The MARTA Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday for Richard J. McCrillis to serve as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer. McCrillis was selected through a rigorous national search process conducted by the Board and has served as the Interim General Manager/CEO since January.

As Interim GM/CEO, McCrillis maintained MARTA's financial stability and led the Authority to end its 2006 fiscal year with an operating surplus for the first time in nearly a decade. He also assumed oversight of MARTA's transition to an all smart-card fare collection system and the overhaul of the Authority's 238 oldest rail cars — two projects critical to the future success of the transit agency — as well as programs to upgrade trackway, improve communications systems, and streamline business processes. He is an active participant in the newly formed Transit Planning Board, which has been charged with formulating a plan for delivering and sustaining public transportation that will meet the metro Atlanta region's ever growing needs.

Prior to becoming Interim GM/CEO, McCrillis held leadership roles at MARTA including Treasurer (1985 - 1993), Assistant General Manager for Audit (1993 - 2002) and Assistant General Manager for Finance/Chief Financial Officer (2002 - 2005). He is recognized throughout the transit industry for his financial expertise.

McCrillis received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of New Hampshire. He and his wife, Rosa, have three grown children.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) General Manager Richard McCrillis has proposed a $13.7 million mid-year budget adjustment focused on improving cleanliness, customer service, safety, reliability and service delivery. The proposal will be presented in public hearings for input before being voted on by the Board of Directors.

MARTA ended its 2006 fiscal year with an $18.5 million budget surplus, which has given the Authority the opportunity to consider a number of service improvements as well as bolster its operating reserves. The proposed budget adjustment includes:

System cleanliness & customer service improvements ($3.2 million)

• Additional phone representatives in call center.
• Improved maps and area information in stations.
• Additional track and rail car cleaning staff.
• Additional station maintenance staff.
• Replacement of worn carpet in oldest rail cars.

Reliability and safety initiatives ($2.6 million)

• Improved lighting in stations.
• Additional staff to answer emergency and station information phones.
• Additional rail maintenance staff at South Yard to get trains back into service faster.
• More resources dedicated to the repair of rail car and rail station public address systems.
• Additional programs to increase proactive maintenance of rail cars and tracks.

Service delivery improvements ($8 million)

• Additional paratransit operators.
• Expansion of evening service on Proctor Creek Line running to Candler Park until 9 p.m.
• Implement improvements in December to address overcrowding, schedule adherence and customer convenience on 42 bus routes with additional changes planned for April 2007.

Public Hearings
Monday, October 16, 2006 7:00 p.m.
College Park Public Safety Complex
3717 College St.
College Park, GA 30337
Riding MARTA: Bus Route 72 and 320 from College Park Station or exit station to west side, cross RR tracks to Harvard Ave. and walk one block west to College Street.

North Fulton Service Center
7741 Roswell Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30350
Riding MARTA: Bus Route 87 from the Dunwoody or North Springs Stations.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta City Hall Council Chambers
55 Trinity Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Riding MARTA: Bus Routes 21, 49, 55, 97, 100 and a special shuttle service from Five Points Station.

DeKalb Maloof Auditorium
1300 Commerce Dr.
Decatur, GA 30030
Riding MARTA: Walk one block west of Decatur Station.

Breeze equipment is fully installed in all rail stations and buses, and Breeze Cards will be available to customers in the next few weeks. Customers can order a free Breeze Card online at www.breezecard.com or pickup an order form from RideStores or Customer Service Representatives stationed throughout the system.

The Breeze Card can be used for up to four years and provides a variety of convenient features including balance protection, reloading capabilities, Web services and more convenient fare programs. The Breeze ticket, which expires 90 days from purchase, does not offer these special features.

Free Breeze Cards will be available for at least six months, when customers sign up for balance protection, which ensures that the value on the card is secure if the card is ever lost or stolen.

For more information about Breeze, please visit www.breezecard.com or call 404-848-5000.

Former Mayor Sam Massell had an idea — bringing one-bus service back to Atlanta's most famous thoroughfare, Peachtree Street. On October 14th, that idea will become reality with The Peach (MARTA Route 110), which for the first time in nearly 30 years, will allow customers to travel from Lenox Mall to the State Capitol in a single vehicle.

With support from the MARTA Board of Directors and numerous business and community leaders, The Peach will allow residents and visitors alike to easily take advantage of all that Peachtree Street has to offer. Today, two separate bus routes travel Peachtree, requiring customers to either transfer between buses or use MARTA's underground rail system to reach their destination. The Peach will offer above-ground service with more frequent stops, many at the doorstep of some of the city's most popular and historic locations.

The Peach (Route 110) will feature specially designed buses and run every 30 minutes between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., seven days a week. Fare is $1.75, which includes transfers to MARTA rail or bus. Customers can also purchase unlimited weekend, weekly and monthly passes to use on The Peach or any other MARTA bus and rail service.

The Peach (Route 110) will replace the existing Route 10, which currently travels a more limited distance between the State Capitol and Arts Center. Bus Route 23, which connects the Arts Center and Lenox rail stations, will continue with its current route and be enhanced with a stop at Atlantic Station.

Organizations and individuals working with MARTA to successfully implement The Peach include the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Development Authority, Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association, Buckhead Coalition, Central Atlanta Progress, City of Atlanta, Cousins Properties, DeKalb County, The Honorable Eldrin Bell, Fulton County, Midtown Alliance and The Peach Shopping Center.

It's a breeze to get to weekend events on MARTA by purchasing two one-way Breeze tickets at the beginning of your trip. Pre-purchasing the return fare will help customers to conveniently enter and exit the rail station and avoid long lines.

Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA parking facilities. MARTA will have additional staff and trains available throughout the weekend to assist customers.

For more information, please visit www.itsmarta.com or call 404-848-5000.

September 29th to October 1st

Atlanta Braves
Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
Turner Field
Ride the train to Five Points Station to catch the shuttle from Underground/World of Coca-Cola or take the short walk from the Georgia State Station.

Atlanta Thrashers
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Philips Arena
Take the East/West line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station.

Atlanta Football Classic Band Jamboree
Friday, 8:00 p.m.
Georgia Dome
Take the East/West line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Vine City Stations.

National Black MBA Association Conference
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
Georgia World Congress Center
Take the East/West line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station.

Atlanta Football Classic Parade
Saturday 10 a.m.
Downtown
Ride the train to Peachtree Center, Five Points or the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Stations for access to the parade route.

Atlanta Football Classic Game
Saturday 3 p.m.
Georgia Dome
Take the East/West line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Vine City Stations.

Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
Georgia Dome
Take the East/West line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Vine City Stations.