State leaders play a cruel, disrespectful game with MARTA
It is, at some level, a test of basic respect.
It’s also a test that the leadership of Georgia is failing, at least so far. Their refusal to date to lend a helping hand to MARTA in its moment of great need — a gesture that would not cost state taxpayers a single penny — comes across as callous and even oddly vindictive.
Tens of thousands of our fellow Georgians rely on MARTA for daily transportation. The transit system is as critical to their lives as streets and roads are to those Georgians who live in suburbs, small towns or rural areas.
MARTA customers use the system to go to work; they use it to get to school so they can educate themselves. They use it to check on the well-being of their elderly parents and grandparents; they use it to get to church on Sunday, to go to the doctor’s office and to bring home groceries.
And unlike every other major rail system in the country, MARTA provides that service with no financial support from state government. For decades, the people of Fulton and DeKalb counties have levied a one-penny sales tax on themselves to pay for the entire state and local share of MARTA’s construction and operating costs.
But like any governmental agency dependent on sales-tax revenue, MARTA has taken a dramatic financial hit. The agency’s operating budget faces a deficit of more than $100 million in the next fiscal year, even after scheduled rate hikes. If service has to be cut by roughly a third, as now estimated, MARTA’s basic mission would be threatened.
That story isn’t likely to win much sympathy these days, not with every state and local agency facing similar troubles. But while MARTA officials would love an injection of state aid, they have also asked the state Legislature and Gov. Sonny Perdue for something much easier to provide.
State law requires MARTA to spend at least 50 percent of its tax revenue on capital costs, such as equipment and new construction. No other major transit agency faces such a restriction. If that legal requirement could be dropped, even temporarily, MARTA would have the flexibility to shift money into its operating budget and at least soften the service cutbacks that loom ahead. It wouldn’t be a lot, but it would be something.
However, with just a few legislative days left on the 2010 calendar, it appears that even that minor gesture of respect and decency toward MARTA riders might be too much to ask.
Last week, the House Transportation Committee did raise hope by amending a Senate bill to give MARTA the flexibility it needs. However, that hope was brief. The very next day, Senate Bill 520 was pulled back into committee until it could be stripped of the MARTA provision.
Legislative leaders are still trying to hammer out a much-needed overhaul of the state’s transportation financing system, including provisions giving regions such as metro Atlanta the right to levy new taxes on itself for transportation. Conceivably, language addressing MARTA’s 50/50 restriction could become part of that last-minute deal-making.
At some point, a longer-term solution to MARTA’s fragile financing structure will also have to be addressed, but that’s a more complex issue best addressed another day.
For the moment, legislation giving MARTA more flexibility in how it spends tax money generated in Fulton and DeKalb counties and spent in the service of Fulton and DeKalb counties would be miracle enough.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
376 comments Add your comment
Normal
April 20th, 2010
7:28 am
I used to think the State Government just couldn’t see the big picture. I’ve come to realize that they see no picture at all…
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
7:34 am
Tens of thousands of our fellow Georgians rely on MARTA for daily transportation.
But Jay, the people in charge don’t consider MARTA riders to be “fellow Georgians.” It’s really as simple as that, I’m afraid.
Road Scholar
April 20th, 2010
7:38 am
Normal: Especially when dominated by Repubs!
If these Bozo’s can’t get a bill passed to be voted on in 2010, then just adjust the statewide gas tax to inflation and get out of the way! While the statewide monies are managed by GDOT, the Regional SPLOST is voted and managed by LOCAL governments. Take your pick…just pass one or the other! The state elected officials need to be voted out if nothing happens on transportation.
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
7:40 am
Of course, those who work tirelessly to prevent any gas-tax funding to support mass transit never seem to consider that the more people you have in buses and trains, the fewer a-holes clogging up the street in front of you.
I’m not sure why that seems to elude some of the more mentally functional GOPers among us.
USinUK
April 20th, 2010
7:42 am
dB – dude … you’re on FIYAH! (especially your 7:34 and 7:37)
ty webb
April 20th, 2010
7:43 am
it’s racism…racism, I tell you. There, I got that talking point out of the way.
Normal
April 20th, 2010
7:45 am
USinUK,
From below…good answer
N-GA
April 20th, 2010
7:49 am
How can you criticize these honorable public servants? They’re real Hateriots!
Outhouse GoKart
April 20th, 2010
7:49 am
All these crackers hate Marta and wont “help a brutha out”. Its that damn whitey I say…WHITEYS FAULT!!!
USinUK
April 20th, 2010
7:49 am
welp, ty … the first step to getting better is admitting you have a problem
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
7:50 am
UnU, I’m not on FIYAH, this is just the most clear-cut example of modern GA insanity I know of.
Regarding bus transit: Let’s see—you have a choice: a) fifteen people who don’t want to be driving, who are driving their individual cars, suvs, trucks and possibly motorcycles in front of you. Versus b) a bus that’s one-third full. And as long as we’re making this realistic, let’s assume the bus has modern cut-outs and shelters to pick up and drop off riders along most routes, so that this can be done without inconveniencing traffic quite so much.
What kind of moron chooses a)?
As for rail, it is absolutely, certifiably insane that Gold Line doesn’t extend at least as far north as Buford by now. A station could’ve been built adjacent to that historic downtown with minimal infrastructure impact (and with excellent multi-lane surface road access via P’tree Ind. Blvd just a short drive away). It still could, of course, and it probably will be one day, but not any time soon.
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
7:51 am
All these crackers hate Marta and wont “help a brutha out”
Not all. Just enough to get GOPers re-elected.
HDB
April 20th, 2010
7:52 am
The Republicans pride themselves of taking money FROM Atlanta and spreading it statewide….more often, to the detriment of the citizens of the Metro Atlanta area!! The Republicans in the state house don’t deem the citizens that use mass transit worthy of their support! It’s more than racial issues…it’s class..it’s politics…..and stupidity!!
TaxPayer
April 20th, 2010
7:55 am
They’re Republicans, Jay. Need you say more.
Peadawg
April 20th, 2010
7:56 am
Geeze, it didn’t long for the idiots(sfd, ty webb, Outhouse GoKart) to come on here pulling race into this. I’ll wait for the next blog. Hope y’all have a craptastic Tuesday morning.
TaxPayer
April 20th, 2010
7:56 am
Then again, it never hurts to remind folks that they’re also Dixiecrats.
ty webb
April 20th, 2010
7:57 am
UsinUK,
Well I certainly fit the mold of today’s rampant racist. I’m white, live OTP, didn’t vote for obama, can’t use Marta, therefore I don’t support Marta financially, I want lower taxes, I support enhanced interrogations, I haven’t seen any tyler perry movies, I pulled for Duke in the final four, etc. etc.
Outhouse GoKart
April 20th, 2010
7:58 am
Y’all white folks done killed CTran and now ya goin after Marta. Y’all up early drinkin that Hater-Aid.
AmVet
April 20th, 2010
7:58 am
Under this horrific GOP version of governance, Georgia and even the greatest city in the South, Atlanta, are destined to become even more backwards and destitute.
And yes, race is a big part of the MARTA equation. Always has been, and seemingly always will be.
joe matarotz
April 20th, 2010
7:58 am
“…that MARTA @$%! thing. It’s the subway to nowhere.” Lewis Black
ty webb
April 20th, 2010
7:59 am
Peadawg calling me an idiot, I wear that as a badge of honor. That guy is real smart.
Outhouse GoKart
April 20th, 2010
8:00 am
Thats just fact dawg. All the woes of the world seem to fall onto the shoulders of the evil white man and his imperialistic ways or the Repulicans.
Take you pic.
Gale
April 20th, 2010
8:00 am
My chronic question is: If the buses are usually half full, why don’t they buy smaller buses and run them more frequently? Wouldn’t a better schedule encourage more people to ride?
GoingBroke
April 20th, 2010
8:01 am
wow.. the race card.. played well and often in here. it only took two whole posts to drop to that level. nice..
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
8:04 am
Peadawg calling me an idiot, I wear that as a badge of honor.
Yebbut I got top billing. In your face, webb!
Seriously, you don’t see any economic benefit to having a comprehensive mass transit system tying our metro area together? You don’t see how that would attract businesses and talent to metro Atlanta? Furthermore, you don’t get that the more people riding mass transit means the fewer a-holes in cars in front of you?
If only out of not-all-that-enlightened self-interest, you ought to be wiling to pony up a teensy bit (say a small portion of GA gas excise taxes) to ensure some kind of economic viability going forward.
USinUK
April 20th, 2010
8:04 am
ty – who is tyler perry? why can’t you use MARTA when you go to the city? (hey, I was brought up in the shadow of the Big Chicken, I understand that you can’t use MARTA from home, but what about park and ride for games at the Ted and such?) we all would like lower taxes, but some of us actually believe in paying for what we use rather than running up debt …
Paul
April 20th, 2010
8:05 am
[[The very next day, Senate Bill 520 was pulled back into committee until it could be stripped of the MARTA provision.]]
Who pulled it back and what did they have to gain by stripping the MARTA provision?
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
8:06 am
And for all the pearl-clutchers who are going on about “playing the race card”, try growing the hell up. I’ve had heart-to-hearts with local residents about the sort of discussions that went on when Gwinnett Country was trying to bring MARTA northbound via referendum. I’m well aware of what motivated a lot of those folks.
USinUK
April 20th, 2010
8:09 am
“I’ve had heart-to-hearts with local residents about the sort of discussions that went on when Gwinnett Country was trying to bring MARTA northbound via referendum. I’m well aware of what motivated a lot of those folks.”
and I lived in Cobb when they voted on it – I’m with dB as to what motivated them to vote against it … and it wasn’t impact on Cobb’s green spaces …
Gale
April 20th, 2010
8:09 am
Is it really about race? It is about where people live and where people work, certainly. Why is it that a large number of blacks and other minorities live ITP, and a significant number of whites live OTP, but work ITP? Is the issue one of culture or circumstance? Do so many whites move OTP because they want more space? Do minorities stay ITP because they want to group together? Do whites move OTP to avoid the minorities? Do the whites even consider the commute when they move OTP while still working ITP? I’m not sure what the real problem is, but yes, I’m pretty sure race is part of the problem.
AmVet
April 20th, 2010
8:09 am
stands, haven’t you heard?
There is no residual bigotry in Dixie.
No suh.
None.
Not since at least 1964!
(These head up their _____ Dixiecratted Republiconned are really a hoot.)
Outhouse GoKart
April 20th, 2010
8:09 am
Stop hay-in…ya bunch of haters…STOP the Hate…Hate the HATE!!
Doggone/GA
April 20th, 2010
8:11 am
Gale…the racial imbalance in ITP vs OTP has almost everything to do with the “white flight” out of the cities, and into the suburbs, in the 1980s
GoingBroke
April 20th, 2010
8:12 am
“grow the hell up” the keyboard is mightier than the brain for some..
TaxPayer
April 20th, 2010
8:13 am
Why haven’t some Republican businessmen offered up private bus services in Atlanta and other cities.
NowReally
April 20th, 2010
8:14 am
I don’t believe that the state leaders should have control of MARTA at all, especially since most of the leaders live outside of the area that is serviced by MARTA. The people who should have the power over MARTA should be the Metro Area leaders who constituents might actually use the service. There would be more reason to think about the effect of MARTA cuts, if your constituents are going to be affected.
GoingBroke
April 20th, 2010
8:14 am
People live in the city center as economic need dictates. If you rely on public assistance for the bulk of your existence.. then it would make sense to live close to the source.
GoingBroke
April 20th, 2010
8:17 am
TaxPayer
April 20th, 2010
8:13 am
“Why haven’t some Republican businessmen offered up private bus services in Atlanta and other cities.”
Why does it have to be a republican.. why can it not be just a busiess person? To answer your questtion.. City transportation systems lose money.. so why would you want to start a business like that?
Mick
April 20th, 2010
8:17 am
I remember reagan used to ask the question,”are you better off now then you were 4 years ago?” That same question can be applied to georgia and florida ever since the repubs took control of the legislature and resounding answer is hell no!!!
Normal
April 20th, 2010
8:18 am
Race? Which one? NASCAR?, Formula One? Relay? Soap Box?, or Human?
Outhouse GoKart
April 20th, 2010
8:20 am
Perhaps if Marta were to operate their business more like a business they might find a more sympathetic ear. Alwasy in the red…always always always. Always needing mo money/have hand out…always always always.
Always not anyone responsbility…just need mo money…!!
Outhouse GoKart
April 20th, 2010
8:21 am
Im better off than 4 years ago…I guess it depends on ones decision making capactiy…or maybe not.
GoingBroke
April 20th, 2010
8:22 am
Mick
April 20th, 2010
8:17 am
that’s easy to say.. what have the repubs done in FL and GA that have made your life so horrible?
TaxPayer
April 20th, 2010
8:24 am
GoingBroke,
If city transportation systems lose money, then shut them down. Shut them all down and let people get to work as best they can. Let’s bring this to a head and maybe we’ll see some progress. By the way, I used “Republican businessmen” in my example because they would insist on it being profitable. The Democrat businessmen would surely have no issue with a public transit system so it would be silly to offer that option.
ty webb
April 20th, 2010
8:26 am
USinUK,
Sorry, but taking marta to the “Ted” is probably the biggest hassle. the train stops at five points and then you must transfer to a shuttle that then carries you to the stadium. Horrible planning by the city. The ted should have a stop on the train line. More people would use it for the games. When I said I “can’t use marta” I meant that Marta doesn’t service my area.
sfd,
“If only out of not-all-that-enlightened self-interest, you ought to be wiling to pony up a teensy bit” I am willing to pony up a teensy bit…everytime I use Marta. They can raise fares if they want to, and I promise to pay it everytime I ride Marta. By the way, kudos for the “not-all-that-enlightened self interest”. That’s so much more wittier than simply calling me an idiot.
USinUK
April 20th, 2010
8:27 am
OGK – “Perhaps if Marta were to operate their business more like a business they might find a more sympathetic ear”
but it’s NOT a business – it’s a public service. it’s not MEANT to be profitable, it’s meant to make the city more accessible for people who may not have transportation or who may want to lighten the load on the planet.
USinUK
April 20th, 2010
8:29 am
“Sorry, but taking marta to the “Ted” is probably the biggest hassle. the train stops at five points and then you must transfer to a shuttle that then carries you to the stadium”
oh, NOES!!! not a SHUTTLE!!!
oy.
and how is it I’ve read my fellow Bookmaniacs complain about the crowding on the Ted shuttle if not that many people use it???
Mick
April 20th, 2010
8:31 am
Goingbroke
My life is fine – repub legislature in fla. is too ideological and is willing to push off problems until next year. They rail against the stimulus but would be up a creek without a paddle if they didn’t get it. It all started with jeb and tax cuts, we were doing fine until he carpetbagged himself in.
stands for decibels
April 20th, 2010
8:36 am
I am willing to pony up a teensy bit…everytime I use Marta.
Hey, I am willing to pony up a teensy bit… every time I happen to have a kid in local public schools, I’ll pay that chunk of property taxes desginated to fund them.
Otherwise, the little ankle-biters can survive on someone else’s funding.
Gale
April 20th, 2010
8:36 am
If “white flight” happened in the 80s and I arrived in 92, then I only see the result. People talk of buying a bigger house with more space and that is certainly true. For the record, I live just OTP and work ITP. I don’t take MARTA because it would double my commute time.