MARTA Scales Back Expansion Plans

Atlanta’s transit agency is slowing its plans to extend its bus and rail lines, prompting criticism from city officials.

2 minute read

March 13, 2023, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


MARTA Station

ReanC / Shutterstock

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.

Monday, March 6, 2023 in Saporta Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

7 hours ago - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY