Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority – Page 11

MARTA Ridership Jumps 90 Percent for Final Four

April 10, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — During one of Atlanta’s biggest and most exciting weekends in recent memory, MARTA’s rail ridership spiked dramatically as large numbers of hometown customers and out-of-town visitors skipped the traffic jams and instead chose transit to attend the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and a host of other events. Beginning Friday April 5th when the Final Four events began until after the championship game on Monday, April 8th, MARTA saw an estimated 78 percent increase in rail ridership. During that period, there were about 1,140,000 total rail passenger boardings; about 500,000 more than on average days when no such events

MARTA Pursues New Revenues with Website Advertising Pilot Program

March 19, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA’s website has made its debut in the advertising world. The Authority has launched a 12-month advertising pilot program on www.itsmarta.com to explore a new source of revenue for the transit system. The pilot is estimated to generate around $1,000 to $5,000 per month for MARTA at no cost to the Authority. “The website advertising pilot project provides a great opportunity for us to tap into a new revenue stream,” said MARTA General Manager/CEO Keith T. Parker. “This program is just one of the many ways we are working to develop a more sustainable business model for MARTA

Transit

Atlanta Streetcar Project Reaches Major Milestone with Track Delivery

March 9, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Atlanta Streetcar project reached a key milestone this week with the delivery of the first section of track on Edgewood Avenue. Crews lowered seven sections of rail into the track bed near the intersection of Bell Street and Edgewood Avenue and will continue the installation east along Edgewood Avenue towards Jackson Street. This is the first time in more than 60 years that Atlanta has had streetcar tracks. “Today’s construction activity signifies an important step forward for the Atlanta Streetcar project and underscores the city’s commitment to build a new, world-class transit system that will benefit residents, businesses and

MARTA Signs Contract With New GM/CEO

October 20, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA has signed a contract with its next general manager and chief executive officer. The five-year contract with Keith T. Parker includes a $320,000 base salary with automatic, one-year renewable options. Parker is eligible to receive a $25,000 annuity for each year of his contract if he remains in the post until June 30, 2017, and could also receive compensation for meeting, or exceeding predetermined performance goals set by the MARTA Board. “I am honored and humbled to be selected as MARTA’s next GM/CEO and am eager to begin working with our employees, customers, and transit stakeholders to

Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal in Atlanta moves forward

November 1, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

State and city officials this week announced a $12.2 million public-private partnership to move forward with a Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT) in downtown Atlanta.

Federal Money for Streetcars Formally Presented

October 20, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA – Federal officials formally presented the city of Atlanta with $47.6 million to build a streetcar line.

Congressman, MARTA CEO Talk Transit Funding

May 31, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

DECATUR, Ga. — U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., recently went on a fact-finding transit tour of MARTA with the transit system’s General Manager and CEO.

MARTA Renames ‘Yellow’ Line to Avoid ‘Racially Insensitive’ Perceptions

February 17, 2010 Todd DeFeo

DECATUR, Ga. – MARTA announced that it is changing the name of one of its lines to avoid any perceived “racially insensitive” implications. Members of the Asian community expressed concern about one of the rail system’s lines being renamed the “Yellow” line. In October, MARTA introduced color-coded rail lines – similar to systems in other major cities – saying it will help cut down on rider confusion. With the change, the former Northeast-South Line, which serves Doraville and Chamblee on the Northside, became the Yellow Line. “In light of the concerns that have been expressed regarding the use of the

MARTA Moves to Color-Coded Lines

November 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA last month introduced color-coded rail lines — similar to systems in other major cities — saying it will help cut down on rider confusion. “The changes we’re making in our rail-line identification system will help both frequent and occasional users of our system,” MARTA General Manager Beverly Scott said in a news release. “Our goal is to ensure that customers continue to move safely through the system without feeling overwhelmed.” With the change, the former North-South Line is now the Red Line, the Northeast-South Line is the Yellow Line, the East-West line is the Blue Line and

DOT Presents MARTA With $10.8 Million for Solar Canopies

September 22, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded MARTA with a $10.8 million grant under the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Grant Program. The grant will be used to install energy-efficient solar panels at the Laredo Bus Maintenance Facility in Decatur, Ga., resulting in considerable cost-savings for MARTA and creating much-needed economic opportunities for metro Atlanta, officials said. The TIGGER award represents “a timely and substantial contribution” to MARTA’s sustainability initiatives and continuing commitment to be innovative and cost-effective, MARTA said in a news release. The turnkey project will provide for shade structures with integrated, grid-tied