Speaker David Ralston and Governor Nathan Deal both spoke Wednesday at a breakfast preview of the upcoming legislative session sponsored by PolicyBEST. PolicyBEST is a public policy organization aimed at “changing the public debate and achieving real solutions.” Last year’s HB 170, the transportation funding bill, was a feather in the cap of PolicyBEST and the Georgia Transportation Alliance. The groups helped win support for the bill in the legislature and across the state. Many considered transportation to have been off the table following HB 170’s passage, particularly after Governor Deal said last year that 170 was “the one bite at the apple.” Apparently the transit part of the apple may have been too juicy to resist.
While Deal focused on education and jobs development, Ralston spent a significant portion of his time praising the new leadership at MARTA, calling out MARTA CEO Keith Parker by name, and suggesting transit would be on the table come January. MARTA is coming off three consecutive years with a budget surplus and is looking to pressure lawmakers for approval of expansion.
Pressure from economic development may be partly to thank for the renewed interest. Ralston cited business interest in particular during his remarks. “I do know that major companies who seek out our state want reliable public transit options in metro Atlanta,” said Ralston. Multiple companies that have relocated to Atlanta have sought close proximity to MARTA stations. The new Mercedes-Benz headquarters, one of the companies cited by name by Ralston, will be in walking proximity from the North Springs station and the new IT office for Kaiser-Permanente will be a few blocks from the Arts Center station.
Ralston praised the suspension of the rule that required MARTA to spend 50% of its funding on operations and the half on infrastructure. The rule handcuffed MARTA in some ways on long-term planning and making yearly adjustments. Ralston indicated he would like to see the rule permanently done away with, particularly if the transit system continues to be as well run as it has been recently.
Ralston gave few details as to what MARTA expansion would look like or how the legislature might impact the discussion but did hint it would be possible. Ralston spoke about MARTA specifically but left open the door on transit in general. “I want to be clear on something with regard to MARTA and transit in general. One of the things about enacting the best policies is the willingness to change your opinion when new data and new facts are presented. I don’t know if MARTA will expand, and if it does, I don’t know what it might look like,” said Ralston.
All of this comes amid something of a Fulton County dust-up over MARTA’s future. The first phase of MARTA expansion is likely to be northward on GA-400. Recently, the mayors of Roswell and Sandy Springs met with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to ask about MARTA expansion. Reed deferred the matter until MARTA officials were in on the discussion but the act did not go unnoticed. Perhaps in response, the Johns Creek city council and mayor a week later unanimously voted to oppose MARTA expansion into their community. The Johns Creek measure expressed dismay with the state for raising taxes to pay for transit and was doubtful that expansion would have a positive impact on traffic.
The argument coming at the Gold Dome may get heated.
