City Council approves transfer of Atlanta Streetcar to MARTA

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council approved plans to turn the city’s streetcar line, including its operations, staffing, maintenance, and other functions, over to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) beginning next year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The $99 million streetcar opened in December 2014 amid sky-high expectations, but ridership failed to meet expectations in its first year and plummeted nearly 60% after the city began charging $1 to ride.

MARTA said it will pay for streetcar operations with proceeds from the half-penny sales tax approved by Atlanta voters in November. For the full story, click here.