ATLANTA – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) highlighted a $285.7 million grant for MARTA. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration and the funds came from the American Rescue Plan. The money will help MARTA maintain service and jobs to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“My work to pass the American Rescue Plan was about our communities’ ability to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congresswoman Williams, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “MARTA is a source of transportation equity, a key to economic opportunity for tens of thousands of riders, and essential to linking communities throughout the Fifth District. Money from the American Rescue Plan, along with the $1.4 billion coming to Georgia for public transportation in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will help MARTA become a driver for equity and opportunity for everyone in the Fifth District, no matter their ZIP Code or bank account.”

“Congresswoman Williams’ support for transit has been essential throughout the pandemic,” said  Jeff Parker, MARTA General Manager/CEO. “This tranche of COVID relief is critical for giving MARTA time for ridership and fare revenue to recover while we keep our service running.”

“Public transportation has been a lifeline for communities and the American people throughout this pandemic,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will help protect transit employees from layoffs, keep transit service running, and ensure people can get where they need to go.”

“As our nation’s transit systems recover from COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan funds ensure that they continue to provide service to the many Americans who depend on transit to get to essential jobs, healthcare and vaccine appointments,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. 

CONTACT: PressGA05@mail.house.gov 

###