How do we organize the region’s transit systems in a manner that encourages riders to make use of the entire network of public transportation options? The consolidation of historic private transit companies into semi-public agencies happened long ago in the northeast, but here in Atlanta the agencies are not as old and grew up as small, individual entities contributing to the network.
The Transit Governance Final Report was just published last month which proposes a methodology for regional transit consolidation under a state agency (probably GDOT). The Joint Transit Governance Study Commission was founded last year to examine the development of a regional transit governing authority (like MTA or Metro). It is comprised of local and state elected officials, transit agency leadership and regional planning entities. The report is just an executive summary but it provides several major findings including the clear goal of a unified agency, the need for state involvement, the local representation that would be required since funding comes from local sources, and the future need for legislative action to bring this project to the region.
Take a look and let us know what you think!
James — I just stumbled upon this blog looking for documents relating to transit governance. I was searching for the exact document you posted only to find that you already had it stored away in the dropbox!
Coincidences aside, I wonder what the chances are that the “future legislation” (a referendum perhaps) will make it out of (or even into) the General Assembly in 2012.