As someone who works in the financial industry, I see every day the impact that return on investment has on the decisions people make. Getting a positive return on our money drives decisions we make in business as well as in our personal lives. And just as we have to prioritize our own dollars, the state of Georgia must be strategic in how it invests in transportation, focusing on outcomes that will reduce congestion and keep our state economically viable.
One strategy that has demonstrated success in metro Atlanta has been the Xpress Commuter Coach Service, operated by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA).
Xpress began nine years ago as a partnership of the state and metro Atlanta counties. It has since grown to become a key part of the region’s transportation network, giving commuters throughout metro Atlanta a valuable transportation option. Our 33 routes carry more than 2 million passenger trips annually, providing workers from nearly 40 counties with reliable, stress-free commutes directly to and from Atlanta’s largest employment centers.
Thanks to Gov. Nathan Deal and the General Assembly, the state reaffirmed its commitment to Xpress during this year’s Legislative session, providing funding in the state budget to allow the service to continue operating. We are very grateful to the governor for his leadership; and we appreciate the speaker, lieutenant governor and members of the General Assembly for their willingness to keep this important service running, especially in a time new funding is rare. Their support for Xpress demonstrates that our state leaders are providing solutions to address Georgia’s transportation needs.
The benefits of Xpress go beyond those for commuters who choose to ride the bus every day. Taking their cars off the interstates adds additional, “virtual” capacity to Georgia’s most congested highways for commuters who drive. And the benefits aren’t localized in any one corridor. Everyone who travels on metro Atlanta’s busy interstates during rush hour has a little easier trip because those buses are running.
In fact, Xpress saves metro Atlanta’s commuters and commercial trucks more than $140 million a year in time and fuel that would otherwise be wasted sitting in congestion. These savings, combined with the low cost of operating the Xpress service, translate into a return on investment of more than 4 to 1.
Governor Deal’s strategic goals for a Mobile Georgia call for improving the movement of people and goods across the state by using our limited resources to make Georgia’s transportation network more reliable and better performing. Xpress has been shown to be a cost-effective strategy to help the state address that goal.
Our focus at GRTA will be to remain good stewards of the responsibility entrusted to us, and to operate Xpress in a manner that supports the governor’s goals and the state’s transportation strategy. It will be our goal to ensure that Xpress continues to enhance Georgia’s economic competitiveness and provide a positive return on the taxpayers’ investment.
Sonny Deriso, board chairman of Atlantic Capital Bank, is the chairman of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors.
