The ride-hailing platform Uber is putting its corporate heft behind a suddenly revived legislative effort to expand MARTA.
Uber pointed to a report by the American Public Transportation Association that showed an overlap between riders who rely on public transit and ride-sharing services to explain its support for the legislation.
Senate Bill 369 won overwhelming approval in the House last week and now awaits a final vote in the Senate. The legislation carves Fulton County into two districts, allowing the city of Atlanta – but not the rest of the county – to levy a half-percent sales tax for transit if approved in a referendum. A measure next year expanding the ballot initiative to DeKalb County is likely.
Luke Marklin, Uber’s Atlanta general manager, said the company wants to “complement expanded public transportation systems.”
“We support SB 369 because it helps address the major challenges of congestion and access for the people of Atlanta,” he said.
More: How the once-crippled MARTA expansion measure took a giant leap forward
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