The Transit Riders' Plan for Regional Transit in Atlanta
Current and proposed transit projects are not meeting, and will not meet, the needs of the growing transit dependent population. Limited parts of the Atlanta metropolitan area are adequately served by transit; even areas with transit have infrequent and unreliable service. Atlanta is changing: affordable housing and jobs are growing in the suburbs. Regional transit is a necessity!
Unfortunately, the transit projects in the current Regional Transportation Plan, Envision6, in part due to the emphasis on congestion mitigation, do very little to increase transit accessibility. Even if Envision6 manages to reduce congestion, low-income households, a majority of which are people of color, the elderly, and people with disabilities, will continue to face considerable transportation challenges.
Atlanta is a tale of two cities: the Atlantans who complain about traffic and the Atlantans who complain about MARTA. As Atlanta tackles the creation of regional transit, it must be careful not to turn into a tale of two transit systems with segregated transit that continues its segregated land use. The Transit Riders’ Union envisions a transit system that serves the needs of dependent transit riders, is adequately funded but not at the expense of low-income people, and is accountable to the riders, workers, and people who pay for the system.
Download a full copy of the TRU plan and join us in making sure the voices of dependent transit riders and transit workers are heard in the regional transit planning process!
Dr. Robert Bullard of Clark Atlanta University and Rev. Timothy McDonald of First Iconium Baptist Church speak at the TRU Press Conference, April 29, 2008.