MARTA to Advance Bus Rapid Transit Project in Clayton County, GA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) this week received support from the Clayton County Board of Commissioners to move the Southlake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project forward.

MARTA intends to notify the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of Southlake BRT’s entry into the Small Starts Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program by the end of the year. The Southlake BRT project will be one of the first of several short-term projects for MARTA since 1994 to seek FTA CIG funding, according to a press release.

The estimated $ 300 million BRT project will provide high-capacity transit service from College Park MARTA station to several key Clayton County destinations including Airport Gateway, Shops of Riverdale, Southern Regional Medical Center campus, Mount Zion Shopping Corridor and Southlake Shopping Center.

The characteristics of the BRT system will be similar to those found in rail investments, including dedicated transit lanes, more frequent service, BRT-focused stations, and transit-focused development opportunities.

“It’s much more than an operating bus line; this is a major and ongoing investment in infrastructure in Clayton County ”, MARTA Manager of Capital, Expansion and Innovation Programs Manjeet Ranu said in a press release. “We appreciate the support of the Commissioners and MARTA is committed to delivering a top-notch BRT project for Clayton by 2026.”

Based on a preliminary financing plan, MARTA said it would likely issue bonds against the 1% MARTA sales tax to Clayton to support the completion of this project. MARTA expects the FTA Small Starts program to provide the bulk of the federal support, targeting $ 100 million in the form of a Small Starts grant agreement.

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SOURCE: Atlanta Metropolitan Transit Authority