Committee advances MARTA request to extend 1% transit sales tax for 10 years

Representative(s) and MARTA officials told the committee that House Bill 11-37 would extend an existing 1% transit sales tax for another 10 years to sustain capital projects and operations.

Jennifer LaRosa, MARTA's Senior Director of Government Community Affairs, framed the extension as a straightforward renewal: "It simply is to renew an existing tax." She described six priority areas for the funding including delivery of new trains, a systemwide station rehabilitation program and a next‑generation bus network. LaRosa said MARTA expects new open‑gangway trains to be in service by May and to debut contactless payment with its "Better Breeze" rollout in April 2026. She also told the committee MARTA won $52,000,000 in competitive federal grants in 2025 and has roughly $286,000,000 in pending federal grant requests.

Committee members questioned MARTA about long‑range planning and how a state sales tax extension would interact with regional contracts. LaRosa said an extension at the state level would trigger renegotiation of the RTCAA contract among MARTA's four jurisdictions and that those jurisdictions could reprioritize projects once renegotiated. On ridership, LaRosa told members that rail ridership remains below pre‑COVID levels while bus ridership is "nearly pre COVID levels," and that fare‑evasion and inoperative fare gates have affected rail counts. MARTA said the payment system change aims to improve counting and increase formula federal funds tied to ridership.

Members also raised operational questions about paratransit costs and the Breeze card transition. LaRosa said the agency charges roughly $4.50 per mobility round trip while the mode costs MARTA about $125 per trip and confirmed a balance transfer window for existing Breeze cards before the new system launches.

After the presentation and questions, the committee moved and seconded to pass HB 11-37; the bill passed on a voice vote.

The committee did not request additional amendments; the bill now proceeds in the legislative process as reported by the committee.