Cagle: ‘We’re about to see what can happen when MARTA has to cut days of service’
Imagine the Atlanta Braves — knock on wood — still in the hunt come September, when MARTA says it could be implementing cuts to service.
Perhaps eliminating rail and bus service on Friday. Imagine the headlines.
“We’re about to see what can happen when MARTA has to cut down the days of service…they are providing,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said Monday at the Atlanta Press Club.
Two days after the close of the 2009 legislative session, Cagle made what must be considered his first speech of the 2010 race for governor.
He preferred to talk about taxes — and his dedication to adding as few of them as possible. And confirmed that his chief of staff had sent a memo to office staffers warning them to expect up to five furlough days in the coming year.
But the topic of transportation was unavoidable.
The failure of the General Assembly to pass a sales tax to fund more roads and rail made the biggest splash.
“We were certainly disappointed in that,” Cagle said, predicting talks with House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Gov. Sonny Perdue this summer to reach a consensus.
But the most important untied shoelace of the session may have been the failure of S.B. 120, a bill that would have given MARTA complete access to funds raised by the Fulton-DeKalb county sales tax for the transit system.
State law currently prevents MARTA from using more than 50 percent of the cash for operating expenses. The remainder must go toward capital improvements.
The bill passed the Senate. The House declined to act.
MARTA General Manager Beverly Scott warned that the transit agency would undergo severe cuts without access to the extra cash — even as some state lawmakers assumed that she was overstating the situation.
“It’s Armageddon,” said Scott after the session ended without passage on S.B. 120. “That’s what it is. My board’s going to have some very difficult decisions in front of them.”
Cuts could include cessation of service, probably on Fridays, possibly starting in September.
“That could be hurtful,” Cagle admitted to reporters after his Press Club speech.
Asked whether a special session of the Legislature would be required to address the matter, Cagle said he hoped not — but that it’s not his call.
“That would be up to the governor to make that determination,” the lieutenant governor said. “I would hope that we can find other ways to remedy this issue.”
Cagle said MARTA’s situation was partly self-made because of some faulty investments. But the lieutenant governor said he did recognize the significance of the dilemma.
“MARTA is a vital part of what gets done in metro Atlanta, particularly with tourism and the convention business,” he said.
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48 comments Add your comment
Mike
April 6th, 2009
3:25 pm
So you’re DISAPPOINTED? Didn’t Sonny (Budda) Purdue say the same thing? Is there anybody at the Capitol that has an honest answer about anything and the attitude to actually do something about it? Oh, they did cut taxes on capital gains for the wealthiest Georgians, almost forgot.
Marta Evangelist
April 6th, 2009
3:41 pm
This entire fiasco should be blamed squarely on Speaker Richardson. He had the power to bring this up for a legitimate vote and chose to show his lack of leadership ability by turning his back. I hope all Georgians are ready to join me and vote against Mr. Richardson whenever he decides to run for state-wide office.
Bryant
April 6th, 2009
4:20 pm
Unreal. I’ve been in Georgia for almost 10 years, and it amazes me at how there has been no real progress made towards improving public transportation in this city. From what I’ve been reading on some of these blogs, it seems like a lot of the politicians in this state are from small, rural towns in Georgia and they are trying to run the state with a small town, rural mentality. That must be why other states are laughing at us and our inability to clear up the congestion that’s choking this city. It also doesn’t help that people who live in counties like Gwinnett and Cobb seem to think that having MARTA run in those counties will increase the crime rate. I take it those people think that crime just doesn’t occur where they live. Yea, right.
I pray that the 2010 election will result in some progressive, forward thinking people in office; people who will actually take steps to move this state forward instead of keeping it stuck in the past. I’ll be watching this election very closely to see where the candidates stand.
Nick
April 6th, 2009
4:30 pm
What a joke. I hope people in this state are paying attention to what is, or isn’t happening, under the dome.
Former Republican
April 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
Nice way to shift blame Cagle, that’s exactly why you and any other Republican has lost my vote. If MARTA has the money, and you aren’t giving them a dime of state money, then why are you people standing in the way? We’re about to see whats going to happen? No, YOU aren’t, but those that use MARTA everyday will. As will those who drive will see the increase in traffic. I mean can you morons do anything about alleviating the transportation here? You’ve had almost a decade and you punt every year on it! There is a complete lack of leadership in the statehouse, and this is one republican that would love to see Roy Barnes throw his hat in the ring. Cagle and Richardson want to be governor, but can’t make sensible decisions in the positions they’re already in. Put politics aside and know that your actions, or lack thereof, affect democrats AND republicans. DAYUM!!!
David
April 6th, 2009
4:43 pm
Cagle – your first speech for governor shows why I will never vote for you. Will any politician take a stand and call a special session to resolve this madness?
GoOx
April 6th, 2009
4:43 pm
Ox is the man to straighten this out. Casey couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag, never mind work come up with any creative ideas to solve complex issues like transportation.
Similar Comparison
April 6th, 2009
4:54 pm
Even though I don’t give my neighbor one, red penny, I told him he had to spend his money on painting his house instead of paying the mortgage.
Similar Comparison
April 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
“We’ll see whats going to happen with that.”
TL
April 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
Cagle seems like he would be just like the same incompetent leaders in the GA State Dome now. He will just talk away every important issue like the transportation issue and nothing would get done. Why have state leaders if they can’t get anything done? Vote these legislatures out of office in 2010.
Pierce Randall
April 6th, 2009
5:01 pm
1. Cagle could have worked harder, although Vance Smith is really the one to blame–his House Transportation Committee slimed around with the MARTA rule from the get-go, hoping the Senate wouldn’t notice the shift from “no limitation” to “60-40 split”
That said, I’m impressed that Cagle would take up the issue now. It’s still unlikely that I’d vote for him, but he’s one of the best Republicans in the state right now.
2. How is MARTA’s budget problems self-made? how can you levy a claim like that without evidence? The Federal Transit Administration encouraged MARTA to leverage their rail cars with AIG–almost every large transit agency in the country did that. And MARTA only found that to be an opportune investment because they’re not allowed, except for fance maneuvering, to spend their capital budget on operational expenses in the first place. But WMATA in DC, just to name one agency, had an even bigger problem with the same federally-backed investment scheme (thanks Bush administration FTA).
3. MARTA’s hardly important “particularly with tourism and the convention business.” Atlanta’s a lot more than tourism and conventions, and the first thing MARTA should do is stand by its dependent riders (first-and-a-half thing: stand by commuters)! For one thing, that means no nonsense-talk of shutting down on Fridays or Sundays–that’s stupid, and there are always less productive routes on weekdays to cut to have at least some service on a less productive day. Running one train on the entire Northeast-South line on Sunday is better than an extra train some other time of the week.
But in any case, it’s a little absurd to diminish the importance of MARTA to region’s core economy: MARTA carries 500,000 trips a day–more than any single 1-mile segment of the downtown connector. Despite the near-constant whinging by those Atlantans who live in the suburbs and drive, MARTA has a relatively large rail netowrk (7th largest in the country; we’re the 9th largest metropolitan region), and quite high ridership. MARTA is the cheapest agency in cost-per-passenger miles carried by a rapid transit system, often one of the safest and cleanest as reviewed every year by industry standards, and holds a large modal split against cars.
People down MARTA every single day, and as someone without a car, I’m sick and tired of it. It’s a train. All you lousy loudmouths long on opinion and short on facts can shove it for all I care! MARTA needs control of its funding, and it’s an absolute disgrace that the House and (to a lesser degree) the Senate ignored this pressing issue. A contemptible lack of regard for what’s important to many others all around. I’m rarely less pleased with my state.
Get Real
April 6th, 2009
5:10 pm
They did have time to cut capital gains for the state, allow Sonny, Cagle, and Richardson to perform weddings, made sure no bio-tech company would step foot into GA with the stem cell law, and tabled a referendum that WOULD ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES….
Other than that, they didn’t do squat.
Pierce Randall
April 6th, 2009
5:11 pm
Oh yeah, two interesting points:
- MARTA actually breaks even, or may even profit, from additioanl trains and buses for the stadium crowd (or so I hear). The agency might cut them to leverage for private support, and because it’s a bad message to send cutting service for the transit-dependent and people who work for a living while tourists get to go see the Braves.
- It’s about a 10-minute walk to Turner Field from Georgia State Station–along the route most cars take to get to the interstate if they’re going east or west.
Allen
April 6th, 2009
5:16 pm
As I understand it, MARTA wants access to “funds raised by the Fulton-DeKalb county sales tax for the transit system.” WTH do reps from Valdosta, Tifton, Young Harris and Macon have any say at all in how money raised solely by Fulton and DeKalb is used in Fulton and DeKalb? Whatever happened to the rallying cry of “local control”?
a former republican
April 6th, 2009
5:29 pm
Where is my party at with local control when it comes to Marta? Its amazing in this state.
professional skeptic
April 6th, 2009
5:35 pm
Well, once again Georgia Republicans have proven they’re the party of Big Government. When they strip local citizens – cities, counties, regions – of the power to decide what they can and cannot do with their OWN money… That, by definition, is Big Government.
Georgia Republicans: The party that favors the iron fist of central government over the ability of individuals to govern themselves.
Reid in EAV
April 6th, 2009
5:38 pm
If MARTA closes down one day a week, who on Fridays will be available to serve you a hamburger? Clean your floors? Move hospital equipment around? Work in many of the jobs at the airport?
To say nothing of the traffic and smog apocalypse to follow if every single hoopty is pressed into service to transport everyone suddenly deprived of minimal public transportation.
The state has no idea what kind of hell they’re unleashing if this is allowed to stand.
Reid in EAV
April 6th, 2009
5:43 pm
Pierce, you are one of the best informed commentators we’ve ever had in these forums. Glad you’re here, and very good information. Thank you.
Get Real
April 6th, 2009
5:46 pm
When you vote for a Republican, you vote against your own self-interests.
“What have they done done for you lately?”
They are taking this state back to the stone age by not having the b*lls to confront the serious problems of the day that Georgia citizens are facing. They’d rather take care of the easy stuff, like tax cuts for corporations while the state is running a multi-billion dollar deficit, and call it progress. ROY BARNES FOR GOVERNOR, PLEASE!!!!! At least you know what you’re getting.
HB
April 6th, 2009
5:47 pm
“MARTA actually breaks even, or may even profit, from additioanl trains and buses for the stadium crowd (or so I hear).”
Actually, I don’t think that’s the case. I’m not sure how MARTA works, but it’s my understanding that in DC, the venue or event often pays for extra service for pro sports, early start marathons, etc, as the extra ridership can’t cover the cost of opening early/pushing back closing time, adding many more trains to the system in normally very slow hours (after 10pm or so), paying overtime for the extra exmployees needed, etc. In DC, I think extra fares only cover the cost if Metro can limit its additional service to only a couple of extra trains, and making all trains longer (like 8-car trains to lines that normally at that time would be 4-car). Those raise energy expenses, but don’t require so many extra employees. For a big event, though, like a baseball game where the score is close enough that everyone stays until the end instead of trickling out starting in the 7th, longer trains alone won’t cut it and Nats owners have to pitch in.
George P. Burdell
April 6th, 2009
5:58 pm
Shhhhh…..do you hear that? That’s the entire state of North Carolina laughing at us, preceded by the *whooosh* of more economic development lost to that state and others.
Just Nasty & Mean
April 6th, 2009
6:01 pm
Let MARTA die. Just let it DIE. It is a bureaucratic, inefficient, nepotism, cronyism, sluggish government sludge pit that needs to just die. Fulton and DeKalb shouldn’t give this bottomless moneypit another cent. Fulton is FAR behind surrounding counties on roads, bridges and other transportation initiatives because we keep giving too much cash to this black hole that SUCKS and after repeated criticism–just will NOT improve itself.
Start over–from scratch–with new experienced management.
Let MARTA crap out and just stop. Get the graf swizzling buffoons that have run the system into the ground with government giveaways for decades, and attempting to tap funds intended for expansion to go to daily operations. FORGET IT!!!!
Let MARTA DIE and let its stinking carcass rot until nothing is left—then start over.
But as a Fulton taxpayer—don’t come back to me for more $$. Either MARTA supports itself, or has a regional or state investment. Otherwise, turn it into a huge skateboard track. I don;t give a rat’s behind. Just get OUT of my back pocket for a service i don’t use.
George P. Burdell
April 6th, 2009
6:08 pm
I know right? I hate paying for services I don’t use! Like your county’s schools, roads, police and fire departments, libraries, etc. LETS USE ALL CAPS AND DEFEAT THESE INSTITUTIONS OF EVIL!
Mr. KnowItAll
April 6th, 2009
6:08 pm
Hey! Get Real!
You simply HAVE to be dumb as a stump. MARTA was born under DEMOCRat regime with Tom Murphy in control of everything! It continued that way for decades under democRat rule. Remember, the Repubs have only been in power for 6 years. Fulton/Dekalb county have been DemocRat since the beginning of time.
The rest of the 30 years MARTA has failed was under the DemocRats!
So let me hear it! DemocRats conceived this ugly baby, and now want Repubs to raise taxes to clean up the stinking, bureaucratic, bloated, slug of a mess they created.
Why not get your head out of your butt and get with the program?
Bobby
April 6th, 2009
7:08 pm
Fellow Dekalb residents. Bear in mind at election time it was no one other than our own Jill Chambers who wants to prevent Marta from being an ongoing successful public transportation system. As long as we return politicians with her mentality to the Georgia House we get what we sow. And she fails to respond to emails that question her narrow minded desires for Dekalb as well as the State of Georgia.
Sam From Georgia
April 6th, 2009
7:18 pm
It is important for a growing city / county to have a mass transit system, because it is impossible to move a large number of people without causing more congestion on our now overcrowded streets. If the truth be told, we need more buses and an expansion of the rail system to improve the transit of our citizens.
We need leaders who can see the big picture.
Rod
April 6th, 2009
7:32 pm
Wow since the police,fire dept,and rest of gov has furloughs on Friday why doesn’t every company just go to a 3day weekend it will help every1 save money,Ga still does not sell alcohol on a Sunday wtf this state is as backwoods as ever they would rather let the bootlegers sit at car washes on Sunday and sell beer out of coolers instead of them get the tax money I’m just waiting for all of these old geysers to die so the younger generations vote will finally count until then we will always be stuck in the Leave to Beaver ages!
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
April 6th, 2009
7:51 pm
Republicans are dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
Stupid.
Ignorant and incompetent.
They cannot run a government.
Get Real
April 6th, 2009
8:52 pm
Hey Mr. Know it All, I can tell by your vast vocabulary how very intelligent you are. Who cares who invented Marta or did what. I’m talking about NOW. What have Republicans done NOW to fix transportation, or alleviate the financial burden Marta now carries. Democrat or Republican, its an archaic law to dictate how an agency spends its money when you don’t contribute to their revenue. If I’m dumb as a stump, then you’re stuck in the past when 285 only had 2 lanes in each direction. Because thats what it will fell like if Marta cuts service. Moron.
Get Real
April 6th, 2009
8:53 pm
and Mr. Know NOTHING. Who said anything about raising taxes? Marta wants to be able to use the money (with me now) THEY ALREADY HAVE! You make Georgia look so good, a**wipe.
Andrew Nielsen
April 6th, 2009
9:15 pm
I travel across the US a great deal for my job and more and more I am enbarrassed to say I was born, raised and still live in the State of Georgia. We are a laughing stock. At one point, Georgia and Atlanta were considered the heart of the New South. Unfortunately, that title is being lost to more progressive states live North Carolina. Our elected officials actually think in this economy we care about stem cell research, the number of embryos a woman can carry, etc. No, we don’t! We care that we cannot get to work on time due to traffic, we have a limited public transportation system, we are 49th in education, etc. We have wonderful universities like Ga. Tech, Emory and UGA but unless we start to address other economic drivers such as transportation, healthcare and public education we will fall farther and farther behind. Casey doesn’t deserve to be Governor of Georgia anymore than I do the Pope. I voted for Mr. Cagle and for Mr. Perdue. Those are two votes I now regret. Between the two of them and other buffoons running Georgia they will hand this state back to the Democrats by 2012.
Tuesday Vandy Girl
April 6th, 2009
10:39 pm
The facts here are simple…in statewide races, fulton and dekalb just don’t matter that much..sure for those of you who live within the perimeter, it’s the entire universe, but most people in the state just don;t care about MARTA..and with the light speed decline of clayton county(facts are facts..that county is a black run farce at every level and department) when “those people” who ride MARTA moved in and took control and the county demographics changed from suburban white to extended urban black, I think the “MARTA Brings crime” long standing argument, is very well proven and supported.
juanita driggs
April 7th, 2009
9:44 am
Mr. Cagle:
Please do everyone who lives in this state a big favor NOW. Pledge that you won’t run for governor next year. Even better, you and speaker Richardson could do a real stand up thing and resign NOW. You two and Sonny are cut from the same tattered cloth. You’ve done the state nearly irreparable damage with your collective incompetence and lack of any meaningful leadership.
Sam the Engineer
April 7th, 2009
10:27 am
If MARTA shuts down on Fridays they will take a double hit on revenue from all of us corporate roead warriors. When flying out of H-J I park at a MARTA station genrally ona Monday and return on the Friday so, in addition to my fare, MARTA recives at least 4 nights of parking from each business trip I take. If I cannot take MARTA when I return from my trip then I will have to park at the airport and MARTA will lose parking revenue equal to several time my train fare. When you consider the number of corporate travelors like myself in metro Atlanta the aggregate revenue loss to MARTA from a Friday shutdown would be substantual.
Sam
Bryant
April 7th, 2009
10:47 am
Tuesday Vandy Girl, your comment about MARTA bringing crime is about as ignorant as it gets. I was amazed at the number of people in Gwinnett County who voted against bringing MARTA there because of the crime. As if Gwinnett County doesn’t already have it’s share of crime. Some of you people need to wake up and move into the 21st century.
Stacey Hopkins
April 7th, 2009
11:11 am
I’m still stunned at the arrogance and lack of concern shown by the Georgia legislature.
Will employers agree to a Monday – Thursday work week or will they lay off those who need this vital service and hire only those who have cars? What of the impact this will have on our local economy as more workers are put out of work, simply because they have no means to get to work?
My son goes to school in Alpharetta, but we live in Hapeville. He has no other way to go to school but MARTA. There are no schools in South Fulton with the curriculum of this particular school and he’s too young to drive unaccompanied (he’s 15). For parents such as myself, the option of school choice would no longer available.
I’m sick and tired of the political postering exemplified by the legislature’s actions and the lack of 360 degree thinking under the Gold Dome. Fulton and DeKalb counties can no longer carry the burden of costs and the funding mechanism must be changed. MARTA had been warning the state of this for years.
This will definitely be a factor for me in 2010. It’s time change finally came to Georgia.
Not Scared
April 7th, 2009
11:30 am
To all the puppets who are dancing to Beverly Scott’s threats, stop the blaming the politicians and start holding Marta accountable. It is laughable that Marta is talking about eliminating service one whole day a week. We all know that they can cut schedules back and still serve most, if not all of the routes, they currently do. Beverly Scott is making these threats to get access to money they know has been set aside for capital improvements and is using your fear to help. Marta has made bad business decisions and are trying to avoid fixing the real problem – inefficient leadership. Job losses or pay losses are tough things – I have first hand knowledge – but propping up a tax eating vacuum will only make things worse. Like any real business, Marta needs to find a way to make it work by attracting new riders (another subject all together) or go the way of the dinosaur.
For those that they think the capital improvement fund is Marta’s money, it is not. It is taxpayer’s money. If Marta is allowed to raid that fund, they will only be going back to the taxpayer when the time comes for capital improvements.
Please start focusing on the real problems and not rhetoric that someone wants you to believe.
Call your legislator
April 7th, 2009
11:31 am
Posting on a website does little or nothing to change things. All of you who want to see a sensible transportation policy, CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS!!! Do it now. It’s not hard. If you don’t know who they are (you should), the Ga. Secretary of State website has an easy way to type in your address and get the names of your state senator and state representative.
Call or e-mail them, and give a reasoned argument why you want a special session to: (a) pass the Senate version (the local option) of transit funding, and (b) pass the flexible funding for MARTA bill (allowing MARTA to use its money). Also, make it clear, in a respectful way, that your support for them depends on this issue. If they commit to support you on transportation, then you will vote for them, and if possible donate to their campaigns, volunteer, etc. But if they don’t support you, then you will vote for (and volunteer, donate, etc.) an opponent who agrees with you. This is how legislators get motivated. Commenting on blogs doesn’t get it done (& yes, my legislators have heard from me).
Robert, Men's Traveler
April 7th, 2009
12:22 pm
Atlanta has so much potential to be more than just a town to pass through. Public transportation is the key. For the past 30 years, the state should have been a partner in building MARTA to become a world class system. Now is the time for the state to join MARTA as a partner. Atlanta is finding out that it’s going to be difficult to attract tourists or new businesses with limited service. If Atlanta and the state can bring MARTA back and expand it, then we will see this economic hub benefit the citizens of this city and the entire state. The job for the next governor is put transportation at the top of his or her agenda.
update: your "leaders" speak about the marta situation. | Atlanta Metblogs
April 7th, 2009
2:44 pm
[...] the lite governor, well he is a little more concerned. [...]
Tuesday Vandy Girl
April 8th, 2009
12:07 am
Bryant, nice evasion…now counter the argument with facts
Mike
April 8th, 2009
3:30 pm
Tuesday Vandy Girl,
Bryant’s right about you; do you watch the freakin’ news? A few months ago the “Blue Jean Bandits” who had been committing robberies around Atlanta took a van to North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville to and were caught by police on Ga. 400??? Criminals don’t rely on Marta to get around, if they need transportation they STEAL it; if they want to rob you they’ll find a way to get to you. Stop being so naive.
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
April 8th, 2009
3:32 pm
Actually TVG, its conservatives that are evasive. How many times have you used the “Well have you actually read the bill” argument when you haven’t actually read squat?
Has someone been reading her “How to Argue with a Liberal” book, just like a good little Ann Coulter communist?
Guess what. Saying “Poor people will come on Marta” is class warfare. I thought Republicans didn’t believe in class warfare? That’s a fact there TVG, does that meet your pseudo logical conservative tactical play there?
Conservatives are the illogical ones, they just like to put up a false front.
Mike
April 8th, 2009
3:32 pm
Bryant, you’re right about these ignorant people here in Gwinnett County. They believe the same bull shiite as Tuesday Vandy Girl.
Mike
April 8th, 2009
4:01 pm
Just Nasty & Mean,
Are you one of the current Republican legislators currently at the Capitol working to kill Marta???
Mike
April 10th, 2009
12:33 pm
Just Nasty & Mean,
Yours is the same type of mentality that’s ruining my subdivision. Our yearly association dues are $360 to support the pool, tennis courts and maintain the entrance landscaping. However, over the last few years as the older residents moved out and newer ones in, the newbies have refused to pay stating “we don’t use the pool or tennis courts so why should be pay for them?” These people are too ignorant to realize these facilites enhance their property values. The pool was recently filled in due to budget shortfalls so only the tennis courts are left. I feel that as we face continued budget shortfalls they will fall into disrepair. My wife and I have no problem paying these dues every year even though we don’t use them because it made these facilities accessible for our neighbors and their children. It’s the same with Marta; if we can get it in Gwinnett I don’t mind paying additional taxes to support it so those not as fortunate to own a vehicle will have transportation. There may also come a time when I actually might need it due to some unforseen financial hardship.
Jim Callihan
April 10th, 2009
3:51 pm
Has anyone answered the question that seems obvious – if the “50/50″ limitations were established “from the on-set” (which made sense THEN – with lots of acquisition and construction expenditures planned), why have they never been PERMANENTLY CHANGED to rightly reflect the obvious paradigm shift (new new major purchase of land, equipment or construction likely to occur in the future)? Why is the balance still at “50/50″ when it clearly needs to be at “60/40″ or possibly even “65/35″? This is just crazy thinking and government log-jamming over power struggles…how sad?
scpatl4now
April 12th, 2009
9:23 pm
I think TVG misses something pretty simple MARTA DOES NOT GO TO CLAYTON COUNTY, so how can it be the source of its decline!!! C-tran contracts with MARTA to provide bus service (like Cobb, Gwinette). Cagle had everything riding on getting a transportation bill done, and he blew it. The business community is FURIOUS. Without their support ($), he is toast.