Atlanta City Council to host series of forums about More MARTA program

Throughout August, Atlanta City Councilmembers will host a series of community forums about the More MARTA Atlanta program, according to a City Council press release.
The forums will educate residents and city stakeholders about the More MARTA program and receive feedback on the proposed project list.
More MARTA Atlanta focuses on “taking a balanced approach to delivering transit projects that will improve service, accessibility, and connectivity to communities throughout the city of Atlanta and the regional network,” the release said.
Atlanta residents passed a half-penny sales tax for the More MARTA project in 2016. The funds will generate nearly $2.5 billion for transit expansion and enhancement projects over the next 40 years, according to the release.
More MARTA Atlanta’s original project list included more than 70 projects with an estimated price tag of $11.5 billion, significantly exceeding the program’s sales-tax budget.
Since then, public feedback and performance evaluations from the city and MARTA have helped readjust the project list.
The first forum will take place on Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fort McPherson, 178 Hardee Avenue S.W. It will be co-hosted by Councilmembers Joyce M. Sheperd (District 12), Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11) and Cleta Winslow (District 4).
“We want to hear from our residents,” Sheperd said. “These forums will give the community an opportunity to join more in-depth discussions and get updates as we prepare to roll out Marta transit projects across the city. We’re asking everyone to attend.”
Atlanta’s largest transit investment in four decades, More MARTA will serve 126 neighborhoods. It’s slated to increase access to jobs by 56 percent and improve transit services to communities with large minority or low-income populations by 61 percent.
Atlanta residents unable to attend the scheduled community forums are encouraged to learn more about the program, review the project list and provide feedback online here.
These are all of the upcoming More MARTA Atlanta community forums:
Aug. 2
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Location: Fort McPherson, 1794 Walker Avenue S.W.*Navigate to 250 Sayers St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 — Enter the Lee St. gate, then follow red arrows to Redevelopment Authority. If your GPS takes you to the Tyler Perry Studios gate next to the MARTA station, DO NOT ENTER, you’ll be turned around. Continue past their entrance to Lee Street.
- Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Joyce M. Sheperd (District 12), Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11), and Cleta Winslow (District 4)
Aug. 9
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Location: MARTA Headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road
- Hosted by: More MARTA Atlanta
Aug. 15
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Location: To be determined
- Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Natalyn Archibong (District 5), Carla Smith (District 1), Amir Farokhi (District 2), and Jennifer Ide (District 6)
Aug. 23
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Location: C.T. Martin Recreation Center (formerly Adamsville Recreation Center), 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive S.W.
- Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone (District 10) and Michael Julian Bond (Post 1 At-Large)