February 4, 2000

Clayton Residents Voice Support For GRTA Bus Plan

A proposal by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to provide bus service to Clayton County received strong support from residents during a series of public hearings over the last two weeks. The four hearings, organized by the Clayton Board of Commissioners, were held at Forest Park, Riverdale, Lovejoy and Clayton International Park. Clayton Commission Chairman Crandle Bray and GRTA Transportation Director Jim Croy explained the proposal, which calls for five bus routes to serve major employment centers in Clayton, including Hartsfield International Airport, Southern Regional Medical Center, Clayton State College and University, and Southlake Mall. The buses would link to MARTA rail stations, and could eventually connect to the proposed commuter rail line that is scheduled to run between Atlanta and Macon, Croy said. Dozens of residents, including senior citizens, teachers and parents, spoke in support of bus service at the hearings. Gene Hatfield, a Clayton State professor who spoke at the International Park hearing on Feb. 3, said buses would help relieve traffic congestion and improve air quality. “Not all of us will use public transportation, but the community as a whole will benefit,” said Hatfield. Robert Woodall, a Clayton resident since 1949, said the county needs to “look to the future, not the past.” CLAYTON BUSES p. 2 A single mother with twin toddlers said she lives in a women’s shelter because the shelter provides transportation to her job. If she were able to catch a bus to work, she said, she could move out of the shelter. Cathy Ratti, a caseworker with the Clayton Department of Family and Children’s Services, said a lack of public transportation is the single biggest obstacle to finding jobs for welfare recipients. Roland Downing, chairman of the Clayton County Development Authority, said public transportation is “a must” if Clayton hopes to attract new industry. Clayton County is currently the largest county in Georgia with no public transportation system. According to studies by the Atlanta Regional Commission, a Clayton bus system would be the most cost-effective transit option that could be implemented in the metro Atlanta area. Under GRTA’s proposal, the federal government would pick up most of the startup cost, paying 80 percent of the three-year, $27 million tab. GRTA would pay 10 percent and Clayton County would contribute 10 percent. Bray said the county could meet its share of that obligation by using business license fees from Hartsfield Airport. Bray assured residents that no property tax increase would be necessary to support the bus system. The four hearings were attended by more than 200 citizens, and about one-third of them submitted written comments on cards that were provided for that purpose. About 60 percent of the cards were in favor of bus service, Clayton officials said. The Clayton Commission is expected to discuss the bus proposal within the next month, Bray said.