Atlanta’s Transit System is In Trouble

[Creative Commons photo by Josh Hallett]

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is $60 million in the hole - double their expected revenue shortfall for 2008. Administrators are talking about raising fares and reducing consumer services to help the transit system cope with the losses.

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In a city known for its horrendous traffic, infrastructure like a reliable, convenient train system could help get thousands of cars off of the road. Sadly, MARTA has not opened a new rail station since 2000. Even with rising gas prices driving about an 11% increase in ridership this year, the system has been unable to even come close to making budget.

On top of fare increases and eliminating some consumer services, MARTA has instituted a hiring freeze and is cutting $11 million in spending. It has suspended pay increases for much of its staff. MARTA general manager Beverly Scott has said that she is also not taking a pay raise this year.

Cutbacks might be an effective, short-term solution but what about long-term planning? Riders are currently not allowed to eat or drink at stations, and that may change. They are planning to ask state lawmakers to allow eating and drinking so MARTA can contract with food vendors for a profit. The agency may also seek federal funding.

The biggest problem facing MARTA, though, is also the biggest complaint I hear from Atlanta locals. It just doesn’t service many areas. There are basically two lines - a north/south and an east/west. If you don’t live, work, and play on the rail lines, you are pretty much relying on the bus system. Buses are less reliable, probably due in part to Atlanta’s legendary traffic, and most stations do not have any protection from the elements. Most of the folks I know that avoid the train in favor of a car do so out of necessity - you just can’t get everywhere you need to go without one.

The system’s slow growth is mostly due to underfunding. Scott said. “The reality is we have significantly under invested in [public transportation] in the past 15 to 20 years.” MARTA’s funding comes mostly from a 1% sales tax in Fulton and Dekalb counties and a limited amount of federal funding. It has never gotten any operational funding from the State of Georgia. In order to be eligible for federal assistance, the system would have to prove that the state was going to invest more in a public transit infrastructure.

So what is going to happen to MARTA? Will increased fares mean decreased ridership and more cars on the already congested roads? State Representative Jill Chambers wants the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to take over MARTA. If State involvement would make MARTA eligible for federal funding, could that help ease the system’s budgetary woes?

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