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Moderator’s introduction

100331- Jonesboro - C-Tran bus driver, Pete Freeman waits for C-Tran riders to board for the last time at the Harold R. Banke Justice Center, 9151 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro. When Clayton County's C-Tran bus system shuts down before midnight Wednesday, March 31, 2010 many passengers will be stranded. But for those who commute Monday through Friday to or from downtown Atlanta around standard office hours and can make it to one of the Xpress stops, commuter buses are an option. Fares are higher than C-Tran�s. For those paying cash (Xpress takes exact change only) it�s $3 one way, $5 round-trip. The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), which runs the buses, tried to add more routes that would fill the gap for about 25 percent of C-Tran�s riders, according to GRTA�s Jim Ritchey. But there was no long-term funding, so that won't happen. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

Credit: John Spink

Credit: John Spink

100331- Jonesboro - C-Tran bus driver, Pete Freeman waits for C-Tran riders to board for the last time at the Harold R. Banke Justice Center, 9151 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro. When Clayton County's C-Tran bus system shuts down before midnight Wednesday, March 31, 2010 many passengers will be stranded. But for those who commute Monday through Friday to or from downtown Atlanta around standard office hours and can make it to one of the Xpress stops, commuter buses are an option. Fares are higher than C-Tran�s. For those paying cash (Xpress takes exact change only) it�s $3 one way, $5 round-trip. The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), which runs the buses, tried to add more routes that would fill the gap for about 25 percent of C-Tran�s riders, according to GRTA�s Jim Ritchey. But there was no long-term funding, so that won't happen. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com
By Tom Sabulis
Aug 12, 2013

Today’s moderator: Tom Sabulis

A 20-year veteran of the AJC, Tom Sabulis has covered news, politics and the arts during a career that has taken him to newspapers across the country. Since 2008, he has coordinated many of the newspaper’s pro/con debates and first-person guest columns.

»Join the discussion online today: Weigh in below with your thoughts and opinions.

Clayton County killed its C-Tran bus system in 2010 to save $8 million a year. It had nearly 9,000 daily riders. Since then, residents and business have suffered in a transit-less world. Many voters want to add a one-percent sales tax to bring in MARTA. New county leaders say transit is key, but doing it the right way is also important.

Guest columnists:

Less mobility hurts everyone in Clayton by Roberta Abdul-Salaam

Restoring public transit a necessity by Jeffrey E. Turner

Response to recent conversation from our readers

About the Author

Tom Sabulis
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