MARTA says it will not postpone construction of Five Points

“We have reached all necessary agreements with our partners at the Federal Transit Administration/USDOT and have signed contractual obligations with several contractors,” MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood wrote to the mayor. “Successful execution of any public construction project requires thoughtful planning from the outset, strong public engagement throughout the process, and the courage to advance the project to completion. »

A spokesperson for Dickens did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Monday’s letter follows Dickens’ request last week to postpone the renovation of Five Points. MARTA plans to remove a concrete canopy over the station plaza, install a translucent roof, build new bus platforms at street level and add green space.

In preparation for construction, MARTA recently announced plans to reroute bus routes that connect Five Points on July 6 and close pedestrian access to the transit center starting July 29.

Rail passengers could still transfer trains at Five Points during construction. But the closure would force the thousands of people who access the rail system in Five Points to take a train at another nearby station.

MARTA plans to temporarily reopen access to Five Points during the 2026 World Cup. But after the soccer tournament, the closure will continue until construction is completed in 2028.

The proposed closure sparked backlash from some business and community leaders. Some want MARTA to postpone the project until after the World Cup and keep Five Points accessible throughout construction.

On Thursday, Dickens expressed another concern. Preliminary audit findings he shared with Greenwood suggest MARTA owes at least $70 million to its Atlanta Expansion Fund — a program funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by Atlanta voters in 2016.

City council members requested the audit last year amid concerns that MARTA had spent far more to improve bus service than was initially anticipated in its expansion plans. Critics of MARTA say the money can’t be used to build new transit lines. Council members also believe MARTA spent expansion funds to improve bus service that it did not actually provide.

Although the final results of the audit won’t be ready until late July, Dickens told Greenwood on Thursday that the preliminary findings merit a pause in construction at Five Points until the problem can be resolved. The mayor also indicated that his administration may have other priorities that should be discussed before renovations to Five Points begin. It recently announced plans for four new infill stations along existing MARTA lines.

In its response, MARTA said it worked “hand in hand with your administration to bring this (Five Points) project to life.” » She said she had numerous discussions with Dickens staff about the design of the project and the need to close pedestrian access during construction.

“In the eleven months since the City of Atlanta approved the current design, MARTA has proceeded with all due diligence to begin construction,” Greenwood wrote.