Getting around - Transit planning board to seek public input on rail and bus proposals

January 1, 2008

So what do you do after all the talks and studies are over? After two years, the Metro Atlanta Transit Planning Board is leaving it up to the public. gettingaround

Board members, elected officials from 11 counties and transportation agency officials are asking for public reaction to a plan that includes spokes of commuter rail far out into the suburbs in several directions, and some short extensions of MARTA's heavy rail and regional bus service. The concept: plan a more seamless transit network across metro counties and build new projects to accommodate booming population growth and a projected surge in the elderly population.

After presenting the map to local jurisdictions and community organizations and receiving comments from the general public through May 2008, the planning board will incorporate public reaction into a final map next year. One of the main items still on the docket – where will the money to build
it, come from?

The board plans to show the tentative map to legislators as they debate transportation funding in the 2008 session.