Letter to the Editor: Petition for More State Funding for MARTA

Dear Cascade Patch:

On Feb. 1, residents from Atlanta will deliver a petition to Douglas R. Hooker, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission and Nathan Deal, Governor of Georgia signed by 3200 people.

The petition was created on the website www.SignOn.org and states, "Transportation is central to metro Atlanta's growth and success. As the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the 18-county Atlanta region, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) develops regional plans and policies to enhance mobility. Among other issues, an aggressive and principled stance in support of adequate state funding of Atlanta public transportation that meets national standards could make a difference for the many people that depend on an affordable MARTA for a decent quality of life."

Atlanta is the only city of its size with no significant state funding for public transportation. Without sufficient funding, MARTA is forced to charge fares that are unaffordable for working people that need public transportation most. We are calling on the Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission Douglas Hooker to aggressively advocate for and find resources to increase funding for MARTA in order to reduce fare expenses for poor and working people in metropolitan Atlanta.

To read the petition go to: http://signon.org/sign/arc-director-hooker-governor

Kwabena "Cubby" Nkromo, Organizer
Grassroots Action Team, South-West
964 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Suite 10
Historic West End - Atlanta, GA 30310
404.604.8781 / future.metro.atl@gmail.com

www.rebuildthedream.com