Excerpts of the give-and-take between state legislators and MARTA’s top official regarding distance-based pricing, fare evasion, security cameras, and how MARTA is responding to a KPMG audit:
Sen. Fran Millar - "You're doing some really good things. I'm not belittling anything you've done. You've really taken some appropriate steps, but I got to look at revenue. When you come back to us on … variable pricing … that's got to be a component. I think we're going to have a hard time not seeing some revenue enhancements other than things that should be icing on the cake — some of the things you want to do in the stations. That's not going to get us out of this mess."
Rep. Mike Jacobs - "I'm not sure I concur with that statement. I think the further you go down the road with fare increases, given the point MARTA is at now, the more likely you are to lose ridership, and certainly the more likely you are to lose choice riders, when that's something you're trying to increase. I am encouraged to see … at least a [fiscal year 2017] projection of reserves ticking back up. It definitely appears to be the start of a process of turning a corner. I think we need to take a very close look at variable-price fares. I think that's a conversation that's been ongoing that never seems to have any kind of conclusion.
Sen. Vincent Fort - (Questioning a projected 10-cent fare increase that would produce $2.5 million - $3 million, about as much as MARTA loses in fare evasion each year) "Three million dollars covers the cost of the 10-cent fare increase. It all adds up."
MARTA CEO Keith Parker - "We want more more police presence, more enforcement once a person gets caught with the fare evasion. The goal is not to arrest a lot of people. The goal is to get people to behave and abide by the rules. The vast majority do, but when someone sees someone misbehave it sends a bad, chilling message throughout the rest of the system."
Rep. Jacobs: "I don't think the cameras on the buses have been particularly well-publicized. From a public perception standpoint and from a safety standpoint I think it's an outstanding step forward."
Sen. Fort - "I want to commend MARTA for doing the right thing. Some people would like to micro-manage MARTA from this vantage point, from this side of the room."
Rep. Jacobs - "I appreciate the comment. I don't think it changes the likelihood that there will still be [MARTA] legislation in the 2014 session. However, the scope of that legislation is certainly a matter of consideration and discussion at this point. I am encouraged both by the budget and by the progress on the KPMG (audit) road map at this time."
