By John Ruch
Stepping back from a fiery rebuke of the Atlanta City Council’s call for a “More MARTA” program audit, MARTA leadership now says it will “capitulate” and make the council “satisfied,” pending further talks today with the Mayor’s Office.
“My commitment is, whatever it is they need to feel satisfied, we will provide [to] them,” said Collie Greenwood, the transit agency’s general manager and CEO, under questioning from members of the MARTA Board of Directors’ Audit Committee at a March 23 meeting.
Board chair W. Thomas Worthy echoed Greenwood’s comments that “we are an audit-friendly environment, and we are more than happy to participate in any audit the mayor and his team want to do.” He suggested that MARTA and the City split the cost of hiring an auditing firm neither has used before to ensure “credibility.”
After the meeting, MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher denied that the transit agency was walking back its previous commentary, but confirmed an audit was on the table if the Mayor’s Office wants it.
The council and Mayor Andre Dickens have expressed frustration for months over the lack of progress on transit expansion funded by the 0.5 percent “More MARTA” sales tax approved by voters in 2016. MARTA has repeatedly pared down the list of priority projects and spent millions of the revenue on bus operations.
Earlier this week, the council approved a resolution calling for better transparency on “More MARTA,” including an audit that would be conducted by the City’s Department of Finance at its expense. The resolution was developed in behind-the-scenes conversations with the Mayor’s Office. That audit call was promoted in a March 23 press conference by council President Doug Shipman; District 2 Councilmember Amir Farokhi, who chairs the Transportation Committee, and District 11 Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet.
Shortly before the press conference, MARTA issued a written statement…
Read the full article here