Comments on: What Will Georgia Do With Transit Money?

By: Decaturguy

Decaturguy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:48:10 +0000

Ya’ll are probably right, but I’d expect to see some money shifted around (maybe legislators would be more willing to allow MARTA to use more of its sales tax revenue to cover operating expenses) now that they’re getting this cash from the Feds.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:27:34 +0000

The grants are most likely for capital projects, not for operating expenses.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:12:06 +0000

Thanks Decaturguy, you’re obviously correct…forgot to include a little blurb on MARTA. Though I wasn’t sure whether these mass transit grants could be used to cover expenses.

Maybe Lain, maybe. It doesn’t seem like anyone has a clear idea about whether this new state transportation entity would be any better than the old GDOT. While many would usually see something like this as a power grab by the governor, in this case the GDOT is such a joke, people are willing to give anything a chance.

By: Lain

Lain — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:01:36 +0000

Maybe they’ll just let it rot along with the federal dollars that’ve been earmarked for the Lovejoy commuter rail.

By: Decaturguy

Decaturguy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:27:19 +0000

But what I’m curious about this morning is what will our favorite Georgia politicians do with the $168 million in mass transit grants it will receive from the Fed? The city of Atlanta has asked for $121 million to build two street car lines and $18 million for light rail along the Beltline Trail, while Athens, Macon and Hinesburg all want a smaller piece so they can pimp their bus services.

Well, don’t forget MARTA is $60 million in the hole. I would think before any new projects, this would need to be covered first, unfortunately.