Under CEO Keith Parker, Atlanta's formerly desperate transit agency is picking up steam after suffering annual deficits of up to $33 million. The service area has expanded, the fleet is being modernized, and voters approved a new transit tax.
Crushed by the twin challenges of weathering the Great Recession and serving one of the nation's most sprawling metro areas, MARTA was in dire straits when it hired Keith Parker as CEO in 2012. The agency was on its way to insolvency, and riders feared that one day the buses and trains would just stop coming.
Today, the agency is on firmer footing. Parker instituted a host of reforms to tame MARTA's budget, reduce overhead, and attract new riders—without raising fares. Taking a "businesslike approach" to transit, Parker has ambitious plans for 2015:
"Earlier this month, at an annual "State of MARTA" address, he outlined a new vision delightfully acronymed SEAT—for service, economy, arts, and technology. Goals include a big plan for better bus service, continued study of potential system expansion (especially along the GA 400, I-20, and Clifton corridors), a push for public art around stations, and a move to go "all in on the smartphone" with WiFi access and mobile fare payment."
FULL STORY: The Remarkable Turnaround of Atlanta Public Transit
State Threatens Shutdown of Atlanta Streetcar
The commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation warned Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and MARTA CEO Keith Parker that unless corrective actions are not taken in many areas, e.g., maintenance, safety, he will shut down streetcar service.
Profile in Success: Keith Parker, General Manager and CEO of MARTA
A profile piece for Governing focuses on the work of Keith Parker, who since 2012 has been leading the ninth-largest transportation agency in the country: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).
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The Atlanta transit agency will run additional trains to accommodate traffic to sporting and cultural events downtown over the New Year’s holiday.
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In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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