2000
JANUARY
MARTA offers 24-hour service and commemorate tokens for Super Bowl XXXIV.
FEBRUARY
The Board of Directors approves west rail expansion to Fulton Industrial Park, an extension that will serve 30,000 workers in the area.
MARCH
MARTA recognizes its 3.5 billionth customer since its inception. The customer was recognized with a one-year MARTA pass, two roundtrip tickets to anywhere Delta Air Lines flies in the continental U.S., four tickets to both an Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Braves game, and a $100 gift certificate to Ruth Chris Steak House.
APRIL
Signal pre-emptors, (a small electronic box that automatically turns a signal green or keeps the light from turning yellow until after the bus crosses an intersection), are piloted with #15 South DeKalb/Candler Road bus line.
MAY
Four public hearings are set to take comments on the proposed fare increase.
JUNE
The Board of Directors voted on the fare increase with an amendment, extending the fare from $1.50 to $1.75 each way.
MARTA hosted the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials National Meeting & Training Conference.
JULY
MARTA leadership continues to be recognized throughout the transit industry. Nathaniel P. Ford, Executive Vice President of Operations & Development is named the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) "Executive of the Year."
AUGUST
MARTA is given three awards from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The awards place MARTA in the top five percent of all government entities in the country who exceed standard financial reporting and accounting procedures.
SEPTEMBER
MARTA promotes the benefits of public transportation and encourages new riders through "Try Transit Week" by unveiling the new BREDA rail cars from Italy at the Tucker Assembly Facility.
OCTOBER
"Meet MARTA Day" is held at Chamblee station. The event provides the community to ask questions and learn more about MARTA and its services.
MARTA Police Officer Eric Brown receives the Governor's Public Safety Award for "Acts of Heroism," marking the second time in three years that a MARTA police officer has received the state's highest honor for public safety.
NOVEMBER
The Board of Directors appointed Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. as MARTA's fifth General Manager/CEO. Ford is MARTA's first African American GM/CEO to lead the agency in its 36-year existence.
DECEMBER
MARTA opens two new rail stations on the North Line - Sandy Springs and North Springs. Ten of the BREDA rail cars also made their debut system-wide.
2001
JANUARY
MARTA GM/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. announces an organizational alignment to improve the core services of MARTA for the riding public.
FEBRUARY
Former MARTA General Manager (GM), Kenneth Gregor is appointed to serve on the MARTA Board of Directors, marking the first time in MARTA history a former GM has sat on the Board.
MARCH
MARTA Police Department receives the award of reaccredidation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Originally accredited in 1996, MARTA's Police Department is the only transit police agency in the U.S. to be nationally accredited by CALEA.
APRIL
The Laredo Garage Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Facility opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Supported by a water recycling system, the facilities enhance MARTA's commitment to the environment. Nearly half of MARTA's total bus fleet is CNG.
MARTA employee Al Culmer received the WXIA-11Alive 2001 Community Service Award on April 11 for his dedicated service to the American Red Cross. An inspector in Bus Operations, Culmer has given countless hours of service to the American Red Cross for the past nine years. Most recently, Culmer served as Transportation Manager during a hurricane in South Georgia.
MAY
People flocked to MARTA in record numbers during the three-day Music Midtown Festival held May 4-6. More than a third of the estimated 300,000 festival-goers chose MARTA as their mode of transportation.
MARTA signed an agreement with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) to operate bus service for Clayton County. The agreement calls for MARTA to operate five fixed bus routes and paratransit service that will be implemented over the next three years for approximately $7 million. Service will begin October 2001 at no cost to taxpayers in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb and Fulton Counties.
JUNE
MARTA held two public hearings in DeKalb County to solicit community input regarding bus service modifications on routes 115-Covington and 116 Redan Road to support the Mall at Stonecrest.
The MARTA rail system map is available for online viewing at www.itsmarta.com/riding/systemmaponline.htm. The map grids every local street and bus stop in the area.
JULY
As of July 1, the MARTA Board approved the increase for long-term (24 hours) parking fees from $3.00 to $6.00 at the following rail stations: College Park, Doraville, Lindbergh Center, and North Springs. The Authority plans to continue to provide free parking for daily riders at all stations.
MARTA received the prestigious Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. In addition, Moody's, the nation's premier bond rating company, has upgraded MARTA's bond rating to an A-1, citing "the fundamental strength and diversity of MARTA's sales tax revenues securing the bonds." Moody's also praised the Authority's well-established track record of effective service delivery and sound financial operations.
The majority of 50 MARTA Station Managers laid off in cost-cutting moves were rehired and placed in other positions within the Authority ranging from bus operators and customer service assistants to station agents.
MARTA honored nine of its original 13 employees at a reception at MARTA Headquarters. They are: Henry L. Stuart, first General Manager; H.N. Johnny Johnson, Secretary to the GM; H. King Elliot, Public Information Director; Earl W. Nelson, Chief Engineer; Gail Blackmon, Secretary to Board of Directors; Morris Dillard, Community Relations Director; John W. Bates, Planning Department; Becky Bannister, Secretary to 2nd GM; Ann Goodwin Patel, Real Estate; Robert Harvey, Administrative Services; Terrell Hill, Director of Development; Dennis Mollenkamp, Manager of Schedule Information; Lauren H. Solomon, first African American female employee. This group is known as the "original 13" that laid the foundation for the Authority. In addition, the first Parsons Brinkerhoff Tudor-Turner Associates employee to work on the MARTA engineering plan was John Coil.
The MARTA Board of Directors unanimously approved bus service to the Mall at Stonecrest in DeKalb County, which opened October 22, 2001. Route 116-Redan was extended to the mall area and will connect with route 115-Covington into the City of Lithonia.
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association selected MARTA as the 2001 Globe Award winner for the Authority's North Line Extension Project. The north line was completed in December 2001 with the opening of Sandy Springs & North Springs Stations.
AUGUST
MARTA held a public hearing for the elimination of route #350-Farmer's Market in College Park City Hall Council Chambers. The proposed Clayton County bus service replaced most of the service currently provided by route 350. Service was not replaced to the Park/Ride Lot, the Kennedy Drive/Lake Mirror Loop, or the Springdale/First Street Loop.
The Youth Council of the Atlanta NAACP has named Roger Dottin, Manager of Community Relations, the 2001 recipient of the Jondelle Harris Johnson Humanitarian Award for rendering outstanding service in the community.
SEPTEMBER
MARTA employees gathered in the headquarters atrium and at other off-site locations at noon to join the nation in observing the National Day of Prayer declared by President George W. Bush. The Authority's entire revenue fleet carried the message "MARTA JOINS THE NATION IN PRAYER" in honor of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.
MARTA, New York-based Submedia, and Coca-Cola unveiled the first-ever in-tunnel motion picture transit advertising system in the country during a press conference between Dunwoody and Sandy Springs MARTA Stations.
OCTOBER
In Philadelphia, 25-year veteran bus operator Claud Gavin captured third place in the American Public Transportation Association's Annual Bus Roadeo competition. Gavin competed against 30 other operators from all over the U.S. and Canada, and only a one point per second penalty cost Gavin first place.
MARTA hosted a Chair Dedication Ceremony in honor of Dr. Joseph E. Lowery's 80th birthday and his valued service to the Authority as a member of the Board of Director from 1975-1998 and as chairman from 1995-1997.
MARTA co-hosted the Atlanta Regional Workshop on Bus Rapid Transit sponsored by the National Transit Institute and the Federal Transit Administration.
Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., MARTA GM/CEO was among a distinguished panel of five who addressed a nationally live telecast United Nations Town Hall Meeting on terrorism.
The MARTA Police Department launched a new, high tech safety and security campaign called M*PACT (MARTA Police Proactively Attacking Crime Trends) during a press conference at the Authority's headquarters building.
MARTA bus route #116-Redan begins service to the Mall at Stonecrest on Saturday, October 20.
MARTA joins the Atlanta Housing Authority, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the Georgia Department of Transportation for the announcement of a major renovation of Capitol homes into a mixed-use transit oriented development.
MARTA's Office of Employee Relations partnered with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to host a blood drive for employees to donate blood for the victims of September 11.
MARTA GM/CEO Ford issued an eight-point "Strategic Cost Containment Plan" to the Authority's nearly 5,000 employees to reduce expenditures and maintain operations within the budget.
Fourteen MARTA employees received professional certification in transit management from the American Public Transit Exams Institute (APTREX), sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association.
Former MARTA Board Chairman George Ivey, Jr. was named the American Public Transportation Association's Transit Board Member Man of the Year.
NOVEMBER
Effective, Saturday, November 17, MARTA offered 192 of its daily parking spaces for
long-term parking at Kensington MARTA Station.
MARTA and Zoo Atlanta announced the harvesting of hundreds of pounds of a species of bamboo discovered at the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA Station. The bamboo is especially favored by Zoo Atlanta's four-year-old giant pandas Lun-Lun and Yang Yang.
DECEMBER
MARTA held it's 10th Santa Express from Airport Station to Five Points Station to bring in the holiday season at Underground Atlanta.
Attorney William R. Moseley, Jr. of DeKalb County won unanimous approval for a second term as Chairman of MARTA's Board of Directors.
MARTA launched its redesigned web site that provides real-time Atlanta weather forecasts.
2002
JANUARY
The MARTA Board of Directors voted final approval of cost containment measures proposed by staff to include 5% reduction in bus and rail service and a reduction in discounts for bulk transcard purchases effective March 23. MARTA cut 8 weekday routes, 22 700-Series, 7 Saturday and 16 Sunday and Holiday routes. Rail service will be reduced to operate every 10 minutes before 9 p.m. weekdays and every 15 minutes on Saturdays before 9 p.m.
FEBRUARY
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Michael Jackson presented MARTA with a $27 million Federal Transit Administration grant for the purchase of 56 new rail cars and eight new 40ft low-floor compressed natural gas buses. The funds will also be used to reimburse the Authority for the completion of the North Line Extension to Sandy Springs and North Springs Stations.
For the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, MARTA sent 50 buses and 16 paratransit vans, and MARTA operators to assist in the transportation for athletes and others involved in the games. The Authority was among 30 transit agencies across the country participating in this effort.
MARCH
MARTA implemented its new revised routes and schedule changes for bus and rail services. The Authority's Partnership Program also changed by offering a maximum value discount of 8% off its monthly Transcard fee of $52.50.
For the ninth time, MARTA was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
MARTA provided two options for shuttle service to the Braves Game - one shuttle will run from the Forsyth St. side of Five Points Station and the other will run from the outside of Underground Atlanta/Coca-Cola Plaza. Both shuttles will run two hours before each game. MARTA carried a near-record 6,400 people on its Braves Shuttles opening day.
A quarter of a million sports fans hit downtown Atlanta the weekend of March 29 through April 1 for the NCAA Final Four, the Hawks basketball game and three Braves baseball games including the season opener. MARTA buses and trains played a pivotal role in moving the masses.
APRIL
H.N. Johnny Johnson, the man who gave MARTA its name and 36 years of dedicated service, passed on April 4 at the age of 80. Johnson was the Authority's longest serving employee as the assistant to then General Manager Henry Stuart. Flags at all MARTA facilities flew half-staff and bus destination signs carried the message "In Memory of Johnny."
House Bill 1245 with the Senate amendment passed the House on a vote of 92-62. The Senate has already passed the measure with its amendment requiring a management audit. The measure now needs only the Governor's signature to become law. The Authority will have the ability to spend its sales tax dollars in a 45/55 split - 45% on capital expenses and 55% on operating expenses. The new spending formula will give the Authority an additional $15 Million in operating dollars each year for the next five when it sunsets (ends).
State law requires MARTA to spend 50% of sales tax revenues on operating expenses and an equal amount on capital expenditures. MARTA sought legislative approval to spend 45% on the big-ticket capital expenses and 55% on the day-to-day operations of the Authority.
MAY
Piloted message and schedule information board at Airport, Lindbergh, and Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Stations.
Awarded APTA Job Access Award, and is among only 10 transit agencies in the U.S. and Canada to receive this award.
Eleven MARTA women recognized at YWCA Women of Achievement.
JUNE
Braves Shuttle began operating from two locations - Underground Atlanta and Forsyth Street.
JULY
Judge issues judicial determination on labor agreement.
A Decatur couple took MARTA to their wedding reception Friday, July 5, 2002. Following their 6 p.m. nuptials at First United Methodist Church, Laura VanderHart and Jarrod Goentzel along with their entire wedding party boarded a special train car at 7:30 PM at the Decatur MARTA station and headed to the Trolley Barn located near the Inman Park Reynoldstown station for the reception. The couple purchased enough tokens for all of their wedding guests.
AUGUST
The Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the Atlanta Falcons teamed up to offer the debut of the Falcons Flyer Pass. A first-ever for Atlanta, the pass program offers Falcons season ticket holders a Flyer pass package for each season ticket in their account. The pass is not limited to travel to the Georgia Dome and may also be used on MARTA during the Falcons' regular season.
MARTA General Manager/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., announced that the judicial process required by the MARTA Act has concluded. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Coursey, Jr. late yesterday issued his final order, ending an 18-month impasse on a new labor agreement between the Authority and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732. Ford expressed the desire for healing and cooperation with the union.
MARTA Police, the 9th largest transit police department in North America and the state of Georgia's 9th largest police department, celebrates 25 years of service. Accredited by the Georgia Peace Officer Standard Training Council in 1977.
Abernathy TOD Agreement signed.
SEPTEMBER
MARTA received $11.4M net lease-lease back revenue for 52 rail cars.
MARTA held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of bike racks on its entire bus fleet. This effort was made to meet the growing transportation needs of metro Atlantans and to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality. Each rack holds two bikes, which can be loaded or unloaded in seconds. Bike racks can be used during all hours of operation.
MARTA General Manager/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. stood with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Atlanta City Council along with the United InDeed organizing committee to announce the metro-wide commemoration activities marking the first anniversary of September 11. All 4800 MARTA employees received commemorative lapel pins emblazoned with the American flag and the words, "We stand together." Those same words were displayed on MARTA's web site and on bus destination signs. MARTA vehicles beared flag decals and had their lights on throughout the day. The authority also observed the metro-wide moment of silence and offered employees an opportunity to participate in an authority-wide blood drive.
MARTA opened its Windward Park/Ride Lot on Monday, September 30, 2002, serving three bus routes in North Fulton County. Located at 12585 Dryden Road, off of GA 400's Windward Parkway exit in Alpharetta, the lot will provide 502 parking spaces. The lot has five covered bus stalls that will accommodate existing bus routes 85-Roswell/Alpharetta, 140-Mansell Park/Ride Lot, and a new route 143-Windward Park/Ride Lot. Route 143 provides service between Windward Park/Ride Lot and MARTA's North Springs station during the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. The Windward route is scheduled to run every 20 minutes during peak hours, and routes 85 and 140 will run every 30 minutes.
Secretary of State Cathy Cox appeared at MARTA's Five Points Station to show her support for the Authority's "Voters on Track" voter registration project. The "Voters on Track" project was the brainchild of MARTA General Manager/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. to help riders get registered to vote and increase participation in one of the nation's most fundamental rights. MARTA employees registered voters on Monday, September 30, 2002 and Tuesday, October 1, 2002 at its Headquarters building and Hamilton E. Holmes, Indian Creek and Five Points stations. Twenty-three MARTA employees volunteered to receive voter registration training by the Secretary of State's office.
NOVEMBER
MARTA Police conducted an Emergency Simulation Exercise at the College Park MARTA Station Saturday, November 2, 2002 10:30 PM until 4:00 AM Sunday, November 3rd. This exercise was a simulation of a full-scale terrorist attack in the train station resulting in numerous "casualties" that required treatment in the station area and evacuation. The drill was conducted in cooperation with the Tri-City (College Park, East Point & Hapeville) emergency response agencies. This federally mandated and funded drill was conducted in several major U-S cities including Atlanta, Boston and Philadelphia.
MARTA, Carter & Associates and BellSouth celebrated the opening of Phase I of the Lindbergh City Center Transit Oriented Development, the nation's premier live, work and play community built around a rail station. Lindbergh City Center is the largest multi-use development of its kind in the United States. Carter & Associates is the master developer of the 50-acre site, which includes BellSouth office towers, a multi-tenant office building, new parking decks and a Main Street retail promenade of rental apartments and condominium residences.
DECEMBER
MARTA adopted a meal route at a local senior citizens residence for the Meals on Wheels/Project Open Hand Program with Central Fulton Senior Services, Inc. This is a community outreach initiative for MARTA's Employees Charity Club, who donates an average $600,000 annually to various charities.
Kenneth M. Gregor (Fulton), former general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), was elected chairman of the Authority's Board of Directors. Gregor's appointment to the board in January 2001 marked the first time in MARTA's history that a former general manager has sat on the Board. Gregor served as general manager from 1982 to 1994.
2003
JANUARY
MARTA GM/CEO Nathaniel Ford presented the "State of Authority," a list of achievements, procurements, and ongoing projects to local media, government and community officials, MARTA employees, and customers.
MARTA launched the "Pulling Together," a multi-media advertising campaign to promote the Authority as a safe and affordable means of transportation that helps reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality while taking people where they need to go whether to work, school, entertainment, a medical appointment or the airport. Actor Danny Glover is the voice for the television commercials.
FEBRUARY
During a news conference, MARTA joined Mayor Shirley Franklin's operation "Clean Safe City" in welcoming thousands of basketball fans for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game activities February 6 through February 9, 2003. MARTA increased rail cars and service, and MARTA Police worked closely with Atlanta Police and Georgia State University Police for increased patrols.
MARTA closed the original parking deck closest to the Doraville Train Station due to construction. The second parking deck at the Doraville Station remained open for daily and long-term parking, as will the existing surface lots.
MARTA and ALSTOM officials formally signed an agreement providing for ALSTOM to overhaul 238 MARTA rail cars. The contract, which was awarded December 9, 2002, is worth $266 million and is the largest of its kind ever awarded by the Authority.
MARCH
MARTA officials announced stricter security measures in the wake of the Homeland Security's increased threat level. Police Chief Gene Wilson authorized MARTA police officers to make random searches/inspections of customers' personal items.
MARTA launched Blue Flyer Bus Service an enhanced bus program that provides limited stop and express service. The buses have a unique color scheme making them easier to identify. This 12-month demonstration project was implemented at no additional cost on the following routes:
Route 73B - Fulton Industrial (South Fulton)
Route 83B - Ben Hill (City of Atlanta)
Route 116B - MallAT STONECREST (DeKalb)
Route 143B - Windward Parkway (North Fulton)
MARTA also installed the "I-STOP" at each blue flyer stop. The "I-Stops" stores solar energy to provide a bus-signaling beacon, security lighting and illumination for the posted bus schedule.
The goal of Blue Flyer was to improve service performance, customer satisfaction and increase ridership.
APRIL
MARTA displayed the CIVIS bus in DeKalb and Fulton counties and the City of Atlanta. The CIVIS bus is the latest vehicular technology concept in Bus Rapid Transit or flex-trolley, manufactured by Iribus North America.
MARTA launched the "Defenders of Freedom" two-week campaign to honor 26 MARTA employees deployed at war. The campaign consisted of an "Honor Board" with photos of all 26 employees at major MARTA facilities, a letter from the GM/CEO to their families with MARTA benefits information, partnering with the American Red Cross to ship "Pulling Together" care packages to the troops, and an employee "Rally for Troops," held at MARTA headquarters.
JUNE
MARTA Police announced a new security policy requiring passengers to remain with their luggage while traveling on the system, especially on the trains, in response to concerns raised by the federal Transportation Services Administration. The Authority also reminding customers that it is not responsible for lost and stolen luggage. If passengers prefer to store their bags in the luggage bin, they are required to remain with their bags. The new policy is expected to dramatically cut delays in getting through security and cut down on lost and stolen bags.
MARTA's departments of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Rail Operations and External Affairs worked with the local organizing committee to welcome the 18th International Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) Convention held in Atlanta June 26-29, 2003 at the Downtown Atlanta Hilton.
MARTA announced free shuttle bus service to assist in the movement of the public paying final respects to former Atlanta Mayor Maynard H. Jackson. On Saturday, all MARTA vehicles turned on their headlights in honor of the late Mayor and bus destination signs read "In Memory of Maynard Jackson 1938-2003." The former Mayor played a pivotal role in the creation of MARTA's rail line during his historic first term in office.
