ATLANTA, GA, May 26, 2000- The long-awaited vote on the fare increase failed to pass the MARTA board Thursday by one vote. The meeting room, held at MARTA headquarters, was filled with customers whose yellow signs urged the board to "Vote No" on the fare hike. "The five Board members who voted against the proposed fare increases are applauded for allowing for more equitable solutions to be considered. We hope the recommendations we have made are given serious consideration after the board action on Thursday," said Sherrill Marcus, a member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Transportation Equity Coalition.

Weeks earlier, the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University recommended that MARTA in lieu of fare hikes, initiate an aggressive plan to expand rider ship (especially in areas where transit is needed the most), charge for parking, capture all of its fare box revenue, streamline its administrative staff, acquire more state, regional, and federal funding for public transit, and explore the feasibility of a fare reduction. "It is a bit disingenuous for MARTA to present the choices in terms of a fare hike or service cuts. We urge MARTA officials to cease and desist with these scare tactics," said Robert Bullard. The Center has hired Thomas A. Rubin, a nationally-known transportation consultant, to analyze MARTA's budget reports. Rubin's detailed report was submitted to the MARTA Board the day before the vote was taken.

Rubin's findings clearly show that MARTA has adequate funds to increase service in FY 01 and FY 02 without increasing fares. His findings on transit rider ship also support the views expressed by the vast majority of MARTA customers who testified at its May 3 public hearing. "If the objective is to carry more passengers, a fare decrease is likely to be the most productive and cost-effective methodology available by a wide margin," stated Rubin.

MARTA's proposal to cut twenty-seven bus routes (if the fare hike does not take effect) could adversely affect its transit-dependent population, who are disproportionately African American. Because of this, the Center is assembling a legal team to explore the equity and Title VI (Civil Rights Act of 1964) implications of MARTA's actions.

Highlights of the MARTA Board Meeting on the Fare Hike (May 25, 2000)  

	MARTA Board members take a vote on the proposed fare hike. The fare increase failed to pass by one vote.
	T. Jerry Jackson (Commissioner, Georgia Department of Revenue) and Dr. Catherine Ross (Executive Director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority) and one of the newest member of the MARTA Board) confer on the fare hike. Both Jackson and Ross voted for the fare increase.
	State Senator Vincent Fort, who also serves on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Oversight Committee, confers with MARTA Board member Marie Metz. Senator Fort presented his strong opposition to the fare increase during the public comment period.
	Atlanta residents waited more than an hour for the MARTA Board members to show up for the scheduled 1:15 pm meeting. Some people left the meeting to get back to their jobs. Most of the residents walked out of the meeting after the Board refused to place the public comment period before the vote on the fare hike.
	Protesters picketed the MARTA headquarters and voiced their sentiment against increase.
	Some MARTA customers are calling for a fare decrease, not a fare increase.