MARTA Surveying Residents on Expanded Transit Service in Atlanta

MARTA has launched an online survey inviting Atlanta residents to weigh in on potential new transit projects, from bus service and BRT to heavy and light rail.

The new services would be funded by a 0.5-percent sales tax increase, overwhelmingly approved by city voters in November, that is expected to raise $2.5 to $3.5 billion for the agency over several decades.

Meanwhile, the state Assembly is considering selling off state-owned railroad tracks that MARTA and transit advocates have eyed for a potential future expansion to Cobb County.

No specific plans have been made for an expansion, but converting the 137 miles of existing freight lines to heavy rail transit could be billions of dollars cheaper than building a new line to the county in the future.