A quick look at the long-running state debate about transit

From the 2011 Final Report of the Georgia Joint Transit Governance Study Commission:

The Joint Transit Governance Study Commission was created through the Statewide Regional Transportation Funding Bill, HB 277, with the expressed duty to examine the methodical development of a regional transit governing authority in Georgia through specific legislative proposals.

Because the transit services in most need of streamlining efforts and management coordination activities are those that cross county and city boundaries, state government representatives should be given this responsibility. An existing state transportation agency should be charged with achieving the necessary coordination and oversight of current and future transit systems.

From 2016’s as-passed Georgia House Resolution 1605:

WHEREAS, the committee shall consider whether fundamental reforms are necessary to ensure the establishment of a comprehensive regionwide system which will service the growing needs of the metropolitan Atlanta region; and

WHEREAS, the issue of region-wide transit in metropolitan Atlanta is of considerable importance and merits further study by this committee.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

There is created the House Study Committee on Regional Transit Solutions.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, in the AJC:

2010: “Clearly when it comes to transit, it is an important piece of solving our congestion problems within metro Atlanta. We have to be committed to a very viable transit system that provides for a real commuter option.

“Anytime you take on an issue of rebranding along with a new mission, you have to build consensus. It’s about bringing all of the stakeholders to the table and begin working through the intricate details to get MARTA as a viable regional solution that encompasses commuter rail as part of that.

“It’s critical for economic development that we have a viable transit system. That doesn’t mean that we’re not going to build more roads. I’m not stating that we’re just going to put resources in transit, but I’m recognizing that transit has to be part of the solution going forward.”

Kyle Wingfield’s April 17 column: “There are people being served by this entity (MARTA),” Cagle began. “But I would submit to you that if it were truly adding immense value, it would be oversubscribed. And I don’t know that we’re at that place . ... How do you fix that? What do you make MARTA?”