How much does it cost to ride MARTA? Don't ask the mayoral candidates.

By Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How much does it cost to ride MARTA?

Some of the candidates running for Atlanta mayor didn't know.

The four candidates with the largest campaign war chests were asked that question at a debate taped by WXIA that aired Tuesday.

Frontrunner Mary Norwood said she didn't know how much MARTA cost. Kasim Reed guessed $2.25. Jesse Spikes said MARTA cost $1.75 the last time he rode the system and thought the price went up by $1. Lisa Borders said it cost $2.

Answer: $2. MARTA raised its one-way fare on Oct. 1 from $1.75 to $2.

The question was part of what the station called the "Lightning Round" of its hour-long debate that was taped Monday at the Atlanta History Center.

None of the four candidates correctly answered how many Fortune 500 companies are in the city. The answer is nine. Norwood and Spikes were closest with 10.

As for how many foreclosed homes are on the market right now, Spikes guessed 60,000, Borders and Norwood mentioned neighborhoods they say have the largest number of foreclosures but didn't give a specific number and Reed said there were more than 15,000 foreclosed homes and about 6,000 condominium units on the market right now.

The station's moderators said there are 10,954 foreclosed homes on the market, quoting RealtyTrac, which keeps track of foreclosures.