Atlanta, GA, May 9, 2000-- Concerned about Atlanta’s growing transportation dilemma and the potential negative impact on the African American community, residents from South DeKalb came out for a town hall meeting. The meeting, held at Georgia Perimeter College &endash; South Campus, was organized and chaired by State Senator Connie Stokes and Representative Henrietta Turnquest.

Sen. Stokes explained why the town hall meetings was called. “The purpose of this meeting is to provide South DeKalb residents with the initial goals, objectives, and future transportation plans in the Atlanta region, including those of MARTA and GRTA” states Stokes.

 

Rep. Turnquest registered her concern with the historical treatment of the South DeKalb area. “South DeKalb residents have not been active participants in the Atlanta metropolitan transportation decision-making process. This must change.”

 

 

 

 

The meeting led off with a panel that consisted of Robert Bullard (Clark Atlanta University), Catherine Ross (Georgia Regional Transportation Authority), William Mosley (MARTA Board chair), Arthur Barnes (Georgia Rail Passenger Authority).

 

 

Professor Bullard was the first speaker and set the tone for the meeting. For him, the key questions revolved around accountability, equity, and the distribution of transportation investments. “South DeKalb residents need to follow the transportation dollars. You need to determine if you are getting your fair share of the benefits. The economic divide between North DeKalb and South DeKalb needs to reversed” says Bullard. He urged South DeKalb residents to hold transportation agencies (MARTA, GRTA, ARC, and other government agencies) accountable for developing regional transportation that is inclusive of low-income and people of color communities.

 

Catherine Ross explained that her agency was not a planning agency, but that they do have the power to withhold funding to local governments from the state and federal governments. Currently, GRTA is faced with making a decision on approving the proposed Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Transportation Improvement Program 2001-2003. so discussed the importance of the bus-rail-walk connectivity for Atlanta to have a solid transportation plan. Ross has recently been appointed to the MARTA Board.

 

 

Arthur Barnes, director of the Georgia Rail Passenger Authority, explained that his agency is charged with implementation of a passenger rail system to serve commuters. He explained that this passenger rail system will use existing rail lines within the state of Georgia and a small section of Tennessee and will offer morning, afternoon, and evening peak service. Trains may stop every 10 miles and go out maybe 60 miles. When finished, the system will serve all of Georgia (specifically the cities of Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, Athens, Savannah, and Chattanooga.). He explained that a double deck train system (each carrying 150 people) with 300 or more cars will have a positive impact on air quality and congestion.

MARTA’s board chairman William Mosley began his presentation with glowing praise of the agency. “We should be proud of having a great transit system. MARTA is the best transit system in the country.” Mosely also defended the proposed fare hike. He explained that the fare increase was needed due to a budget shortfall and that the increase will allow them to balance their budget for the next five years. He also stated that the burden of the increase on the transit dependent population was minimized since there will only be a $1 increase in the weekly cards, from $12 to $13. Mosley also announced that a blue ribbon task force, including MARTA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials, has been commissioned to deal with safety issues due to recent accidents.

When asked about future plans for rail in South DeKalb, Mosley responded that the area lacked the type of density such as offices, retail, and apartments necessary to justify a MARTA rail line. He also added that South DeKalb would need to be as dense as the developments along GA 400/Abernathy corridor. There is peak traffic in both directions with people going into town to work and coming out along the GA 400 corridor to work. On the other hand, I-20 is a one-directional freeway.

Harold Buckley, Sr., a DeKalb County MARTA board member, was asked to respond to the density issues. Buckley supported extending MARTA rail to South DeKalb. He states, “DeKalb County has the 2^nd highest population in the state of GA, and more than 50 percent of that population in the county is in South DeKalb. By year 2025, South DeKalb will have over 400,000 people.”

Buckley added that South DeKalb has density but that the area does not have corporate America. He urged the county commission to provide incentives to attract the kind of businesses that will get the densities needed to accommodate rail in the area. He agreed that transit oriented development such as that around Lindberg station is a positive development. He expressed strong concern that residents who have been funding the MARTA system for 25 years should not be sacrificed to have regional transit.

DeKalb County NAACP director John Evans criticized MARTA for proposing to raise its fares. He also objected to the current composition of the MARTA board that has members from counties outside the MARTA Fulton and DeKalb county taxing area. “I would like to see our state legislators take the leadership to remove Gwinnett and Clayton members from the MARTA Board. This equals representation without taxation.” A task force was formed to explore potential legislation. Evans agreed to serve as the chair.

 

 

Jennifer Parker, editor of the South DeKalb Crossroads magazine, expressed the view of many local residents. “You can’t get there on MARTA.” Parker urged the MARTA to concentrate on improving services and take care of its loyal customers.