MARTA officials want Clayton County residents to know this: They’re listening.
Residents voted in November to expand service to their area, and buses are expected to be up and running in March.
Officials with the transit agency met with the community at a public hearing earlier this month and took note of what residents want and don’t want.
It “was very, very helpful when planning. These are the folks who live in the community so they know a little bit better than we do,” said Don Williams, senior director of Transit System Planning at MARTA.
“They can provide some insight when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of a community.”
Residents will have a big say on how MARTA service looks there, he said.
MARTA service will begin on March 21 — five years after funding shortages forced the county to eliminate its public transportation — with 10 buses on three routes. The agency expects to have about a dozen routes — including shuttles know as FLEX buses that link to the key routes — in place by the end of 2015. Another two routes will be added to accommodate residents in the southern tip of the county by 2020.
Based on community suggestions at the public hearing, one route originally scheduled to start next December will instead begin in August — in time for Clayton State University students to use. Another route will be extended into an industrial complex where dozens of workers will be able to take advantage of the service. A number of residents who attended the Dec. 4 public hearing said they didn’t want the shuttles coming through their neighborhoods because they didn’t want them tearing up their streets. MARTA plans to oblige.
Sandra Karns, a Clayton resident since 1984, told MARTA officials of her concern about safety and crime.
“When C-Tran came, I saw crime increase in my subdivision,” Karns said, referring to Clayton’s previous transportation service.
“We’re working with MARTA police and safety departments, and we’ll be taking the MARTA police chief and personnel, including Clayton police, to tour bus routes to identify areas of concern and put in safety measures,” Williams said.
Officials also will be looking at lighting, crumbling sidewalks and bus stop layovers to make sure they’re safe.
Based on past Clayton ridership, MARTA projects anywhere form 9,400 to 13,000 riders the first year.
Environmental and engineering studies should be underway for the rail line next year.
MARTA also has pledged to bring rail to the county.
Clayton’s rail service could take one of two paths: MARTA could reach an agreement with Norfolk-Southern to share the railroad company’s existing tracks or build new tracks alongside the existing lines. Either options requires a lease of right-of-way. The options will be reviewed during the environmental and engineering studies. MARTA rail could be running in Clayton within seven years, if the agency is able to work out an agreement with Norfolk-Southern
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