Atlanta

ATLANTA — The latest economic forecast issued in December 2008 for MARTA by the Georgia State Economic Forecasting Center predicts a further worsening of its current fiscal crisis by an additional $10 million, the transit agency said. The forecast also predicts MARTA will experience a cumulative loss of more than $1.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next ten years – that is up an additional $588 million from its fall 2008 report. “This latest forecast truly underscores the magnitude and severity of the economic times that we are currently dealing with,” said Beverly A. Scott, MARTA General Manager

ATLANTA — MARTA provided service for over 14 million passengers during July – a 13.2 percent jump in ridership over July of last year. Ridership increased across the board for all modes of transportation including increases of 12.9 percent (7.8 million boardings) for rail, 13.6 percent (6.2 million boardings) for bus, and 18.2 percent (37,000) for MARTA’s mobility paratransit service for seniors and disabled customers. “Thanks to rising gas prices, we’ve had a great opportunity to introduce new customers to the system, and we are extremely pleased that more people are taking advantage of the affordable cost and convenience of

ATLANTA — MARTA’s Board of Directors has selected CBS Outdoor Group Inc. to manage the sale and use of advertising space on buses, rail cars, stations, bus shelters and benches. The deal totaling a guaranteed minimum of $60.3 million includes a 15-year contract for bus shelters and benches and a five-year contract for transit advertisements, including rail cars, buses and stations. As part of these contracts, CBS will replace aging bus shelters, implement rigorous cleaning and maintenance programs for advertising venues, and offer new ways for customers to provide feedback, officials said. “At the core of this agreement is an opportunity

ATLANTA — MARTA experienced a significant boost in ridership in FY07 providing service for 147.5 million passenger boardings – 6.6 percent more than the previous fiscal year, officials said. Rail ridership also increased 12.2 percent with 77.7 million passenger boardings.  Thanks to the additional ridership, passenger revenue was also up 3.5 percent contributing to a budget surplus for the second year in a row. “MARTA’s efforts to improve service and to take a more customer focused approach to the way we do business have successfully resulted in an increase in ridership,” said MARTA General Manager Richard McCrillis.  “We are extremely

ATLANTA — MARTA’s new General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Beverly Scott joined the Authority this week after being selected last month by the MARTA Board of Directors. Scott has over 30 years of experience in the transit industry and has held leadership positions at some of the nation’s largest transit agencies. “Dr. Scott brings to the table a wealth of transit experience at an important point in MARTA’s history and a critical time for transportation planning in the region,” said Interim Board Chairman Reverend Walter L. Kimbrough.  “With Dr. Scott’s leadership and vision, we will continue to improve our

ATLANTA — MARTA said that the Authority has achieved an operating budget surplus for the second year in a row – recording $12.1 million in additional revenues for FY07. This marks only the second time in 20 years that MARTA has recorded an operating budget surplus for two consecutive fiscal years. MARTA also ended FY07 with $117.4 million in capital reserves. The capital program funds additions and improvements to infrastructure and supports the Authority’s bonding capacity. “Thanks to a strict fiscal management plan, strategic cost containment measures and improved financial performance in recent years, MARTA has achieved this significant accomplishment,”