After 22 years of service, MARTA's General Manager Richard McCrillis will retire at the end of October leaving a legacy of fiscal responsibility, customer-focused service planning and regional transportation development. Regarded throughout the transit industry for his financial expertise, McCrillis has made significant strides to shore up MARTA's finances and implement improvements to offer better service to customers. Thanks to his leadership and vision, the Authority has achieved many accomplishments over the years including:

• Significant reinvestments into enhancing the quality of service to customers and sustaining upgrades and maintenance to the system.
• Back to back operating budget surpluses for the first time in 20 years.
• An overhaul of MARTA's paratransit service, MARTA Mobility, to improve convenience, accessibility and reliability of service to customers.
• Successful conversion to Breeze, the first entirely smart-card fare collection system to be installed at a transit system in North America.
• Approval for the extension of the one cent sales tax to 2047 — enabling the Authority to sustain system improvements and plan for future service extensions.
• Serving an integral role on the Transit Planning Board (TPB) and establishing MARTA as a financially stable, successful company that has the skill and infrastructure to be the core of Atlanta's regional transportation system.
• Pioneering the use of fuel hedging in the transit industry — a program that helped to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs to the Authority.
• Implementation of an innovative structure to protect MARTA against the slipping value of the dollar against the yen while under contract with Hitachi for delivery of 120 rail cars.

McCrillis began serving as interim General Manager and Chief Executive Officer in January 2006 and was appointed GM/CEO in September 2006. Prior to becoming GM/CEO, McCrillis held leadership roles including Treasurer (1985 — 1993), Assistant General Manager for Audit (1993 — 2002) and Assistant General Manager for Finance/Chief Financial Officer (2002 — 2005).

MARTA contributes significantly to job creation and economic growth in the state and Atlanta region according to a study recently released by the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Using the Georgia Economic Modeling System, the Institute found that MARTA is a major economic driver in the region and its impact is expected to increase considerably over the next 50 years.

The study looked at the net economic impact of the region's investment into MARTA employment, infrastructure, and operation throughout the state with a focus on the 28 counties of the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The study found that MARTA continues to have a significant, positive and increasing impact on the state and regional economy. Highlights from the study include:

• MARTA contributed to an estimated $2.0 billion in the region and $2.1 billion in the state in total output of goods and services in 2001. MARTA's contribution to total output is estimated to grow to $10.3 billion in the region and $10.5 billion in the state by 2055 — more than double the total forecasted output of the forestry and timber industry in the state.
• MARTA helped to create approximately 19,600 jobs in the region in 2001, which equates to slightly more than the size of the regional food manufacturing industry.
• MARTA is expected to create an estimated 45,500 jobs in the region by 2055 — the equivalent of the forecasted size of the region's hotel industry.
• Residents in the region receive a direct economic benefit that is significantly greater than the sales tax payments made to fund the system. Thanks to MARTA, per capita personal income was $52 greater than it would have been. That impact is expected to be $224 by 2055.

The study also provides a comprehensive look at the impact MARTA has on specific industries in the Atlanta area and selected counties. The full report is posted at www.itsmarta.com

MARTA is now operating Clayton County's C-TRAN bus and paratransit service as part of a joint agreement between the agencies to improve transit service in the region. Under the agreement, MARTA will operate and maintain C-TRAN's fleet of twenty-four buses and six paratransit vehicles and will be fully reimbursed by the county for all expenses. MARTA will utilize C-TRAN's existing facilities to maintain its fleet.

MARTA invites you to enjoy great live musical performances at various rail stations on Wednesday, October 24th as part of Georgia Open Arts (GO ARTS) Month. The performances are being presented in partnership with the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts to celebrate National Arts and Culture Month.

Throughout October, the GO ARTS program has offered Atlanta residents and visitors the opportunity to see theater, music, dance, visual art, cultural exhibits and more at either a discounted rate or free of charge.

MARTA will present live jazz music at the following times and locations:

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Five Points
 

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Arts Center
College Park
Decatur
Dunwoody
Hamilton E. Holmes
Peachtree Center

Taking MARTA is one of the best ways to go green and combat global climate change, according to a new study that was released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The study, Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction, was prepared for APTA by Science Applications International Corporation.

The research shows that when compared to other household activities that limit carbon dioxide (CO₂), taking public transportation has a ten times greater impact on reducing this harmful greenhouse gas. Just one member of a household can reduce the household's carbon footprint by 10 percent by giving up driving and taking public transit. If another member of the household stops driving, they can reduce carbon emissions by up to 30 percent.

As the largest transit provider in Metro Atlanta, MARTA contributes to removing approximately 185,000 vehicles from the road daily and that number is steadily growing. Thanks to service improvements, new fare collection equipment and rising gas prices, MARTA recorded 147 million passenger boardings in FY07 — an increase of 6.6 percent over the previous year.

While all environmentally friendly household activities contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases, taking public transportation makes a more substantial impact. Switching to public transit can reduce an individual's daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, which equals more than 4,800 pounds in a year.