MARTA board approves much-debated Atlanta expansion plan

ATLANTA — After more than two years and lots — and lots — of debate, MARTA’s $2.7 billion Atlanta expansion plan is set.

The MARTA Board of Directors approved Thursday afternoon the final version of the transit agency’s “More MARTA” plan.

The approved version differs significantly from the original Atlanta plan presented in May, but mirrors an adjusted blueprint presented just last week. It includes a larger focus on transit along the Atlanta Beltline and less funding for the so-called Clifton Corridor. It also includes light rail service, and not the originally proposed bus rapid transit, along Campbellton Road.

“This is the first step in getting there,” MARTA general manager Jeffrey Parkerr said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

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In all, the 40-year plan involves 29 miles of light rail, 13 miles of bus rapid transit lines and three arterial rapid transit routes, as well as other improvements.

Atlanta voters approved an additional half-penny sales tax to fund transit construction and operations inside the city in 2016. MARTA solicited public input on how to spend the money and quickly found that many different community groups had many different priorities.

A group called Beltline Rail Now, for instance, lobbied for full funding for light rail around the entire 22-mile trail loop. Others argued against the Clifton Corridor line, which would connect Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the larger system.

Several residents from Dekalb County spoke before the vote saying the board has ignored their community for decades.

"Most areas of south DeKalb you're not doing anything and we've paid that tax for 46 years for inadequate or no service," a resident told Channel 2's Dave Huddleston.

Even former State Senator Vincent Fort said this more MARTA movement is a mess.

"Southwest atlanta is getting messed over, we're getting a streetcar when we can't even get sidewalks."

Emory University was only recently annexed into Atlanta, they argued, and was not part of the city when voters approved the new sales tax.

The new plan moved toward better appeasing both groups, as well as those that took issue with only bus rapid transit service in the Campbellton Road area in southwest Atlanta.  But it will ultimately rely on federal funding and private partners to complete many of the included projects.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group