Mayor wants Five Points makeover paused
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Mayor Andre Dickens wants MARTA to halt a $230 million overhaul of the transit system's Downtown hub until after an audit of the agency is complete.
Why it matters: MARTA's plan to close street access to Five Points in late July met a chorus of critics, including elected officials, a Downtown business group and mobility advocates.
State of play: The closure and construction were timed to meet an aggressive 18-month timetable to reopen the station for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It's unclear how Dickens' request could affect that deadline.
Zoom in: In a letter sent Thursday to MARTA CEO and general manager Collie Greenwood obtained by Axios Atlanta, Dickens said he wants additional information after reading the preliminary findings of an ongoing audit of More MARTA, a 2016 sales tax that's funding much of the Five Points makeover.
- In a memo attached to the letter, Atlanta chief financial officer Mohamed Balla flagged early findings, including program cost discrepancies. According to the early findings, he said, MARTA might have to repay more than $60 million to the More MARTA program.
The full audit report — a sticking point between the agency and the Atlanta City Council — should be available in late July, Dickens says.
- MARTA's controversial access closure plan that's met pushback from downtown business leaders, elected officials and mobility advocates, is scheduled to begin July 29.
The intrigue: Dickens says the city has also "identified other priorities that need to be considered before we move forward."
- The letter does not elaborate on those priorities, though Dickens did announce during the State of the City that he wants to build several infill MARTA stations and is exploring options other than rail on the Beltline.
What they're saying: MARTA has acknowledged the construction's impact on riders, residents and businesses and says it would work with the community to minimize disruptions.
- After the World Cup, the agency could consider opening a single entrance, officials told WSB.
Follow the money: As noted, the multimillion-dollar project is funded by revenues from More MARTA. Federal and state transportation agencies have also contributed roughly $40 million to the project.
Read the specifics about rerouted buses and services
Editor's note: This story's headline has been corrected to reflect that Mayor Andre Dickens (not MARTA) wants the Five Points renovation paused.