HR10: HR10 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority; reaffirm its commitment to an extension of rail system along east side of Interstate 20 in South Dekalb County; urge

South DeKalb County residents have paid a 1 percent sales tax to fund MARTA (the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) since 1972, but the area has never gotten a rail expansion, even as MARTA extended lines to central DeKalb, north Fulton, and north DeKalb counties in the 1990s and 2000s. This resolution notes that past amendments to MARTA's Rapid Transit Contract Agreement, and a 2012 MARTA board decision, already identified extending heavy rail from the Indian Creek Station along Interstate 20 to the Stonecrest Mall area as a preferred plan. The resolution formally expresses the House's support for that rail extension and urges MARTA to recommit to it. It also urges DeKalb County's elected officials and MARTA's leadership to jointly develop a comprehensive mass transit plan for DeKalb County covering heavy and light rail options from Atlanta to Stonecrest. It directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to MARTA's CEO and board and to DeKalb County's CEO and county commissioners.

• Formally states the House of Representatives' support for extending MARTA heavy rail along the east side of Interstate 20 into South DeKalb County.
• Urges MARTA's CEO and board of directors to reaffirm a previously approved commitment to extend rail service to South DeKalb County.
• Urges DeKalb County elected officials and MARTA leadership to jointly develop a comprehensive mass transit plan covering both heavy and light rail options from Atlanta to Stonecrest.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to MARTA's CEO and board, DeKalb County's CEO, and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.

South DeKalb County residents who have paid a MARTA sales tax since 1972 without receiving rail service, MARTA's leadership and board, DeKalb County's elected officials, and the City of Stonecrest, which would be a proposed endpoint for the rail extension.

The resolution carries no funding or legal mandate, but it puts the full House on record pressing MARTA to act on a rail extension it approved in 2012 but never built, which could influence future transit planning and funding decisions for South DeKalb County.

• The preamble cites the 9th and 13th amendments to MARTA's Rapid Transit Contract Agreement, which give priority to extending heavy rail beyond Indian Creek Station to Stonecrest Mall.
• The preamble notes MARTA's board approved this Interstate 20 corridor extension as a 'locally preferred alternative' in April 2012.
• The first resolving clause expresses House support for the extension and urges MARTA to reaffirm its commitment.
• The second resolving clause urges DeKalb County officials and MARTA to jointly create a comprehensive mass transit plan including both heavy and light rail options.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to MARTA and DeKalb County leadership.

1. 2025-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)
• Rhonda Taylor (D, HD-092)
• Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)
• Billy Mitchell (D, HD-088)

• MARTA
• public transit
• DeKalb County rail expansion
• transit oriented development
• Interstate 20 corridor