Atlanta City Council votes to support a pause on Five Points Station construction
by Darin Givens | June 17, 2024
Thanks to Atlanta City Council for passing a resolution this evening to support the Mayor's call for a pause on the Five Points Station construction while funding issues are examined.
Though it has no legal weight, the resolution (presented by Amir Farokhi and Jason Dozier) is appreciated as a show of solidarity with the voices speaking out with concern about the construction plan, which will close the station to pedestrian traffic for about four years.
Here's the text of the resolution...
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WHEREAS, On June 6th, the Atlanta City Council ("City Council") became aware of the provisional findings from the More MARTA Operational Audit; and
WHEREAS, these included $69.9 million in miscalculations and discrepancies in operational costs, as well as issues surrounding bus enhancement, governance, and gaps in institutional knowledge; and
WHEREAS, subsequently Mayor Andre Dickens wrote to MARTA leadership to call for a temporary halt on the construction of the Five Points MARTA Station and
WHEREAS, City Council stands united behind him in this request, and
WHEREAS, while the findings are preliminary, the figures are so substantial as to necessitate the halt until the data is made final and a public dialogue can ensue; and
WHEREAS, because we cannot, in the interest of good governance, move forward with such a major project when the very foundation of the relationship between the City of Atlanta ("City") and its transit agency is fractured.
WHEREAS, further, independent of the audit's preliminary findings, City Council has been vocal in its concerns surrounding the Five Points Station and
WHEREAS, this includes the fact that proposed improvements do not substantially improve the functionality of the station, and
WHEREAS, the planned four-year closure to pedestrian access in the center city is unacceptable; and
WHEREAS, there is a lack of confidence that this will effectively serve us during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and
WHEREAS, and while we appreciate MARTA's emphasis on tangible progress, in this instance we should take the time to get it right rather than moving too swiftly.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, that the Atlanta City Council stands united with Mayor Dickens in his call for a temporary halt on the Five Points MARTA Station project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that once the final audit report is received, there should be a public dialogue around the findings and their impact on public trust as well as City Council's ongoing concems around the construction of the Five Points Station
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that these requests are being made with the best interests of Atlanta residents at heart. But also in the interest of restoring trust between MARTA and the City Government. Because the strength of this partnership is vital to Atlanta's futur
