Senate Approves Two MARTA-Related Bills
Efforts to change the way MARTA can operate passed the state Senate Thursday.
Hear the broadcast version of this story.
Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, made headlines when he used public transit to get from Kennesaw State University to Gwinnett Arena. It took him three and a half hours. Beach, a Republican from Alpharetta, has called for more continuity between transit systems. Beach said one MARTA bill would give the transit agency more flexibility.
“It’ll increase the CEO’s contract approval from $100,000 to $200,000,” he said. “It eliminates jurisdictional concurrence for bond transactions. It allows rail contracting services, and then it provides for the elimination of the 50/50 split of MARTA sales tax for five years.”
State law requires MARTA to spend 50% of the money it receives through sales taxes on operations. The other half must be used for capital projects and maintenance. That’s been a sticking point between lawmakers. Some wanted strict oversight; others thought MARTA should have more autonomy.
The restriction was temporarily lifted, but lawmakers failed to reach a compromise at the end of the 2012 session. So, the mandate stayed in place.
Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, praised Beach for his efforts.
“I want to thank him not only for his carrying of this bill, but also on his interim study committee on public transit, which is a beginning toward making our public transit system rational,” Fort said.
Beach also said a piece of legislation the Senate passed Thursday would do two things related to MARTA.
“Number one, it staggers the MARTA board terms,” Beach said. “This will allow for continuity among the board members. And then number two, it allows the board chair to appoint a designee to represent the authority in an official capacity.”
Beach said assigning a designee will give MARTA a “seat at the table” during important meetings.
The Senate passed two MARTA bills today and sent them to the House.
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