No regional mass transit bill likely this year

Regional mass transit looks all but dead for this year in the General Assembly. Next year, however, House leaders promise to act.

On Wednesday a legislative commission that is looking into regional mass transit heard a presentation on suggested legislation to bring together metro Atlanta's assortment of parochial mass transit agencies. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed spoke in favor of it. Mayors from DeKalb and Fulton counties said if a regional mass transit bill didn't pass soon the 2012 transportation referendum could fail.

But House Majority Whip Ed Lindsey, R-Atlanta, said the Legislature needs time to gather consensus about a bill and would wait for next year. Rep. Donna Sheldon, R-Dacula, the commission's chairwoman, agreed. Lindsey said acting this year could generate unnecessary crossfire that “may actually jeopardize our chances in 2012” of passing the referendum, but that next year the committee would make it happen. “That’s our commitment to you,” he said.