Proposed MARTA Service Cuts

MARTA released its proposed FY2011 budget this morning and the accompanying service cuts. The service cuts are not as drastic as previously proposed. This good news assumes that the Governor signs the transportation bill, which lifts the 50/50 restriction on MARTA’s sales tax revenue. Increases in sales tax projections are allowing MARTA to borrow more capital funds, freeing up existing funds for operations.  Even with these changes, MARTA will be using $70 million of its reserve fund to balance the 2011 operations budget. The reserve fund is scheduled to be depleted by 2013.

Overview of Proposed Changes

Bus service hours will be reduced 11% and service miles will be reduced by 32.6%. The number of bus routes will go from 131 to 90. In addition, the Braves and Lakewood Shuttles will be eliminated. Full route changes are here.

Rail service hours will be reduced by 15%. The hours of operation will remain the same but peak frequency on all lines will be 15 minutes. In addition, after 7pm all lines will have shorter trains, the Red (North Springs) trains will end at Lindbergh, and Green (Bankhead) trains will end at Vine City.

The cost of monthly and weekly passes will increase to $68 and $17.

The budget for MARTA Mobility, paratransit service, is up 13% due to growing demand. The price of a Mobility monthly pass will increase to $115.

Other changes include shorter call center hours, the closing of all station bathrooms outside of 5 Points Station, and elimination of the Ride Stores at Lenox and Lindbergh.

743 MARTA positions are being eliminated. Currently 351 are vacant, leaving 392 people who will be laid off. 306 are union employees and 86 are non-represented. No MARTA employee will receive a wage increase (for the third year in a row). In fact MARTA employees are taking wage decreases since their share of health benefits have increased and there are mandatory 10 furloughs for non-represented employees.

Timeline on Changes

Public hearings on the changes will take place on June 7th and June 8th.

The MARTA Board will vote to approve the budget on June 28th.

Service changes will take place September 25, 2010 and fare increases on October 1, 2010.

MARTA Changes to be Released Thursday

Various committees of the MARTA board meet Thursday, May 27th starting at 10am to approve the draft 2011 budget. Afterward the proposed route changes and fare increases will be released to the public.  We will post them as soon as we receive them.

The Public Hearings

June 7 at 5pm in two locations:

Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers
38 Hill Street, Roswell, GA 30075

South Fulton Government Center, Auditorium
5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park, GA 30349

June 8 at 5pm in two locations:

DeKalb Maloof Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

Atlanta City Hall, Council Chambers
55 Trinity Ave, Atlanta, GA 30303

Don’t forget MARTA’s contest to create a video or blog entry on Why MARTA Matters to the Environment. You can win an annual MARTA pass, Georgia Aquarium passes, and a Flip Camcorder.  All the details are here.  Deadline is now June 7th.

Update on Clayton County Transit

The state legislature passed two bills relating to transit in Clayton County. The first (HB 1446) places a non-binding strawpoll on the ballot to ask if Clayton County voters want to join MARTA. The second (HB 1393) raises the sales tax ceiling in Clayton County so that the County Commission can place a 1% sales tax on the ballot for public transit.

However, both bills are on hold waiting for the Governor’s signature. Please call Governor Perdue’s office at 404-656-1776 and ask him to allow Clayton to vote on transit by signing HB 1446 and HB 1393.

If the Governor signs HB 1446 in time, the non-binding strawpoll will be on the July 20th ballot. If the bill is signed too late, the strawpoll can be on the August ballot. If the Governor signs HB 1393 or the regional transportation bill HB 277, the County Commission can place a 1% sales tax for public transit on the ballot at any time.

The majority of the County Commission has previously not supported transit. Even if a strawpoll is held and the majority of voters support public transit, the County Commission will still have to vote to place a binding sales tax on the ballot. If you live in Clayton County, please contact your County Commissioner.

Tell Senator Isakson to Co-Sponsor S. 3189

Senate Bill 3189 would allow MARTA and other large transit agencies to spend some of their federal capital funds on operations. Currently transit agencies in cities with population over 200,000 can’t use federal funds for operations. This bill gives transit agencies more flexibility to weather these hard economic times without having to make large service cuts. It doesn’t cost the federal government any additional funds.

Please contact Georgia Senator Isakson and ask him to co-sponsor the bill.

Write:
United States Senate
120 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Call:
(202) 224-3643

Fax:
(202) 228-0724 

Email:
http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Rally for Federal Funding a Success!

Several hundred transit supporters and workers gathered at Five Points Station yesterday evening to support federal legislation for flexibility in transit funding.  Senate bill 3189 and House bill 2746 would allow MARTA and other large transit agencies across the country to use some of their federal capital funds to close the gap in their operating budgets and avoid large service cuts and layoffs.

The rally is part of a national effort by the Amalgamated Transit Union and International President Warren George addressed the crowd.

MARTA’s General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott expressed her support for the legislation.

Rev. Jesse Jackson stressed the point that transit jobs are green jobs.

Rally for Funding on Tuesday!

Rally for Federal Funding for Transit Operations and Clear Air in Atlanta

Tuesday, May 11
5pm at 5 Points Station

With Rev. Jesse Jackson, ATU International President Warren George, MARTA General Manager Dr. Scott and more

Show how MARTA Matters to the Environment and Win Free Trips for a Year

MARTA and the Georgia Aquarium are holding a video and blog contest to celebrate Dump the Pump day on June 17th. Create a video or blog entry on why MARTA Matters to the Environment and you could win an annual MARTA Breeze card and two annual passes to the Georgia Aquarium.

Two ways to win: submit a 3 minute video or 300 word blog entry

Two divisions: Youth 13-17 and Adults

Entries due June 4th.

Check out the rules and entry form here.

Clayton County Update

The state legislature passed two bills related to transit service in Clayton County. One of the bills raises the sales tax ceiling allowing Clayton County to put a one cent sales tax on the ballot to fund public transit.  There is no election date for that binding referendum; the Clayton County Commission will have to vote to put the measure to the voters.

The legislature also passed a bill that puts a non-binding straw poll on the ballot in July 20^, 2010 election. The voters will be asked:  “Should Clayton County become a full participant in MARTA (the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) and levy a sales tax in support of MARTA and Clayton County’s public transportation needs?”

Support for the non-binding straw poll is necessary to convince the County Commission to schedule the actual sales tax referendum.

Ask Congress for Transit Operating Funds

It is too late for state assistance to keep MARTA from making massive cuts, but not too late for federal assistance.

Two things you can do:

1) Attend a rally calling for federal operating assistance for transit
Tuesday, May 11th at 5 Points Station at 5pm

2) Contact your US Representative and Senator and tell them transit needs federal operating assistance. Support Senate Bill 3189.