In November 2016, voters in the city of Atlanta overwhelmingly approved a half-penny local sales tax that set in motion plans for the largest investment in transit enhancements and expansion in four decades. This investment, called More MARTA Atlanta, not only ushers in improved connectivity, accessibility, and mobility, but it also heralds significant economic development opportunities across the city – and the region – in the years ahead.
According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), studies have shown that every $1 invested in public transportation generates a $4 economic return to a community. As one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Atlanta is experiencing booms in employment through new job growth and corporate relocations and experiencing increased demands for housing and mobility options to sustain this growth. The More MARTA Atlanta plan is designed to improve transit services in historically underserved communities, increasing access to employment centers throughout the city of Atlanta.
In addition to strengthening the city’s economic vitality, More MARTA Atlanta is a first step toward addressing metro Atlanta’s transportation needs amid a growing and evolving population. In fact, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) projects that by 2040, the region will see an influx of 2.5 million new residents. Atlanta will soon be the 6th-largest metro area in the country.
After two years of public engagement, technical analysis, system planning, and project list refinement, the MARTA Board of Directors approved the More MARTA Atlanta program on Oct. 4, 2018. Following the Oct. 4 vote, the program implementation plan was developed and the MARTA Board of Directors voted to approve the plan on June 13, 2019.
Read more about the program
here.