MARTA proposal deserves debate

By Beverly A. Scott

The state of Georgia and metro Atlanta need to get serious about whether mass transit is important enough to our state and region to actually support it. That’s why I’m encouraged that state Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) will introduce legislation this year that calls for dedicated state funding and a new business model for transit.

Granted, Millar’s approach is far from perfect. But his proposal will hopefully spark a serious debate and, more importantly, result in action to get quality transit moving forward. Simply put, the price of continued inaction on transportation investment will be devastating in terms of lost economic competitiveness, quality of life and future opportunities.

We all know that everyone benefits from mass transit because it reduces air pollution and traffic congestion. We also benefit from transit attracting large employers, new jobs, megaconventions and historic events such as the Centennial Olympic Games.

But while MARTA effectively serves the greater metropolitan Atlanta region, its dedicated financial support for the last 30 years has come from only DeKalb and Fulton counties and the city of Atlanta. That is not equitable.

Millar rightly says that MARTA’s funding structure is no longer sustainable. Just over the last 18 months, MARTA’s sales tax revenues are down $85 million for FY 2010. By 2018, forecasts show a $1.4 billion loss of sales tax revenues over earlier projections.

We can’t cut our way out of that massive deficit and maintain current service levels. The only way for regional transit to survive and grow is for the state of Georgia and all of our region to join as funding partners.

Millar proposes a new division within the Georgia Department of Transportation that would operate mass transit across the state. There are currently four statewide public transit systems in the country and I have worked at two of them: The New Jersey Transit Corp. and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. 

With a significant investment and a long-term commitment, a statewide public transit authority could be implemented — starting with metro Atlanta. To get the ball rolling, I would build on the considerable work done over the last two years by the Atlanta region’s Transit Implementation Board, which includes MARTA and its member jurisdictions as members.

It’s a given that new transit funding investment and additional partners will bring changes in transit governance.

Since the devil is always in the details, here are some critical questions that must be considered:

● Would the state provide some consideration or relief to the citizens of Fulton, DeKalb and Atlanta who’ve directly committed billions in tax dollars for transit since the 1970s?

● Is the embattled DOT the best choice to assume this sizable task or would the state consider an alternative approach that provides an opportunity for other regions to join over time?

● Washington recently froze federal transit funds at DOT because of fiscal management and federal compliance concerns. While big improvements are expected under the leadership of new Commissioner Vance Smith, can DOT quickly and boldly move from a culture of funding and building roads into an agency that genuinely values and funds transit, pedestrian amenities and other modes?

● What are the tangible regional and state outcomes that we want this new entity to help achieve?

● Finally, what accountability safeguards will be incorporated into any future transit governance model to increase public confidence and support?

These are just a few of the difficult issues that should be addressed by such a plan. And yet it underscores a fact we must all face: If we don’t find new funding partners in metro Atlanta and the state, truly quality mass transit in our capital region will fall further behind our competitors.

If that happens, the multimillion-dollar conventions, high-profile sporting events and Fortune 500 companies we’ve attracted in the past will simply take their business where transit investment is properly viewed as a tool for economic advancement and overall quality of life.

Millar’s proposal, while controversial, evinces leadership at a time when it is sorely needed. If this proposal sparks discussion and action focused on the economic, environmental and social necessity of quality transit for our state and region, it will have served a useful purpose.

Beverly A. Scott is the general manager of MARTA.