ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has received an AAA credit rating, the highest rating issued, from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
AAA-rated bonds have a high degree of creditworthiness and illustrate MARTA’s ability to easily meet its financial commitments with the lowest risk of default.
“This exceptional credit rating from both S&P and Kroll reflects MARTA’s strong fiscal management and is further proof that sales tax revenue is expanding due to the growth in this region. An AAA rating underscores the strength of our long-term revenue growth, substantial and growing reserve balances, and shows we are well-positioned to increase our competitiveness for federal funding and meet the expansion commitments made to our jurisdictional partners,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood.
In fiscal year 2022, MARTA’s sales tax revenues reached an all-time high of $665 million, and sales tax revenues for the first six months of fiscal 2023 are up 9.1 percent year-over-year and forecasted to be $708.4 million. MARTA reported a $729 million reserve balance for fiscal year end 2022, and ten consecutive years of operating surpluses.
