Nearly a dozen transit projects will receive $75 million in state funding through the GO! Transit Capital Program, according to Gov. Nathan Deal.
The Governor was joined by State Road & Tollway Authority (SRTA) Executive Director Chris Tomlinson Wednesday in making the announcement at the State Capitol. The GO!, Transit Capital Program was created and administered by SRTA and is designed to address critical capital-related public transportation needs throughout the state.
“Today marks the first time that Georgia has made this type of significant investment for transit systems statewide,” said Deal. “These 11 projects represent major milestones in transportation infrastructure and demonstrate our commitment to improving mobility in every corner of the state. Once completed, these projects will address traffic congestion and support economic development through increased access to jobs. I want to thank SRTA board members, Executive Director Chris Tomlinson and members of the General Assembly for their leadership in ensuring our critical transportation needs are addressed.”
The Georgia General Assembly, during the 2015 Legislative Session, designated $75 million in general obligation bonds for the program and identified SRTA to administer the funds. This was an unprecedented one-time allotment of cash for transit projects in Georgia.
“The GO! Transit program was created to give a boost to Georgia’s public transportation systems, and the projects that we are awarding will go a long way towards improving transit in communities throughout Georgia,” said Director Tomlinson. “This type of funding is critical to helping us address Georgia’s transportation needs, from mobility and congestion relief to safety.”
According to Tomlinson, SRTA began taking award applications in October 2015. The State Road and Tollway Authority went through proposals from at least 10 applicants for 22 different projects. Awards
were based on a set of criteria developed to assess a project’s ability to meet major statewide transportation goals, including improving safety and increasing mobility, officials said.
Listed below are the GO! Transit Capital Program award recipients.
Albany Transit System
Multimodal Center
Constructs a new state-of-the-art transfer facility that improves the customer experience and allows for future expansion of the system. The facility will allow for safer separation of bus and pedestrian traffic, improve coordination with the regional rural public transportation system, and provide innovative features such as a computer lab with free public Wi-Fi and on-site fare purchases.
Athens-Clarke County
Hybrid-Electric Buses
Replaces one-third of the Athens-Clarke diesel powered bus fleet with new hybrid-electric buses.
Atlanta Regional Commission
Bus Stop Amenities
Upgrades bus stop signage throughout Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties. The new signs will have a consistent design for all transit systems and improved information for customers. Bus shelters, benches and sidewalk upgrades will also be provided at select stop locations to enhance riders’ experience and improve access for the elderly and disabled.
Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT)
New Buses
Replaces one-third of the CAT bus fleet.
Cobb County
Bus Expansion – Route 10X
Purchases 12 buses needed to operate a new Cobb Community Transit Route 10X, which will provide express service from Town Center to the Midtown MARTA station with limited stops at major locations such as Kennesaw State University.
Cobb County
Bus Expansion – Cumberland Circulator
Purchases six buses to create two new circulator routes within the Cumberland Community Improvement District. The circulators will improve transit access to jobs and key community resources such as Sun Trust Park, Cumberland Mall and the Cobb Galleria.
Gwinnett County
New Buses
Purchases 20 new buses for Gwinnett County Transit
Gwinnett County
Sugarloaf Mills Park & Ride Upgrade
Redesigns and upgrades the Sugarloaf Mills Park-and-Ride lot to improve bus access and passenger amenities. Customers will have additional shelters and the ability to purchase fares on-site. Buses will be able to take a more direct route to the I-85 Express Lanes, decreasing travel times and improving reliability.
Henry County
Jonesboro Road Park & Ride
Constructs a new park-and-ride lot near the intersection of Jonesboro Road and I-75 in Henry County. MARTA
Audio Visual Information System
Upgrades public address and electronic passenger information system at MARTA’s 38 rail stations with enhanced audio and video displays, expanding transit user access to communications and emergency information
University of Georgia
Electric Buses
Replaces one-third of the existing diesel bus fleet (19 buses) with new fully-electric buses, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing a quieter ride for transit users.
