Replacing a sales tax with a on rides for hire is a top priority in the General Assembly as lawmakers this month, two key lawmakers say.The chairmen of the Senate and House transportation committees say continuing the work of a also will be on the agenda when lawmakers reconvene. But most of the attention will be on amid severe economic distress — a move the lawmakers hope will not affect major road construction projects."I can tell you our focus will be on one thing: getting the budget done," , R-Alpharetta, told a business group, the Council for Quality Growth, in a teleconference Tuesday...…Replacing a sales tax with a on rides for hire is a top priority in the General Assembly as lawmakers this month, two key lawmakers say.The chairmen of the Senate and House transportation committees say continuing the work of a also will be on the agenda when lawmakers reconvene. But most of the attention will be on amid severe economic distress — a move the lawmakers hope will not affect major road construction projects."I can tell you our focus will be on one thing: getting the budget done," , R-Alpharetta, told a business group, the Council for Quality Growth, in a teleconference Tuesday...WW…

MARTA is seeking public comment on a proposed transit line along Campbellton Road in southwest Atlanta.The agency has proposed a  from Greenbriar Mall to MARTA's Oakland City station, though it's also considering bus rapid transit in the corridor. As part of its study of the corridor, MARTA is conducting an online survey at . You can take the survey through June 12.The project is included in a proposed  in Atlanta. The expansion was made possible when city voters approved a half-penny sales tax for transit expansion in 2016.For more information on the Campbellton Road...…MARTA is seeking public comment on a proposed transit line along Campbellton Road in southwest Atlanta.The agency has proposed a  from Greenbriar Mall to MARTA's Oakland City station, though it's also considering bus rapid transit in the corridor. As part of its study of the corridor, MARTA is conducting an online survey at . You can take the survey through June 12.The project is included in a proposed  in Atlanta. The expansion was made possible when city voters approved a half-penny sales tax for transit expansion in 2016.For more information on the Campbellton Road...WW…

As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , local transit systems have been reluctant to require passengers to wear masks as the region slowly reopens amid the .But at least one agency may be changing its mind.On Thursday CEO Jeffrey Parker told the MARTA Board of Directors the agency is studying ways to enforce a mask requirement. He offered no timetable or even a promise that masks would be required. But Parker made clear the issue “is going to be critical to our future.”“We believe about 35 percent of customers are wearing masks right now,” he said. “We need that significantly higher, maybe in...…As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , local transit systems have been reluctant to require passengers to wear masks as the region slowly reopens amid the .But at least one agency may be changing its mind.On Thursday CEO Jeffrey Parker told the MARTA Board of Directors the agency is studying ways to enforce a mask requirement. He offered no timetable or even a promise that masks would be required. But Parker made clear the issue “is going to be critical to our future.”“We believe about 35 percent of customers are wearing masks right now,” he said. “We need that significantly higher, maybe in...WW…

Gwinnett County transit workers are threatening to walk off the job Thursday over fear for their safety amid the  — even as a second metro Atlanta transit worker has died.In a Monday letter to the transportation company Transdev, which operates the Gwinnett County Transit service, the employee union cited unsafe working conditions and a lack of adequate protective equipment for bus drivers.Among other things, the union says bus drivers want clear shields to separate drivers from passengers, and they want the transit system to require passengers to wear masks. The union also says proper...…Gwinnett County transit workers are threatening to walk off the job Thursday over fear for their safety amid the  — even as a second metro Atlanta transit worker has died.In a Monday letter to the transportation company Transdev, which operates the Gwinnett County Transit service, the employee union cited unsafe working conditions and a lack of adequate protective equipment for bus drivers.Among other things, the union says bus drivers want clear shields to separate drivers from passengers, and they want the transit system to require passengers to wear masks. The union also says proper...WW…

A community activist is pressing MARTA to restore dozens of bus routes it eliminated because of the – and he's taking his case to court.DeKalb County resident Ed Williams has asked a Fulton County Superior Court judge to order the transit agency to restore 70 bus routes it to promote social distancing and focus service on key corridors. Williams also has filed a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration, saying MARTA's actions were illegal and disproportionately affected minority customers.MARTA says the complaints are without merit. The agency already has restored several bus...…A community activist is pressing MARTA to restore dozens of bus routes it eliminated because of the – and he's taking his case to court.DeKalb County resident Ed Williams has asked a Fulton County Superior Court judge to order the transit agency to restore 70 bus routes it to promote social distancing and focus service on key corridors. Williams also has filed a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration, saying MARTA's actions were illegal and disproportionately affected minority customers.MARTA says the complaints are without merit. The agency already has restored several bus...WW…

MARTA says it will require passengers to wear masks on trains and buses amid the .The agency expects to announce details of its policy Monday. The move comes as  and other cities in MARTA's service area have issued orders requiring masks to be worn in public amid the pandemic.Late Friday the agency issues a statement saying it will incorporate enforcement of a mask requirement into its “ride with respect” policy. The policy will apply throughout the MARTA system – not just in the cities that have required masks in public.“Customers will have every opportunity to comply but...…MARTA says it will require passengers to wear masks on trains and buses amid the .The agency expects to announce details of its policy Monday. The move comes as  and other cities in MARTA's service area have issued orders requiring masks to be worn in public amid the pandemic.Late Friday the agency issues a statement saying it will incorporate enforcement of a mask requirement into its “ride with respect” policy. The policy will apply throughout the MARTA system – not just in the cities that have required masks in public.“Customers will have every opportunity to comply but...WW…

MARTA will begin distributing up to two million disposable masks to customers Monday as it seeks to protect passengers during the .The agency will give away masks from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekdays at its transit stations across metro Atlanta. It will consider expanding the distribution to weeknights and weekends based on ridership demand, MARTA said in announcing the move Friday.But the agency stopped short of requiring masks to board MARTA trains and buses.“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have instituted safety precautions and new cleaning protocols in order to continue providing...…MARTA will begin distributing up to two million disposable masks to customers Monday as it seeks to protect passengers during the .The agency will give away masks from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekdays at its transit stations across metro Atlanta. It will consider expanding the distribution to weeknights and weekends based on ridership demand, MARTA said in announcing the move Friday.But the agency stopped short of requiring masks to board MARTA trains and buses.“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have instituted safety precautions and new cleaning protocols in order to continue providing...WW…

MARTA said it will not enforce that residents wear masks in public as COVID-19 cases continue to .The regional transit agency will educate passengers about the city's requirement – contained in an executive order signed by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms late Wednesday – by making announcements on buses and trains. But CEO Jeffrey Parker told the MARTA Board he does not want to provoke confrontations between employees and passengers over an issue that has become .“I’m very hesitant to put our front-line employees, particularly bus operators, in a clear conflict with people,” Parker told the...…MARTA said it will not enforce that residents wear masks in public as COVID-19 cases continue to .The regional transit agency will educate passengers about the city's requirement – contained in an executive order signed by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms late Wednesday – by making announcements on buses and trains. But CEO Jeffrey Parker told the MARTA Board he does not want to provoke confrontations between employees and passengers over an issue that has become .“I’m very hesitant to put our front-line employees, particularly bus operators, in a clear conflict with people,” Parker told the...WW…

A federal bailout of transit agencies amid the will plug a big hole in MARTA's budget next year, but the agency's long-term financial picture is more precarious.MARTA has proposed a $558 million operating budget for fiscal 2021, which begins in July. It includes no layoffs, no furloughs and — for now — no fare increase. But MARTA will use $150 million in to balance the budget.When the federal money runs out in two years, the agency expects significant deficits brought on by the pandemic and what could be a prolonged economic recession and recovery. Nonetheless, CEO Jeffrey Parker told the...…A federal bailout of transit agencies amid the will plug a big hole in MARTA's budget next year, but the agency's long-term financial picture is more precarious.MARTA has proposed a $558 million operating budget for fiscal 2021, which begins in July. It includes no layoffs, no furloughs and — for now — no fare increase. But MARTA will use $150 million in to balance the budget.When the federal money runs out in two years, the agency expects significant deficits brought on by the pandemic and what could be a prolonged economic recession and recovery. Nonetheless, CEO Jeffrey Parker told the...WW…

Primary election day in Georgia arrived Tuesday as voters braced for  and social distancing at the polls.It will be a unique election held amid the coronavirus pandemic.Here are minute-by-minute updates on Tuesday’s election from AJC reporters and photographers on the scene:10:15 p.m. update: After a tumultuous and contentious day, metro Atlanta polling places are officially closed.Human error or mechanical problems plagued many polling places. At some, hundreds of voters waited to cast their ballot – some for hours. State and local officials traded blame for what some deemed a...…Primary election day in Georgia arrived Tuesday as voters braced for  and social distancing at the polls.It will be a unique election held amid the coronavirus pandemic.Here are minute-by-minute updates on Tuesday’s election from AJC reporters and photographers on the scene:10:15 p.m. update: After a tumultuous and contentious day, metro Atlanta polling places are officially closed.Human error or mechanical problems plagued many polling places. At some, hundreds of voters waited to cast their ballot – some for hours. State and local officials traded blame for what some deemed a...WW…