Atlanta Mayor Asks MARTA to Slow Down Renovation of Five Points – WABE

Mayor Andre Dickens wants MARTA to suspend its controversial $230 million overhaul of Five Points station.

That’s after Atlanta’s CFO raised “concerns” about an ongoing audit of More MARTA, a voter-approved sales tax program to fund transit projects.

As of now, MARTA says buses will be diverted from Five Points on July 6 and MARTA will completely close pedestrian access at the end of July.

Atlanta officials wanted to complete the renovations in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

But Axios reports that in a letter sent Thursday to MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood, Dickens said the city must review preliminary findings that require “clarity and attention” and should receive the final audit report end of July.

Thomas Wheatley is an Axios Atlanta reporter covering the story, and he joined “All Things Considered” to talk about what he discovered.

Christopher Alston contributed to this report.