Duluth, GA — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07) announced that the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will receive a $1.75 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Program (RIAP). This funding was requested by McBath in a letter of support to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in May of this year.
“Once again, the historic federal investments made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are delivering results to the Metro Atlanta region,” McBath said. “MARTA is working hard to deliver quality transit combined with robust transit-oriented development to build stronger communities. This funding will ultimately enhance access to affordable housing and good-paying jobs while propelling economic mobility for my constituents. I was proud to support MARTA’s grant application and champion the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I look forward to seeing our community reap the benefits of this federal award.”
“MARTA is grateful for Rep. McBath’s support in securing this accelerator grant,” said MARTA General Manager & CEO Collie Greenwood. “I’m thrilled that MARTA will now be able to form a dedicated team to work alongside the traditional funding teams to coordinate with regional partners and USDOT to solve funding gaps for transit and TOD projects.”
MARTA is the 12th largest public transit system operating in the 12th fastest growing metropolitan statistical area in the nation. Their successful grant application was one of 14 new awards resulting from the spring solicitation for RIAP applications. In total, 24 accelerators are receiving $24 million in new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.The RIAP was originally created by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act and is designed to inform future work by measuring how different regional models can expedite the development and delivery of transportation projects. The program is part of the federal Thriving Communities Network, which is an interagency effort to coordinate technical assistance, planning, and implementation support to ensure infrastructure investments funding by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act create long-term benefits nationwide.