That was issued the same day MARTA announced it has managed to balance its $1.6-billion budget for a 12th straight year without fare increases. “This line will provide an efficient connection between historic city neighborhoods, job centers, Georgia State, and our rail system, and will be the benchmark for future BRT lines in metro Atlanta,” Collie Greenwood, MARTA general manager and CEO, said in a groundbreaking announcement. MARTA also plans to unveil the BRT system’s official name during the morning ceremony, planned to take place at the corner of Hank Aaron Drive (a hint?) and Georgia Avenue. An analysis last year showed the Summerhill BRT line-the project’s working title-will cost nearly 49 percent more than previously expected, bumping the estimated $61.5 million price tag up to more than $91 million. MARTA’s original timeline called for breaking ground on the BRT project in August and beginning service next year, but the project was dogged by skyrocketing building and labor costs, in addition to MARTA’s inexperience with creating new transit lines over the past two decades. Proposed BRT route just north of GSU's stadium.
