Clayton pulls plug on bus service

By Megan Matteucci and Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bus service in Clayton County is scheduled to end March 31.

The county commission voted 4-1 Tuesday night to terminate its contract with MARTA, which operates C-Tran, the county's cash-strapped bus system. About 2.1 million rides were taken on C-Tran buses during the last fiscal year, according to MARTA.

County Commissioner Michael Edmondson said when C-TRAN started five years ago it was funded 100 percent with federal monies that no longer exist.

Edmondson said although he voted to shut down the bus service, he felt the board's hands were tied.

"We don't have a local funding source," he said. "We're obligated to fund police, fire, roads and other services." The county then has to choose between funding libraries, recreation centers, the battered women's shelter and other services with the remaining money, he said.

County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell, the lone vote against the measure, said the county is short $1.3 million to cover its contract with MARTA.

After the meeting, Bell said he hopes the commission can look at alternative funding for public transportation, such as red light camera tickets, a one-cent sales tax increase, and leasing out the old Lovejoy jail.

"I believe there is still hope we can save the transit service for our citizens. That hope is found in money beyond property tax [increases]," Bell said.

Bell also plans to ask the General Assembly to lift the cap on how much sales tax money can be charged at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Commissioner Sonna Singleton, contacted by phone after the meeting, refused comment.

Commissioners Gail Hambrick and Wole Ralph did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday night.

Shirley Razzano, who attended the meeting in a wheelchair, said she takes the bus five times a week to get to her job at the Internal Revenue Service. "I have no other transportation. We need this," said the Jonesboro grandmother.

Alice Young, who lives on Tara Boulevard, said she takes the bus five times a week to her job on Fulton Industrial Boulevard. "I think it can be overturned. If we have until March, the people can get this changed," Young said. She said she supports a fare increase as long as there are no cuts to service.

Young was one of about 200 people wearing red shirts in support of MARTA staying in the county. About two dozen police officers and firefighters used metal detectors and wands to search residents as they entered the packed meeting. The metal detectors and increased police presence are not usually at county commission meetings.

During the public commenting phase of the meeting, Bell chastised the audience and told them to stop cheering and clapping. Afterwards, instead of clapping, audience members waved white towels and paper to show their support for those speaking in favor of keeping bus service.

MARTA  board chairman Michael Walls said he immediately thought about the riders when he heard the news.

"What about the people there?" he said. "The whole ideal of this county that serves basically the airport region ... I can't imagine the effect that's going to have on employers at the airport and on the workers that don't have any other way to get there."

MARTA has run the county bus system since April 2007. According to an AJC study, the county spends about $10 million per year to operate C-TRAN, but only collects $2.5 million in revenue from riders.

Walls said the contract loss would not directly affect MARTA.

"MARTA doesn't make money off that contract," he said, but acknowledged that MARTA would lose the riders that transfer from Clayton County into the MARTA system.

"Every rider we lose is revenue lost."