ATLANTA (March 23, 2010) – Committed to saving the C-TRAN bus service for Clayton County residents, Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) is working to move legislation through the General Assembly that could help Clayton County residents raise money to fund C-TRAN.
“C-TRAN is a valuable and needed resource that Clayton County citizens use for basic transportation. Losing this service would be catastrophic for many and would create nearly insurmountable challenges for those who simply need a method of public transportation to get to work and provide for their families,” said Seay. “I’m committed to supporting legislation that will help relieve the gridlock metro Atlanta drivers face on a daily basis. While my colleagues in the House work through the nuances of this legislation, I am adding my voice to the list of forward thinking Georgians who demand action on this issue.”
Last week, Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam (D-Riverdale) added language aimed at C-TRAN to House Bill 1218, the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 that restructures how transportation projects are funded in Georgia. Among its provisions, the bill allows voters to decide on new transportation improvement projects by voting on a 1 percent sales tax for their region. The amendment Abdul-Salaam offered allows counties that are part of the MARTA Act to lift the tax cap and levy an additional sales tax to fund public transit. Should the measure pass the House of Representatives, Seay will educate her Senate colleagues on the issue to help ensure the bill’s passage.
Seay has already taken steps to ensure Clayton’s most vulnerable citizens continue to have access to public transit by urging President Barack Obama and Congress to continue funding public transportation for Georgia’s elderly and disabled citizens. Around 400 paratransit riders depend on C-TRAN to get to their doctor, many of whom are dialysis patients and need treatment every day. By encouraging cooperation between all levels of government, Seay is working to ensure a seamless transition once C-TRAN service ends on March 31. In order to serve C-TRAN’s paratransit riders, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority is working with the Clayton County Community Development Authority to operate three paratransit buses.
“News reports show that Governor Sonny Perdue has threatened to veto the transportation bill if it includes language that allows counties to opt-out of voting on a sales tax for their region. We must rise above these minor differences for the greater good of the Georgians who will benefit from this legislation,” added Seay. “If the General Assembly approves this bill, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners will have the opportunity to ensure that legislative intent is followed. My colleagues and I will strongly urge that local body to utilize the resulting revenues to shore up C-TRAN funding for the long run.”
Sen. Valencia Seay represents the 34th Senate District, which includes parts of Clayton and Fayette counties. She can be reached at her office at 404.656.5095 or by e-mail at valencia.seay@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 23, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028