A committee of local elected officials operating under the auspices of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) recommended forming a single regional transit agency more than two years ago that would have authority over financial and policy decisions affecting the various transit systems.
“The individual agencies are delivering remarkable service in an almost impossible funding environment,” ARC Chairman Tad Leithead said Thursday during the study committee’s first meeting. “But when there are jurisdictional lines between the systems, it’s very difficult to operate in a seamless fashion.”
But senators remember what happened last year when legislation based on that recommendation was introduced in the Senate. The bill fell victim to politics, specifically objections that it would give the state – which doesn’t provide any funding to MARTA – too much control over the transit agency.
“If they can keep us out of the mix, it might be better,” said Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta.
Leithead said the four transit agencies could form a regional transit governance entity without the need for legislation by negotiating intergovernmental agreements among themselves.
But Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, warned that going it alone could jeopardize attempts by the proposed regional transit agency to obtain state funding.
“The state’s got to get involved, which is probably going to require some legislation,” he said.
via Legislators eyeing regional transit system for Atlanta – Atlanta Business Chronicle.
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