FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                CONTACT:  Lyle V. Harris

April 28, 2011                                                                            404.848.3982

MARTA Board Announces Proposed FY 2012 Operating and Capital Budget; Includes a Fare Increase as well as Bus Service and Security Enhancements

                           Public Hearings Scheduled for May 16^th and 17^th 

The MARTA Board has announced a proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Operating Budget of $413.76 million, a Capital Budget totaling $185.5 million and $143.7 million in debt service.

The proposal, which will be presented at a series of public hearings on May 16 and 17, 2011, is focused on maintaining MARTA’s long-term financial sustainability, preserving transit service and state-of-good-repair, enhancing some bus routes and implementing new security initiatives. 

In order to stabilize MARTA’s financial condition and maintain current service levels for our customers, a number of internal and external recommendations to stabilize the Authority’s finances are being proposed.

 External recommendations include a base fare increase from $2.00 to $2.50, with weekly and monthly pass price increases. In addition, the proposal includes the continuation of staggered increases for Mobility base fare, reduced fare and Mobility passes as indicated in the previous, FY 2010 base fare increase. Mobility base fare, reduced fare and Mobility passes will not be impacted by the proposed FY 2012 base fare increase. (See chart below.)  

Internal recommendations in the proposed budget include no annual merit or wage increases for non-represented and represented employees, which would be the fourth year in a row.  

Despite recently projected increases in MARTA’s sales tax over the next ten years, the Authority’s finances have been negatively impacted by the overall economic downturn.  With no new funding sources on the horizon this fiscal year, MARTA is proposing these changes now to avoid any additional service cuts and to ensure metro Atlanta’s prospects for expanded regional transit in the future.

The MARTA Board of Directors invites the community to provide feedback on the proposed FY 2012 budget during its upcoming public hearings.  At the hearings, MARTA staff will provide an overview of the proposed fare and pass price increases, service improvements to bus routes 3, 25, 50, 51, 99, and 181, and enhancements to security initiatives. 

If approved by the Board of Directors as part of the FY 2012 budget, bus service enhancements would be implemented September 24, 2011, and fare changes would take effect October 2, 2011.

Copies of the proposed budget, fare changes, and service modifications are available for review at MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon, and on the MARTA website www.itsmarta.com.  A summary of the proposed budget, fare changes and bus service modifications can be requested by leaving a message on MARTA’s comment line, 404.848.5299.  The proposed budget will also be available for public inspection an hour before each hearing, and MARTA staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. 

Patrons may request information in an accessible format by calling MARTA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at 404.848.4037.  For patrons requiring further accommodations, information can be obtained by calling the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 404.848.5665.  In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available at all hearings. 

People unable to attend the hearings can provide comments regarding the FY 2012 budget to MARTA’s Office of External Affairs through May 27, 2011, by calling 404.848.5299, writing to 2424 Piedmont Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324-3330, completing an online comment card at http://www.itsmarta.com/webcomments.aspx, custserv@itsmarta.com or faxing comments to 404.848.4179.

The MARTA Board of Directors will vote on the final budget on June 6, 2011.

Public Hearings

(A community exchange will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 7 p.m.

South Fulton Service Center

5600 Stonewall Tell Rd.

College Park, GA 30349

Taking MARTA:  Bus route 180 from the College Park Rail Station

Fulton County Government Center

141 Pryor Street

Atlanta, GA  30303

Taking MARTA:  Bus route 49 from the Five Points Rail Station. Special bus shuttle will be provided.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 7 p.m.

DeKalb Maloof Auditorium

1300 Commerce Drive

Decatur, GA  30030

Taking MARTA: Walk one block west of Decatur Rail Station

North Fulton Service Center

7741 Roswell Road

Sandy Springs, GA  30350

Taking MARTA:  Bus route 87 from Dunwoody or North Springs Rail Stations

              Proposed Fare Increases for FY2012

*THESE INCREASES ARE BASED ON FY 2010 PROPOSALS TO INCREMENTALLY

RAISE FARES FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED CUSTOMERS

Bus Service Enhancements

Routes 3, 25, 50, 51, 99, 181

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