ATL Board Elects Vice Chair, Approves Title VI Plan and Governing Principles at March Board Meeting

Governing Principles serve as framework to prioritize projects within the ATL’s Regional Transit Plan.

ATLANTA – At its Board Meeting today, the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors moved forward with the election of its Vice Chair, adoption of planning governing principles, amendments to the bylaws and Title VI plan approval.

The Board elected Clayton County Commissioner and District 10 Representative, Felicia Franklin Warner as Vice Chair. “The board is pleased to have Commissioner Franklin-Warner as our vice chair and we look forward to her leadership contributions as we continue to build a strong and effective board,” said Charlie Sutlive, ATL board chair.

The adopted Regional Transit Plan Governing Principles will provide a high-level guide for the performance framework to be used in the evaluation and prioritization of projects within the ATL’s Regional Transit Plan. These principles ensure that the Plan is reflective of the following six key factors: 1) Economic Development and Land Use, 2) Environmental Sustainability, 3) Equity, 4) Innovation, 5) Mobility and Access, and 6) Return on Investment.

The Board amended it Bylaws to require 10 affirmative votes in order to adopt the ATL’s Regional Transit Plan.

“Today’s Board meeting, with the adoption of the regional transit plan governing principles, provided a framework for us to work to prioritize much needed transit projects and improvements throughout the metropolitan Atlanta region”, noted Chris Tomlinson, ATL Interim Executive Director. “Every step that we take as an agency brings us closer to our collective goal of a more seamless and connected transit network that will serve citizens and visitors throughout the region.

The next meeting of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2019.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) to Hold Board Meeting

Board Meeting Scheduled for March 7, 2019, at 7:30 a.m.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) announces its next Board meeting to be held at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 245 Peachtree Center Avenue, Marquis One, Suite 2330, Atlanta, GA 30303.

To view agendas, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us Twitter and Facebook.

ATL Interim Executive Director Chris Tomlinson to Serve as Panelist for Atlanta Press Club

The Newsmaker Luncheon Series will discuss the Future of Transit in the Atlanta Region

ATLANTA – Interim Executive Director of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Chris Tomlinson will serve as one of four panelists for the Atlanta Press Club’s next Newsmaker Luncheon Series held on Monday, March 11, 2019 at The Commerce Club. The panel topic is “The Future of Transit in the Atlanta Region – and How the Gwinnett-MARTA Vote Could Change the Landscape”.

The discussion will focus on the March 19, 2019, referendum on extending MARTA in Gwinnett County, and how the vote may help shape the future of transit in Atlanta. The conversation will include some of the region’s leading voices on transit.

Maria Saporta from the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Saporta Report will moderate the panel. The panelist will include:

  • Doug Hooker, Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission
  • Charlotte Nash, Chair, Gwinnett County Commission & Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) board member
  • Jeff Parker, General Manager and CEO, MARTA
  • Chris Tomlinson, Executive Director, State Road & Tollway Authority (SRTA) and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and Interim Executive Director, Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL)

“We are at a pivotal moment for transit in the Atlanta Region and this panel hosted by The Atlanta Press Club will provide an important opportunity to discuss transit issues that affect our region,” said Chris Tomlinson, ATL Interim Executive Director. “I look forward to joining these dynamic leaders in the metro region to speak on both the challenges and options for solutions surrounding mobility and connectivity.” The luncheon is open to the public. For more information on how to purchase tickets for the event, go to https://atlantapressclub.org/upcoming-events/.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us Twitter and Facebook.

Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority Board Ratifies FY ’19 Budget and Approves Standing Committees at February Meeting

MARTA Also Unveils ATL Branding Implementation

After its morning work session today, the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors met in its first official meeting of 2019 and ratified its FY19 budget in the amount of $4,831,922, adopted standing committees, and approved their 2019 Board Meeting calendar.

“The board is committed to being good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars including leveraging federal funds when possible. An example of this is that a large portion of this budget leverages 80% federal funds,” said Charlie Sutlive, ATL board chair. “With the adoption of our standing committees, these smaller working groups will help us assess the most efficient and effective ways to drive connectivity and mobility therefore enhancing economic development opportunities throughout the region.”

The ATL’s standing committees will consider a wide range of planning, funding, management and policy decisions and provide recommendations to the full board. The Board approved the following standing committees and chairs:

  • Administrative Committee – Earl Ehrhart
  • Marketing and Communications Committee – Mark Toro
  • Regional Technology Committee – Marsha Anderson Bomar
  • Legislative Committee – Charlotte Nash
  • Regional Transit Planning – Charlie Sutlive

Jennifer Jinadu-Wright, Senior Director of Marketing at MARTA also presented the agency’s plan for implementing the ATL brand. Wright revealed that some MARTA buses already have rolled out with the ATL logo co-branded with the MARTA logo and will be also included in their route maps as well.

“Today’s presentation from MARTA further illustrates that regional transit is truly a collaborative process,” noted Chris Tomlinson, ATL Interim Executive Director. “We will continue to work closely with our transit partners to determine how to best incorporate the ATL brand and provide first-class transit service across the Atlanta region.”

The next meeting of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors is scheduled for March 7, 2019.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us Twitter and Facebook.

Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) to Hold Board Meeting

First Work Session and Board Meeting of the New Year

ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) announces its next Board meeting to be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, January 24, 2019, at 245 Peachtree Center Avenue, Suite 2200, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Prior to the Board meeting the ATL Board will hold a Work Session from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

To view agendas visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us Twitter and Facebook.

Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Holds First Board Meeting

Board Adopts Bylaws and New Agency Logo

Microsoft Word – Board Appointments Press Release SRDraft.docx

The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors held its inaugural meeting today beginning the next phase of transit for the region. The 16-member board is comprised of six members appointed by state officials with the remaining members elected by local delegations to represent 10 transit districts across a 13-county region. Board members are a mix of local business leaders and elected officials who will take a renewed look at transit planning and funding to improve coordination, integration and efficiency throughout the region.

State Senator Brandon Beach and State Representative Kevin Tanner, co-authors of HB930, the legislation that created the ATL, attended and provided remarks on this historic occasion.

“This is an important first step in an exciting process to move our region forward,” said State Sen. Brandon Beach, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

State Rep. Kevin Tanner, Chair of the House Transportation Committee added, “We’ve got the right people on the board to foster collaboration across the region to drive connectivity and economic development.”

Under the direction of Chair Charlie Sutlive (appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal) and in coordination with ATL Interim Executive Director Chris Tomlinson, the Board addressed and unanimously approved the following initial action items:

  • Adoption of Bylaws
  • The ATL Board Communications Protocol
  • Authorization to seek Federal Transit Administration Direct Recipient Status
  • 2019 Board Meeting Calendar
  • The ATL Logo and Brand Adoption

“The Board is committed to being inclusive and wants to collaborate with our regional partners and transit riders,” said Charlie Sutlive, ATL Board Chair. “The newly adopted ATL logo was created with a variety of stakeholder input, including qualitative and quantitative research, and a full creative process.”

That research included surveying some 500 transit riders with varying ethnicities, incomes and ridership usage, representing the 13 ATL counties.

The design of the logo resembles both a star and a compass providing clarity and guidance to transit riders. A full description and downloadable version of the design can be found on the ATL website at https://atltransit.wpengine.com/.

“The new design is for agency use and provides a starting point for discussion and future decisions around regional transit branding,” explained Chris Tomlinson, ATL Interim Executive Director. “These decisions will be shaped by future conversations between the ATL board, regional partners and transit stakeholders.”

Office of Communications & Engagement
245 Peachtree Center Avenue, Suite 2200 • Atlanta, GA 30303

Per HB 930, after January 1, 2019, any newly acquired MARTA transit asset worth more than $250,000 must display the ATL brand. The Board will continue to work closely with all regional transit partners to determine how best to incorporate the ATL brand.

The next meeting of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors is scheduled for January 24, 2019.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us Twitter and Facebook.

Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) 16 Member Board Elections Complete

Board Members for the 10 Transit Districts Elected

The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (The ATL) is pleased to announce that elections for the 10 District ATL Board have been completed. The ATL will be governed by a 16-member board— 10 of the 16 members represent 10 different “Transit Districts” that intentionally cross county boundaries. Caucuses comprised of local elected officials and state legislators representing each transit district gathered to elect their respective transit district’s board member. HB930, legislation that created the ATL, prescribes that the individual elected to serve the ATL board must be a resident of that district who possesses significant experience or expertise in a field that would be beneficial to the accomplishment of the function and purpose of the ATL. The following board members were elected:

  • Transit District 1 – Andy Macke, Vice President External Affairs at Comcast Cable, was elected to serve a 2-year term. District 1 includes all Cherokee County, and parts of Forsyth and Fulton Counties. Municipalities included are Alpharetta, Ball Ground, Canton, Cumming, Holly Springs, Milton, Mountain Park, Nelson, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Waleska, and Woodstock.
  • Transit District 2 – Marsha Anderson Bomar, Executive Director of the Gateway85 Community Improvement District, was elected to serve a 4-year term. District 2 includes parts of Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. Municipalities included are Alpharetta, Berkeley Lake, Braselton, Buford, Cumming, Duluth, Johns Creek, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Rest Haven, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Sugar Hill and Suwanee.
  • Transit District 3 – Steve Dickerson, Sc.D., entrepreneur and retired professor, was elected to serve a 2-year term. District 3 includes parts of Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Marietta, Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.
  • Transit District 4 – Todd Ver Steeg, Vice President and part owner of Vermeer Southeast Sales & Service, was elected to serve a 4-year term. District 4 includes parts of Cobb and all of Paulding Counties. Municipalities included are Acworth, Austell, Braswell, Dallas, Hiram, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs and Smyrna
  • Transit District 5 – Tom Weyandt, former transportation policy and planning official, was elected to serve a 2-year term. District 5 includes parts of DeKalb and Fulton Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, College Park, Decatur, Doraville, East Point, Hapeville and Tucker.
  • Transit District 6 – Lawrenceville City Manager Chuck Warbington, P.E., was elected to serve a 4-year term. District 6 includes part of Gwinnett County. Municipalities included are Auburn, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross, Loganville, Snellville and Suwanee.
  • Transit District 7 – Chief Executive Officer of Dekalb County Michael Thurmond was elected to serve a 2-year term. District 7 includes parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties, and all of Rockdale County. Municipalities included are Clarkston, Conyers, Lithonia, Loganville, Pine Lake, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker.
  • Transit District 8 – Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected to serve a 4-year term. District 8 includes parts of Cobb and Fulton and all of Douglas Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Austell, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, Douglasville, East Point, Fairburn, Palmetto, Smyrna, South Fulton, Union City and Villa Rica.
  • Transit District 9 – Howard Mosby, CPA, Vice President of Faculty Contracts Administration in Medical Affairs at Grady Health System, was elected to serve a 2-year term. Mosby will step down from the Georgia House of Representatives before assuming his role on the board. District 9 includes parts of Clayton, DeKalb and Henry Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Decatur, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lake City, Locust Grove, McDonough, Morrow, Riverdale, Stockbridge and Stonecrest.
  • Transit District 10 – Clayton County Commissioner Felicia Franklin Warner was elected to serve a 4-year term. District 10 includes parts of Clayton, Fulton and Henry and all of Coweta and Fayette Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Brooks, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, Fairburn, Fayetteville, Forest Park, Grantville, Hampton, Hampton, Haralson, Jonesboro, Locust Grove, Lovejoy, McDonough, Moreland, Newnan, Palmetto, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Senoia, Sharpsburg, South Fulton, Stockbridge, Turin, Tyrone, Union City and Woolsey.

    All of the elected Board members will join Board Chair Charlie Sutlive (appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal), Teddy Russell and Mark Toro (appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle), and Gwinnett County Commission Chair Charlotte J. Nash (appointed by House Speaker David Ralston) and Earl Ehrhart (appointment effective January 14, 2019, by House Speaker David Ralston), and Georgia

Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry (ex-officio, non-voting member) on The ATL Board.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly—projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region.

###

First Two Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board Elections Held This Week 

Georgia State Representative Howard Mosby and Dr. Steve Dickerson elected to represent Districts 9 and 3 Respectively

The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (The ATL) is pleased to announce that two of the 10 elections for the ATL Board were held this week electing members to represent Transit Districts 9 and 3. The ATL will be governed by a 16-member board—10 of the 16 members represent 10 different “Transit Districts” that intentionally cross county boundaries. Caucuses comprised of local elected officials and State legislators representing each transit district gathered to elect their respective transit district’s board member. HB930 prescribes that the individual elected to serve the ATL board must be a resident of that district who possesses significant experience or expertise in a field that would be beneficial to the accomplishment of the function and purpose of the ATL.

The first election held was for Transit District 9 and took place on Tuesday, October 23rd. State Representative Howard Mosby was elected to serve a 2-year term. Mosby will step down from the Georgia House of Representatives before assuming his role on the board. District 9 includes parts of Clayton, DeKalb and Henry Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Decatur, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lake City, Locust Grove, McDonough, Morrow, Riverdale, Stockbridge, and Stonecrest. Transit Operators servicing District 9 are MARTA and Xpress.

The second election held was for Transit District 3 on Wednesday, October 24th. Steve Dickerson, Sc.D. was elected to serve a 2-year term. District 3 includes parts of Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. Municipalities included are Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Marietta, Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs, Smyrna. Transit Operators servicing District 3 are CobbLinc, MARTA, and Xpress.

Representative Mosby and Dr. Dickerson will join Board Chairman Charlie Sutlive (appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal), Teddy Russell and Mark Toro (appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle), and Chairwoman Charlotte J. Nash and Rep. Earl Ehrhart (appointed by House Speaker David Ralston) on the ATL Board.

The next scheduled election is Transit District 4 which will be held October 30th at the Cobb County Civic Center located at 548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta, Georgia at 4:00 p.m. District 4 includes parts of Cobb and all of Paulding County. Municipalities included are Acworth, Austell, Braswell, Dallas, Hiram, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs, and Smyrna. Transit Operators servicing District 4 are CobbLinc, MARTA, and Xpress.

For more information on ATL Board elections, please visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/. Elections dates and locations are posted as they are scheduled on the ATL website under “upcoming events” and are open to the public.

About Representative Howard Mosby

Mosby is the Vice President of Faculty Contracts Administration in Medical Affairs at Grady Health System. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002 and will conclude his service as a member of the General Assembly in December 2018. As a member of the House, Mosby served on the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Health of Human Services Committee, and the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Mosby’s legislative initiatives include legislation to increase access to healthcare by the underserved and uninsured populations of Georgia, child endangerment legislation, property tax reductions, predatory lending legislation, and strengthening code enforcement laws. He is the Chairman of the Dekalb House Delegation to the General Assembly. Mosby serves as Chair of the 1st Choice Credit Union Board of Directors. He received an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Georgia Perimeter College, formerly Dekalb College and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Georgia State University. Mosby is a Georgia licensed Certified Public Accountant.

About Steve Dickerson, Sc.D.

Dr. Dickerson served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech until his retirement in 1996. In 2005 he became an Honorary Alumnus of Georgia Tech. His primary areas of expertise include Urban transportation, automation, and advanced manufacturing. Dr. Dickerson’s specific research projects have led to the founding of various companies. Examples include: DVT

Corporation which revolutionized machine vision and was sold for over $100 M in 2005; CAMotion, Inc. made breakthroughs in light-weight, high performance robotics and sold to PaR Automation in 2014 where sales are now approximately $15M/year; RideCell uses advanced communications and computing to support urban transportation, is growing rapidly, and now based in San Francisco; and SoftWear Automation Inc. should enable the return of garment cutting and sewing to the USA. He holds several patents concerning these technologies. Dr. Dickerson received his Doctor of Science degree from MIT, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from Berkeley, and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from IIT.

About the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The ATL was established by HB 930 to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing a Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. The population of metro Atlanta is growing rapidly — projected to add an additional 2.5 million residents by 2040. The ATL is a critical step towards more efficient and effective transit and mobility in the region. For more information on The ATL, visit https://atltransit.wpengine.com/ and follow us Twitter and Facebook.

  • Media Inquiries
  • General Questions
  • Title VI Contact
  • HELPFUL LINKS