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

25 LC 39 4433 House Resolution 10 By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Kendrick of the 95th, Taylor of the 92nd, Bennett of the 94th, and Mitchell of the 88th A RESOLUTION Urging the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority to reaffirm its commitment to an1 extension of the rail system along the east side of Interstate 20 in South DeKalb County; and2 for other purposes.3 WHEREAS, residents of South DeKalb County have paid a 1 percent sales tax to fund4 operations and capital improvements to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority5 (MARTA) since 1972; and6 WHEREAS, there has been no rail expansion in South DeKalb Count y while MARTA7 extended rail stations to Central DeKalb County in 1993 with In dian Creek Station and to8 North Fulton and North DeKalb counties in 1996 with Buckhead, M edical Center, and9 Dunwoody Stations and again in 2000 with Sandy Springs and North Springs Stations; and10 WHEREAS, the 9th and 13th amendments to the Rapid Transit Contract Agreement specify11 MARTA's priority to extend heavy rail beyond the Indian Creek Station to Stonecrest Mall;12 and13 H. R. 10 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4433 WHEREAS, in April, 2012, the MARTA board of directors approved a heavy rail extension14 from the Indian Creek Station to run parallel along Interstate 285 South and continuing east15 along Interstate 20 to the Stonecrest Mall area as a locally preferred alternative; and16 WHEREAS, residents of South DeKalb County have limited access t o the MARTA rail17 system; and18 WHEREAS, extension of the MARTA rail along the south/southeastern corridor of Interstate19 20 would create opportunities for transit oriented development.20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that21 the members of this body express its support of an extension of heavy rail along the east side22 of Interstate 20 and urge the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transi t Authority to reaffirm its23 commitment to an extension of the rail system in South DeKalb County.24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body urge the elected officials from25 DeKalb County and the CEO and Board of Directors of the Metropo litan Atlanta Rapid26 Transit Authority to work together in developing a comprehensiv e mass transit plan for27 DeKalb County that includes heavy and light rail alternatives t o extend the existing rail28 system from the City of Atlanta to the City of Stonecrest.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized30 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the31 CEO and members of the board of directors of the Metropolitan A tlanta Rapid Transit32 Authority, the CEO of DeKalb County, and members of the DeKalb County Board of33 Commissioners.34 H. R. 10 - 2 -