Cobb County has submitted a proposal to the Atlanta Regional Commission for increased weekend bus service, including offering Sunday service for the first time.
The request is one of many under consideration by the ARC, which is expected to finalize a $422 million transportation spending plan next year. ARC distributes federal transportation funds.
“As more people work, shop or otherwise engage in activities that require travel on Sundays, the need for Sunday service has become more of pressing issue,” Cobb’s proposal reads. “Retail, call center, entertainment (e.g. Six Flags, Atlanta Braves, etc.) and other jobs are available on the weekends. Many low-wage employees in these sectors are likely transit riders.”
CobbLinc, the county’s bus service, currently offers only limited routes on Saturday. The county is seeking to operate all local routes on Saturday and Sunday, in addition to para-transit service.
The total cost of the additional service is estimated at $1.7 million a year.
The county is requesting $1.36 million in federal funds from ARC, with a proposed $340,000 local match, every year for the first three to four years of service.
“If approved, we will determine the service with the transit service plan that is underway now,” Cobb Transportation Director Jim Wilgus wrote in an email.
In addition to weekend bus service, Cobb is requesting funds for several other local projects, including the Akers Mill multi-use trail, the Barrett Parkway reliever, the West Atlanta Street multi-use trail, the Mableton Parkway multi-use trail, and a ramp from Akers Mill Road onto the express lanes currently under construction along Interstate 75.
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