Box 6, Folder 10, Document 64

Box 6, Folder 10, Document 64

é
MARTA REPORTS TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES...”

RAPID TRANSIT

PROGRESS

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY



MARTA CONDUCTS ITS
FIRST PUBLIC HEARING



MARTA Difector Mitchell C. Bishop presided at the public
hearing in East Point .. .



. introduced the local officials and citizens, answered their
questions...



. and answered questions raised by members of the audience
after registered speakers had completed their remarks. About
90 persons attended the first public hearing.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority con-
ducted its first public hearing in April, and the opinions
expressed by those attending it were generally favorable. The
hearings are to allow the general public to hear in detail the
proposals for rapid transit routes and station locations, and
then to comment on them.

Mitchell C. Bishop, College Park, member of the MARTA
Board of Directors, presided at the first hearing, which was
held in the Tri-Cities area at the East Point City Auditorium,
on April 29th.

In remarks formally opening the hearing, Mr, Bishop
said, “The proposed routes and stations, though the result
of exhaustive studies by MARTA’s consulting engineers, have
not yet been approved by the MARTA Board of Directors.”

“The purpose of these hearings is to get your point of
view to see whether you agree with the engineers’ recom-
mendations or have alternative suggestions,” Mr. Bishop said.

“In short, we want to know what you think before these
plans are finally adopted by the Authority.”

“The thoughts expressed in this series of public hearings
will be given careful consideration before finalizing our
plans,” he said.

“Locations of all routes and stations will be finalized be-
fore the ultimate decision on rapid transit is submitted to
the voters in a referendum.”

After the proposed routes and station locations were out-
lined by John Coil, Resident Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff-
Tudor-Bechtel, engineering consultants to MARTA, Mr.
Bishop opened the hearing to members of the audience.

The first statement from the audience was made by Mr.
Marion Nolan, Mayor of College Park. He opened his re-
marks by saying, “Mr. Chairman, I don’t know much about
rapid transit, but I do know we need it, and we are going
to have to do something about it before too long. Our
highways and our transportation system are outdated. I know
that we are going to have to get something that is faster,
larger and more economical than what we have today.”

Nolan continued, ““Now, I have never seen a rapid transit
system, I couldn’t tell you what kind of rapid transit we
would need or how to operate it or how much it will cost,
but I think that anything we do will be economical for the
system we have now. Now, tonight, we only have a handful
of people here. This place should be plumb full, with people
standing out on the grounds around with loudspeakers so
the people could hear what we have to say.”

“I have never spoken for rapid transit before, but this
time I'm speaking for rapid transit. I think we need it. I will
endorse it personally, and I think most of the people that

(Continued on Page 2, Col. 1)

MAY. 1968
VOL. 3, NO. 4


METROPOLITAN ATLANTA
RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY

BO8 GLENN BLDG. ‘120 MARIETTA ST., N.W.
ATLANTA, GA. 30303 * PHONE 524-5711

“DIRECTED BY THE GEORGIA STATE
LEGISLATURE TO DEVELOP A RAPID
TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR THE S-COUNTY
METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AREA."

Edited by Kinc EL.iott

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS:

Ricuarp H, Rien, Chairman Roy A. Broust, Vice Chairman
Hersent J. Dicksox, Treasurer Epmunp W. Huenes, Secretary

CITY OF ATLANTA;

Ronest F, Avamson L. D. Mitros
Ricnarp H. Rich Rawson Haverty

CLAYTON COUNTY: *
Epcan BiaLock
DEKALB COUNTY:
Roy A. Broust Dr. Saxronp ATwoon
FULTON COUNTY:
Joux C, Sratox Mitenent C. Bisnor
GWINNETT COUNTY:
K. A. MeMinuios
COBB COUNTY (Observer)
Gis A, Baumoy, Jn.
MARTA STAFF:
Henry L. Stuart, General Manager
Ean. W. Neusox, Chief Engineer

Kine Exniott, Director of Public Information
H. N. Jouxson, ddministrative Assistant to General Manager









Marta Conducts Hearing

(Continued from Page I)
realize that we need rapid transit will do the same,” Mayor
Nolan stated.

Mrs. Ruth G. Gunter, Mayor Pro Tem of East Point, ex-
tended an official welcome from the City of East Point to
the MARTA officials, and expressed her appreciation that
the first public hearing was held in East Point. She went on
to say, “As far as I am personally concerned, I do see a
great need for rapid transit in this area. It's going to cost
money, but I notice on our schedule that a $20,000 house,
even at the highest point of return in the three mill tax
raise which you're anticipating, will only be $18.00 a year.
Your time, efforts, parking and everything else will cost you
people a great deal more than $18.00 a year, and I can see
where this would be beneficial to everyone in our area,”
she concluded.

Several other public officials and private citizens spoke
in support of MARTA plans. Some asked questions about
routes and station locations, or expressed their opinions
about the proposed system. Mr. Jody Brown of Hapeville
stated that there was some dissatisfaction in that area be-

7 Ub a TH






MARTA WINS HUD AWARD

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is one
of the winners in the first nationwide Design Awards Com-
petition sponsored by the U. S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development. The Award of Merit was presented by
HUD Secretary Robert Weaver in Pittsburgh at the Third
Annual International Conference on Urban Transportation
on March I1. The award was accepted by Earl W. Nelson,
MARTA Chief Engineer.

MARTA was honored for its Rapid Transit System Plan
Concept. The judges said, “The relation of the planned At-
lanta System to existing and proposed educational institu-
tions, commercial and cultural facilities, will create a high
quality of urban design.”

Secretary Weaver stated in presenting the award, “The
Department of Housing and Urban Development takes pride
in recognizing the accomplishments of MARTA. The pioneer-
ing work we have here today points the way to urban trans-
portation patterns of the future.”

Three honor awards were presented to: San Francisco
Bay Area Rapid Transit District; The City Planning Commis-
sion, Philadelphia; and The Massachusetts Bay Transporta-
tion Authority, Boston, Mass.

In addition to the award to MARTA, eight other merit
awards were given: The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle
and City of Seattle; Washington State Highway Commission;
The City of Seattle, Wash.; Southern California Rapid Trans-
it District, Los Angeles: The Metropolitan Commuter Trans-
portation Authority, New York City: The City of Philadel-
phia, Pa.: The Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. (two awards).



cause of the change in MARTA plans to provide direct
service to the new proposed airport terminal, rather than to
run the line through Hapeville as originally planned. Mr.
Bishop responded by saying that the change was brought
about by the plans to build a new airport terminal, and was
necessary to provide service to both air passengers and to the
40,000 employees who will be working at the airport in the
next decade or so, He assured Mr. Brown that a well-planned
feeder bus service would be provided throughout the Hape-
ville area to transport residents to a nearby station.

A total of 12 public hearings were scheduled for late
April and the month of May. MARTA is required by law to
conduct public hearings on routes and stations, as well as
other factors of the system in each jurisdiction represented
in the Authority. After all the hearings have been com-
pleted the testimony will be transcribed, and MARTA direc-
tors will evaluate the comments and recommendations before
a decision is made on routes and station locations.

A summary of comments and recommendations made at
other hearings will appear in the next issue of RAPID
TRANSIT PROGRESS.



Prior to the public hearings, MARTA officials briefed governmental leaders on the routes and station locations to be discussed

at the public hearings. MARTA Chairman Richard H. Rich presided at a meeting with Atlanta officials on May 2. Attending
were Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.; Vice-Mayor Sam Massell, Jr.; Aldermen E,. Gregory Griggs, William T. Knight, QO. V. Williamson,
Hugh Pierce, Charles Lefiwich, George Cotsakis, G. Everett Millican, Cecil Turner, Jack Summers, and Douglas L. Fowlkes;
Earl Landers, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor; and Collier Gladin, Director, Planning Department.

?

?
“VILA RTA REPORTS TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES...

SECOND

ANNUAL REPORT
1967



METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
REPORT TO THE CITIZENS...

From: Chairman of the Board
A number of major steps were taken by MARTA during

1967 and many policy decisions were made.

The decision of the Georgia General Assembly to par-
ticipate financially in MARTA is a most gratifying develop-
ment. This decision gives substance to a financial proposal
which allows for a full 10% State participation in rapid trans-
it. The successful applications by MARTA for additional
Federal funds encourage us to believe that substantial Federal
funds will be available if local voters approve construction of
the system.

The progress made in planning during 1967 encourages us
to believe that we will be prepared to ask the residents of at
least Fulton and DeKalb counties to vote on November 5,
1968, to finance construction of a basic rapid transit system. *

During 1967 MARTA’s approach became considerably
broader than it had been in 1966. It was apparent that
MARTA could not plan or develop a rail rapid transit to
stand alone, but that MARTA would have to plan a system
which would be an effective and integral part of a balanced
transportation system. Rail rapid transit, along with an effec-
tive bus service, a highly developed network of arterial and
surface streets and an expanded expressway system, if prop-
erly coordinated, could effectively reduce traffic congestion
and make transportation faster, more efficient and more com-
fortable. To achieve these goals MARTA is participating
fully in the Atlanta Area Transportation Study, and I repre-
sent MARTA on the Atlanta Area Transportation Policy
Committee.

MARTA pledges its full support and cooperation to the
effort to find effective solutions to our transportation crisis.

Recognizing the necessity for the best possible coordination
among the professions involved in Rapid transit development,
the MARTA board of directors created a five man Advisory
Committee to assist the Authority. The Advisory Committee
represents professional Engineers, Architects, Landscape
Architects and Planners. The Committee has reviewed
MARTA’s, work to date and has offered much construc-
tive advice concerning our plans.

MARTA staff and consultants have spent many hours
in coordinating rapid transit planning with other activities
in organizations. Through such coordination and interchange
of ideas, MARTA hopes to achieve the highest degree of
excellence yet obtained in the creation of a rapid transit system.

The Directors of MARTA express their appreciation to
the many business, civic and governmental leaders of this area
who have supported rapid transit planning efforts during 1967
and earlier years. It now appears that 1968 may well be the
year of decision — the year when the voters decide whether or
not rapid transit will be built in the Atlanta area, With the
continued enthusiastic support of the leaders in Metropolitan
Atlanta, a referendum in 1968 could be successful, and 1969
see the actual start of construction on rapid transit.

ee ee A

From: General Manager

The year 1967 saw much solid progress made in the de-
velopment of a rapid transit system for Metropolitan Atlanta.
Significant accomplishments were achieved in the fields of en-
gineering, planning and coordination with public and private
groups.

In the field of engineering, the Metropolitan Atlanta
Rapid Transit Authority signed a contract with consultants to
provide MARTA with preliminary engineering on the East-
West line from the intersection of I-285 and Lynhurst Drive
on the West, to the intersection of 1-285 and Covington High-
way on the East.

This contract extends the work of earlier contracts to
provide preliminary engineering for the area between Dora-
ville and Forest Park. The work now under contract en-
compasses a full system whcih will reach I-285 at four places.
This is a workable basic system for this region and needs
only public approval and final design work to be ready for
construction.

In March, a “Corridor Impact Study” was begun; its goal
was to assess the probable impact of the proposed rapid transit
system on the communities and neighborhoods in which it
would be located. Toward the end of 1967, this work began
to develop tentative conclusions and to suggest modifications.
Through the work of the “Corridor Impact Study” and the
concomitant understanding of the effect of rapid transit, a
system can be designed which will be completely sensitive to
local needs and which will bring into reality more of the po-
tential benefits than any other system ever built.

Another significant event of 1967 was the first direct
financial contribution by the State of Georgia for rapid
transit. The 1967 General Assembly appropriated $500,000.00
for the two fiscal years beginning July 1, 1967, as authorized
by a Statewide constitutional amendment in 1966. This ap-
propriation is evidence of an awareness at the State level of the
transportation problems in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, and
of a determination to assist in the solution of these problems.

The activities of the Authority have been the subject of
hundreds of presentations by MARTA directors and staff
members to members of the general public and to elected of-
ficials and professionals at all levels of government. All the
planning was brought up to date in “Rapid Transit for Metro-
politan Atlanta,” a special report which was introduced by
the Atlanta Region Metropolitan Planning Commission at the
end of the year. The report was distributed widely, received
enthusiastically, and was declared “out of print” after a few
weeks.

1967 was a productive year, and the way to even greater
achievement in 1968 is clearly open to us.

NS Nhe



OFFICERS:

RICHARD H. RICH, Chairman
ROY A. BLOUNT, Vice Chairman
HERBERT J. DICKSON, Treasurer
EDMUND W. HUGHES, Secretary

CITY OF ATLANTA:
ROBERT F. ADAMSON
RICHARD H. RICH
L. D. MILTON
RAWSON HAVERTY



Edited by KING ELLIOTT

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
808 GLENN BLDG. * 120 MARIETTA ST., N.W. * ATLANTA, GA. 30303 * PHONE 524-5711
“DIRECTED BY THE GEORGIA STATE LEGISLATURE TO DEVELOP A RAPID
TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR THE 5-COUNTY METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AREA.”

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DR. SANFORD ATWOOD

DEKALB COUNTY:
ROY A. BLOUNT

COBB COUNTY (Observer)
OTIS A. BRUMBY, JR.

MARTA STAFF:

HENRY L. STUART
General Manager
KING ELLIOTT
Director of Public Information
EARL W. NELSON, Chief Eng.

GWINNETT COUNTY: H. N. JOHNSON

K. A. McMILLON A, A.

FULTON COUNTY:

JOHN C. STATON
MITCHELL C. BISHOP





METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
STATEMENTS OF CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1967
AND CUMULATIVE TOTAL SINCE INCEPTION (JANUARY 3, 1966)

Total
Since
CASH RECEIPTS: 1967 Inception
Participating local governments $304,552 $595,447
U. S. Government 302,667 302,667
Interest on U. S. Treasury Bills 5,503 5.932
$612,722 $904,046
CASH DISBURSEMENTS FOR:
Joint project with Atlanta Region
Metropolitan Planning Commission
(Note) $ 65,939 $ 97,189
Engineering services — Parsons
Brinckerhoff-Tudor-Bechtel (Note) 283,624 325,222
Consulting services 12,928 12,928
Administrative and general expenses 168,634 264,706
$531,125 $700,045
EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER
DISBURSEMENTS $ 81,597 $204,001
REPRESENTED BY:
Cash $133,912
U. S. Treasury Bills 70,089
The accompanying note is an integral part of these statements. $204,001







ARTHUR ANDERSEN & Co.
Ararta, Gnomon

Te the Board of Directors of
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid

Transit Authority:

Me Save examined the statesents of caeh receipts and
diebersements of the Metropolitan Atlanta Bapid Transit Authority [a
Qecrgie sunisipal corporation) for the year ended Desenter 31, 1947,
and cumulative totel sftnee inception (January 3, 1966). Our
@xuninetion Vee Bade in accordance vith generally accepted additing
Standarde, and eecordingiy tnoluded such teste of the accounting records
and euch other auditing procedures ae we considered necuamary in the

eiredmetaneen,

Ta ctr opinion, the scovmpanying statements preatot fairly
the cash receipts ané Gimturmenents of the Metropelites Atlanta Rapid
Transit Authority for the yeur ended Decester 31, 1967, and cumulative

tetel eince inception (January 3, 1966).

Geeta Gham:

Ationta, Georgua,
January 19, 1





METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
NOTE TO STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1967

The Authority was formed on January 3, 1966, by an act of the General Assembly of The State of Georgia to design and
implement a rapid transit system for the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area. Since its organization, the Authority’s
principal activities have included the updating of the 1962 plan and program of rapid transit for the Atlanta metro-
politan region and contracting for preliminary engineering on the proposed transit system. The contracts let and the

related sources of funds are as follows:

Amount
of

* . : Contract

a. pete ae Metropolitan Planning $ 61,189

Update 1962 plan 49,000

Corridor Impact Study iat ee

$110,189

b. Parsons Brinckerhoff-Tudor-Bechtel — $125,000
Preliminary engineering for initial

system (702 loan project) 500,000

Preliminary engineering and planning 100,000
for major lines (Section 9 project) —
Retainer contract for extended support $725,000

Disbursements to Date
Source of Funds



Total Local Federal
$ 61,189 $ 61,189 Beas os)
36,000 36,000 coe LON
$ 97,189 $ 97,189 L_...
$ 90,000 BE ce $ 90,000
180,000 (32,070) 212,070(d)
55,222 55,222 5 os
$325,222 $ 23,152 $302,070







c. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the United States Government is partici-
pating with the Atlanta Region Metropolitan Planning Commission (ARMPC) by funding up to two-

thirds of project costs.

d. As of December 31, 1967, there was an additional $90,000 payable to Parsons Brinckerhoff-Tudor-

Bechtel for work completed to that date. Payment was made on January 24, 1968.
The Authority has received $90,000 of a $125,000 advance commitment from the United States Government under
Section 702 of the Housing Act of 1954. The advance is non-interest bearing and repayable only upon the start of

construction of the System.

The $500,000 contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff-Tudor-Bechtel for completing preliminary engineering and planning for
major lines is being funded under Section 9 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964. Under the provisions
of the grant signed under the Act, two-thirds of the contract will be funded by the United States.
INCOME














DEKALB
11.3%

FULTON
12.4%

U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF

HOUSING & URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
41.1%





RESERVE
CARRIED
OVER FROM
1967 FOR
UNFINISHED
PROGRAMS
17.4%




POTHER 0.7% -

EXPENDITURE

RESERVE TO
COMPLETE
UNFINISHED
PROGRAMS
28.0%

PLANNING
ENGINEERING
48.5%

ADMINISTRATION
23.5%



HIGHLIGHTS — 1967

March—contract signed for Corridor Impact Study.

March 7—Charles M. Haar, Assistant Secretary for
Metropolitan Development, U.S. Department of HUD,
visited MARTA.

March 17—Gov. Lester Maddox signed appropriations
bill, which included an allocation of $500,000.00 for
MARTA.

April 4—MARTA received the “Meritorious Award”
of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia for
its multiple-county service.

April 24—Earl W. Nelson becomes MARTA chief
engineer.

May—Robert F. Adamson becomes MARTA direc-
tor, succeeding Mills B. Lane, Jr.

May 24-26—Institute for Rapid Transit convenes in
Atlanta.

June 9—MARTA creates 5-man Advisory Committee.

June 9—Herbert J. Dickson named Treasurer of
MARTA,



May 22—-MARTA exhibits past and present work at
the conference on Design in Urban Transportation in
Washington, D. C.; conference sponsored by HUD.

August 4—Rapid Transit’s first “hole in the ground”
was dug at Trinity and Broad Street—first of 35 soil test
holes.

August—Chief Engineer Nelson was appointed as
MARTA’s representative on the Technical Coordinating
Committee of the Atlanta Area Transportation Study.

September 12—MARTA participates in formation of
Atlanta Area Transportation Policy Committee.

October 22-26—American Transit Association Conven-
tion held in Atlanta.

December—Up-dated rapid transit plan received from
consulting engineers.

December—MARTA Director Sanford Atwood of
DeKalb, L. D. Milton of Atlanta and Ken McMillon of
Gwinnett, reappointed to new 4-year terms.

MART Additions

Three new additions have recently been made to the
MARTA Board and Staff.

John C. Staton has been appointed by the Fulton County
Commission as Fulton County member of the Board of
Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authori-
ty. Staton, Staff Vice-President of the Coca-Cola Company,
will fill the unexpired term of W. A. “Dick” Pulver, who
recently assumed new duties with the Lockheed Aircraft

Corporation in California. Staton’s term will expire Decem-
ber 31, 1970.




Staton joined the Coca-Cola Com-
pany in 1925. He has served in execu-
tive posts in Canada, New Zealand,

elected Vice-President in Charge of
Manufacturing, making his headquar-
ters in Atlanta. He was named Staff
Vice-President and Assistant to the Pres-
ident in August, 1966.

a A 1924 graduate of Georgia Tech

John C. Staton in Electrical Engineering and All-
Southern end on the football team, Staton also received a
law degree from the Atlanta Law School and was admitted
to the Bar in 1928. He has served as President of the Georgia
Tech Alumni Association and other Georgia Tech groups;
and has been a leader in Boy Scouting, Rotary Club and
numerous other organizations.

Edmund W. Hughes has been appointed as Secretary to
the Authority. Hughes is Managing Director of the Greater
Atlanta Traffic and Safety Council. He succeeds Glenn E.
Bennett, Executive Director of the Atlanta Region Metro-
politan Planning Commission, who has
served as Secretary since MARTA was
officially organized in January, 1966.

Hughes has been Managing Direc-
tor of the GAT&SC since 1962. Prior to
that, he was Editorial Associate with
The Atlanta Journal and had been a
reporter with the Journal since 1955, He
is currently President of the Association
of Safety Council’s Advisory Group for

Edmund Hughes Safety Organizations. He is a member
of the Governor's Traffic Safety Study Committee.

Sue Logan is the new Secretary to
the Public Information Director, and
assists in the editing of Rapid Transit
Progress. Miss Logan attended Key-
stone Junior College in La Plume,
Pennsylvania, after graduating from
Northside High School. Before coming
to MARTA, she was Receptionist and
Secretary to the Manager of the Interna-
tional Division of an Atlanta-based tex-
tile chemical firm.





Sue Logan



MONTREAL-TORONTO TRIP PLANNED

Some 87 prominent Atlanta businessmen and govern-
mental officials will make a two-day tour of rapid transit
facilities in Toronto and Montreal in June. MARTA is or-
ganizing the trip to allow local leaders the opportunity to
ride modern rapid transit systems and to observe the impact
rapid transit has had and is having on real estate develop-
ments and other phases of activity in the two Canadian cities.

Over 300 individuals were invited to make the trip—
those accepting are paying their own expenses. Cost of the
trip to each is $180.00.

The Eastern Air Lines charter flight will leave Atlanta
at 8:00 A.M., Wednesday. June 12, and fly to Montreal.
The group will tour Montreal the rest of the day and fly
to Toronto that evening. After spending the night in Toronto,

Australia, and Brazil. In 1948, he was -



EXPERTS SEE NEW SYSTEM

MARTA General Manager Henry L. Stuart was among a
group of transit experts which inspected the new $85 million
Lindenwold-Philadelphia Rapid Transit Line being con-
structed by the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA).

The tour was conducted Tuesday, April 23 in conjunction
with 1968 Rail Transit Group Conference of the American
Transit Association in cooperation with the Institute of
Rapid Transit in Philadelphia Monday through Thursday.
Some 400 visitors were to be transported by bus to visit the
new facility along the 10.4 miles of new construction between
Camden, N. J. and Lindenwold, N. J.



Train at station, Delaware River Port Authority System.

The morning trip included a ride on one of the new
stainless steel transit trains now undergoing tests. In the
afternoon, separate inspection trips for various advisory com-
mittees were arranged to the maintenance and shop facilities,
the control center at Camden, power substations, passenger
stations and various track structures.

Stuart commented after riding the system, “The 75 miles
per hour automated rapid transit ride is no longer a theory;
it is now a fact of life. The same is true for the automatic
train control concept, which will allow trains to run only
90 seconds apart. This system is doing now what is being
planned for San Francisco, Atlanta, and a host of other
cities.”

Large parking lots are being built at suburban stations to
accommodate cars of the “park and ride” passengers.

He continued, “The train accelerated from a standing
start to 75 miles per hour in 55 seconds, and the ride is not
as noisy or as rough as the average automobile ride. There is
no doubt in my mind that a modern, comfortable rapid transit
system such as this can be built in Atlanta; and when the
people in Atlanta see it and try it, they will like it and ride it.”



the group will tour rapid transit facilities along with a group
of individuals who will be attending the Institute for Rapid
Transit meeting in Toronto. The group will return to At-
lanta Thursday evening, June 13.


MARTAction

At its meeting March 5, the Board of Directors of the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority by resolution
accepted preliminary engineering work on the North-South Line
from Oglethorpe to the Airport. The work was performed by
Parsons Brinckerhoff-Tudor-Bechtel under Section 702 of the
Urban Mass Transit Act.

The Board established the amount of $200 million as the
appropriate local share for constructing the system. The balance
of the cost would come from federal and state funds.

John C. Staton, newly appointed member of the Board from
Fulton County, was welcomed to the Authority. Edmund W.
Hughes, Managing Director of the Greater Atlanta Traffic and
Safety Council, was appointed Secretary to the Authority. (See
separate stories on page 3.)

At the meeting April 2, the MARTA Board reviewed the
auditors’ report for 1967, and adopted it unanimously, The 1967
Annual Report contains the auditors’ report.

Four contracts were presented for work to be done subject
to approval by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. The four contracts cover the following work:

_ 1. To determine value of Atlanta Transit System —. $20,000.

2. To develop system-wide criteria and standards

for engineered facilities; compilation of design
control data in connection with Transit Center;

and other engineering work - ; _.. $99,000.
3. Technical studies for accounting and financial
control systems, etc, -........ -... $25,000.

4. Research on certain parcels ‘of. land ‘deemed crit-
ical right-of-way (work to begin after routes are
definitely established) eS itp at $49,000.

General Manager Henry L. Stuart reported that HUD had
asked that the proposal for a cost/benefit analysis be withdrawn
as it is the type study which should be done by a university
system instead of a transit system. Stuart recommended that the
money for the study ($30,000) be used instead to study a line
in the Model Cities area. The Board approved the change, sub-
ject to approval of the federal application by HUD.

The Board approved in principle a set of rules for the
conduct of public hearings.

Stuart reported that competitive bids had been received for
the printing and distribution of Rapid Transit Progress. Darby
Printing Company was the low bidder at $992.50 per issue,
based on printing 12,500 copies, addressing 12,000 copies,
mailing, and adding an average of 200 new addresses per
month. This was the first MARTA contract to be let under
competitive bids.

The Board adopted a resolution expressing sorrow at the
death of Mr. Robert L. Sommerville, President of the Atlanta
Transit System, and expressing deepest sympathy to his family
and business associates.







CAN SUBWAYS SERVE AS
FALLOUT SHELTERS?

MARTA is discussing with Civil Defense officials the
possibilities of incorporating facilities in the design of sub-
ways to allow them to serve as shelters for protection against
radioactive fallout in the event of a nuclear war.

Three high-ranking Civil Defense officials met with
MARTA Chief Engineer Earl Nelson, April 5, to begin
initial talks. The officials were Gen. W. R. Woodward, Direc-
tor, and Col. W. E. Smith, Assistant Director, Atlanta Area
Civil Defense; and Dr, Robert N. Bruce, Jr., Tulane Univer-
sity, Technical Advisor to the Federal Office of Civil Defense.

After reviewing MARTA subway plans, Dr. Bruce stated
an opinion that, “With minor design changes, the basic sub-
way structures could be converted to highly effective fallout
shelters for little or no increase in cost. The major problem,”
he said, “would be to provide service areas for the storage
of shelter supplies.” He added, “The cost to make the sub-
ways into blast shelters would be prohibitive. It would be
more economical to provide for this protection in some of
the downtown buildings.”

A set of the preliminary engineering plans and transit sta-
tion drawings were sent to the Civil Defense office in Wash-
ington.

The idea for using subways for fall-out shelters was sug-
gested to MARTA by Georgia’s Fourth District Congress-
man Ben Blackburn of Decatur.

Congressman Blackburn stated that he would propose leg-
islation enabling the federal government to provide up to 90%
of the costs to modify rapid transit systems for civil defense
use.

RAPID TRANSIT BRIEFS

THE TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION opened, on
May 11, 1968, for regular service, two new subway sections,
totalling six and a quarter miles.

Added to the 14-mile East-West (Bloor St.—Danforth
Ave.) line, the additions are three new stations and 2.77 miles
eastward — and six new stations and 3.49 miles westward.

Total cost of the two extensions, approximately $77 mil-
lion, is being met by Metropolitan Toronto and the Toronto
Transit Commission with assistance from the Province of On-
tario.

LOS ANGELES has completed preliminary engineering
for the 89 mile proposed rapid transit system. Voters are ex-
pected to decide this November on financing the $2.5 billion
project.





8068 GLENN BLDG. +: 120MARIETTA ST.. N.W. -*
PHONE 524-5711 (AREA CODE 404)

VOL. 3. NO. 4 MAY, 1968

RAPID TRANSIT

PROGRESS need

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY



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U.S. Postage

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303

Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr., Director of
Goverymental Liaison, City of At.acta

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Atlanta, Ga. 30303