passed in 2016, writes Maria Saporta in the Saporta Report. The agency revealed that it plans to complete nine projects by 2028, with only one of them, the expansion of the Atlanta Streetcar, being a rail project. This is in sharp contrast to previous plans—in 2016, MARTA had as many as 70 projects in the pipeline. Saporta adds that the agency has downgraded some planned light rail lines to bus rapid transit (BRT), a move the agency says will save money and time.
While the agency has collected $394.8 million from the More MARTA tax, roughly 46 percent has been spent on bus operations and enhancements, despite an early projection that just 10 percent of revenue would go toward bus enhancements.
The article details frustration from city leaders with the slow pace of MARTA’s expansion. Councilmembers are calling on MARTA to return funds to the capital funding pool, and Mayor Andre Dickens replaced two MARTA board members in a sign of disapproval. “It’s important for me, the City Council and the public to say: ‘MARTA, we want to see projects delivered. We want to see Campbellton Road BRT completed soon. We want to see the Summerhill BRT, completed soon. We want to see Metropolitan and Cleveland Avenue projects completed, and we want to see these things done on time and on budget,” Dickens said.
FULL STORY: Less is less with More MARTA projects
Atlanta Transit Plans Stall Due to Budget Concerns
With MARTA facing a potential billion dollar shortfall, the agency says it can’t fulfill its system expansion plan.
MARTA Adds Train Service for NYE Events
The Atlanta transit agency will run additional trains to accommodate traffic to sporting and cultural events downtown over the New Year’s holiday.
Atlanta City Leaders Call on MARTA to Expand Weekend Service
The city is set to host multiple major sporting events in the next several years, prompting calls for expanded transit service on weekends and to popular areas.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland