Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff Announce Critical Funding to Help Expand MARTA Bus Service in Clayton County

Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced $970,000 in new federal investments to help develop MARTA's Clayton County Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study. The Senators fought to secure the funding, which was awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), to connect Georgians to resources and economic opportunity throughout the state. The federal investment will support a study to determine community needs and project purposes for the proposed Clayton County BRT project.

"The more easily Georgians can get from place to place, the more they thrive, and the more our communities and economy thrive," said Senator Reverend Warnock, a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. "These critical infrastructure funds will help ensure the Clayton County BRT project opens new doors of opportunity for all residents in and around Clayton County, and I'm going to keep fighting for more strong federal investments that help move Georgians and Georgia into a brighter future."

"Clayton County deserves the best, and I will keep working with Senator Reverend Warnock to build out transit options for Clayton County that help families get to work, get to school, get groceries, and get to the doctor's office safely, conveniently, and affordably," Senator Ossoff said.

The Clayton County Bus Rapid Transit project aims to provide high-capacity transit service connecting the College Park MARTA Station to several key destinations in Clayton County, including Airport Gateway, the Shops of Riverdale, Southern Regional Medical Center's campus, the Mount Zion commercial corridor, and the Southlake Mall. The project aligns with major priorities to improve mobility, accessibility and connectivity to the Atlanta region, providing greater access to jobs and services while reducing traffic congestion.

In June, Senator Warnock advocated to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of MARTA's application for funding through the FTA's Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Pilot Planning Grant program, and urged the Department to support the Clayton County BRT study.

In May, Senator Ossoff secured a commitment from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to help strengthen and expand MARTA service.

In September, Senators Warnock and Ossoff, alongside Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV), introduced the Public Transportation Expansion Act to support public transportation infrastructure that connects affordable housing with transit networks to better serve riders and commuters in low-income communities. The Senators are also working to secure additional transit connectivity investments that will create new economic opportunities and strengthen mobility and housing options for Georgians.

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