Add It Up: It’s smarter, it’s working, but it’s hurting
June 15, 2008 at 5:07 am by Thomas Wheatley in Add it upMARTA’s current budget deficit: $43 million
Number of positions MARTA plans to eliminate because of deficit: 180
Number of these 180 positions that are currently vacant: 130
Number of future MARTA newly created station-agent positions being offered to newly laid-off MARTA employees: 50
Amount by which MARTA’s revenue from local sales taxes was below expectations during first-quarter of 2008: $6.9 million
Amount MARTA spent on fuel last year: $13.4 million
Amount MARTA expects to spend on fuel this year: $17.6 million
Number of trips MARTA passengers took in April 2007: 11,999,867
Number of trips MARTA passengers took in April 2008: 12,800,276
Amount MARTA contributes to Atlanta’s gross regional product: $476 million
Amount state contributed this year to MARTA needs: 0
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, MARTA, GeorgiaGasPrices.com, Mass Transit Magazine, Creative Loafing
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June 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I wonder what local politician or MARTA “spokesperson” has the heart to tell seniors who feel “preyed upon” on MARTA (the ones who say the MARTA Soulja Gal caught-on-tape incident was no isolated event) that they’re never gonna get any extra MARTA police patrol on the trains. Ever. But hey, there’s that handy-dandy call button on each car! Make sure your gran sits right under one when she’s coming home from work on a dark and scary night.
June 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I\\\’m sure they could hire more police if they received any money from the state.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Roxie,
A small part of MARTA’s security funding, if I recall correctly, comes from the federal government. I remember this because in February President Bush wanted $225 million less for public transportation security funding than Congress had appropriated. The state does contribute a tiny amount to MARTA — roughly $1.9 million or less than 2 percent of its revenues — in the form of state grants. But these do not cover the costs of actually operating the system. Georgia’s basically alone in that regard.
It’s worth noting that in the recently approved 2009 MARTA budget, the transit agency has slashed five police positions. I’ll check on that Monday morning.