MARTA and Cobb County receive $27.3M to upgrade bus fleets

Atlanta, USA - April 20, 2018: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Marta subway train public transportation on overpass outside

Georgia transit agencies receive $27M to modernize bus fleets

Two transit authorities in Georgia have been awarded multimillion dollar grants from the Federal Transit Administration to improve transit infrastructure in the state.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Cobb County will receive a total of $27.3 million to replace older buses.

The investment is part of a larger transit project to modernize America’s transit bus infrastructure, according to a news release. The $2 billion investment will go to 165 transit projects in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

“Delivering new and improved bus infrastructure is yet another example of how America is building again under President Trump,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, in the release. “Whether it’s to church, school, or work, more people travel by bus than any other form of public transportation. With these grants, thousands of new buses will hit the road and infrastructure will be upgraded—making public transit more efficient, affordable and safe for American families.”

MARTA plans to purchase 30 new, American-made buses to replace older vehicles, which have reached the end of their useful life, according to an Instagram post. The Atlanta transit authority will receive a total of $20.7 million.

The Cumberland Community Improvement District and Cobb County are set to receive $6,632,101 to buy new autonomous vehicles to replace older buses. The project is the first autonomous transit project in the state and the first in the nation to receive a Low-No grant award from the FTA, according to a news release.

“This investment… marks one of the greatest chapters in our history, making a major component of the Cumberland Sweep a reality,” said Kim Menefee, executive director of the Cumberland CID, in the release. “Soon, people will have a new, innovative way to move around the community using some of the most advanced mobility technology in the world. I am proud of how the Cumberland CID and our partners continue to innovate, leading the way for shared autonomous mobility.”