I do think Dr. Scott is doing a respectable job considering her credentials and what limitations / challenges she faces in running MARTA.

Though MARTA’s ridership has indeed increased meaningfully over the past year and a half, their sales tax yields have declined with the economy. This is the main source of their funding and a Georgia State University study forecasts an additional $10.8 shortfall over what MARTA itself had forecast. This is expected to continue its decline trend over the next decade with sales tax revenues stabilizing in 2012. http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/08/10/daily57.html

SO: To say that they’re doing quite well is actually true and false. They’ve done well to maintain their services on what they’ve been handed in many respects. They have also failed to adequately maintain their buses, rail stations, appearance of their facilities, etc. because they are hoarding their Capital reserves in the event that they can use it for operating expenses. Only recently have the Fort McPherson station’s unsightly issues begun to be addressed – and there are other stations, etc.

As a transit advocate and someone who uses all of Atlanta’s regional transit services, I can say that I am extremely supportive of MARTA. They are the contracted provider to CTRAN in Clayton County where I ride to the airport, transfer to rail and then ride to work at Peachtree Center Station. I use MARTA and GCT to hit Mall of Georgia and Discover Mills. When I must work at Cobb Galleria, I take the MARTA to Cumberland Mall.

I think MARTA needs to be realized for how vital it is to Metropolitan Atlanta. I stand beside my opinion: MARTA is destined for failure unless new mechanisms and funding are put into place.

This state needs political will and initiative, a clear vision and strategy, and needs to recognize that fixing the problems would be far better than not.

Unfortunately, MARTA is ailing. It simply cannot afford to do diddly squat in terms of ANYTHING.

I am of the belief that MARTA will continue to struggle while it attempts to both redefine who it is and to maintain any shred of fiscal solvency. Ultimately, I think MARTA will undergo a full-blown meltdown, forcing it to renegotiate dramatic terms with union employees and to tremendously reduce service.

Either that or the state will recognize that something must finally be done to reign in its whopping absence in Georgia’s transit options. Parallel tunnels and elevated toll lanes throughout the region are hardly the solutions the entire region desperately needs.

The state would be forced to play its hand and buy out MARTA from the stakeholders somehow. Or they could just let it completely fall down and die. Maybe it will be deferred collapse by some sort of Fulton/Dekalb/Atlanta funding miracle, much like the stimulus was?

I wonder how much of an impact that would really have on Atlanta.

IIRC, a North Springs – Windward/Alpharetta/Roswell train line would still have to cross the river, which would require a bridge and several years of ‘environmental study’.