Op-Ed: Atlanta Committee for Progress Must Prioritize Black Community Involvement on MARTA's Future
The Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP) plays a vital role in shaping Atlanta's infrastructure and economic future. Its influence, particularly on projects like MARTA—Atlanta's public transit lifeline—has the potential to either uplift or further marginalize communities across the city. Yet, as plans for MARTA's expansion and improvement move forward, there remains an urgent need to address the concerns and perspectives of Atlanta's Black community.
For decades, MARTA has been more than just a transportation system for Atlanta's Black residents. It has been a critical connector for workers, students, and families navigating economic and social opportunities. However, persistent issues—such as uneven service in predominantly Black neighborhoods, concerns about safety and accessibility, and fears of displacement due to transit-oriented development—have deepened mistrust. These challenges cannot be overlooked if MARTA is to serve all Atlantans equitably.
Studies over the years have consistently highlighted the need for equitable investment in public transit systems and the consequences of ignoring community voices. For example, data shows that insufficient infrastructure and underinvestment in transit routes disproportionately serving Black neighborhoods lead to reduced access to economic opportunities, lower employment rates, and widening income gaps. Despite numerous studies and community advocacy, long-standing outcomes such as poor service reliability, lack of affordable access, and disinvestment remain pervasive. Promised improvements have often failed to materialize in ways that meet the needs and priorities of Black communities.
These unmet outcomes underscore the urgency of MARTA's next phase: to integrate and fully address Black community concerns. It is no longer acceptable to present transit development plans that ignore systemic inequities while hoping to maintain public trust. The time for meaningful community engagement and actionable results is now.
The Black community's role in Atlanta's growth is undeniable. We stakeholders rely on MARTA for transit and access to upward mobility. Without genuine involvement and representation in decision-making processes, MARTA risks implementing plans that ignore the realities faced by underserved communities. Involvement is not just a matter of fairness—it is a matter of Atlanta's success. A MARTA system that meets the needs of its most loyal riders strengthens the economy, improves connectivity, and builds trust.
To address this, ACP and MARTA must prioritize three key actions:
1. Amplify Voices of the Black Community: ACP must ensure that voices from Black neighborhoods are heard, not performatively, through tangible opportunities for input and influence.
Simply hosting a public meeting does not get it. MARTA and ACP can gain factual information by hosting charrettes, focus groups, or other variations. This style of information gathering can target locales all over the city. Public engagement processes must include targeted outreach to residents who rely most on MARTA.
2. Commit to Equitable Development: MARTA's projects must be accompanied by policies that prevent displacement, should be an investment into the community, create affordable housing, and support Black-owned businesses in transit corridors. Economic benefits must not bypass the communities that depend on MARTA.
3. Focus on Quality and Access: Safe, reliable, and expanded transit services in predominantly Black neighborhoods must become a priority. Whether addressing aging infrastructure or introducing new routes, the goal must be to bridge service gaps, not widen them.
The Atlanta Committee for Progress uniquely can steer MARTA's future toward equity and inclusion. Atlanta's Black community is not a separate entity—we are Atlanta. Our businesses, families, and workers are integral to the success of ACP champions. Progress without our input is not progress at all. It must be at the table not just in large business leadership but in local small businesses, residential, and neighborhood participants as well.
When addressing MARTA and Atlanta's broader development, the ACP must take deliberate steps to include, invest in, and uplift the Black community. Doing so will ensure Atlanta fulfills its promise as a city that thrives because of its diversity, not despite it.
Now is the time to create a MARTA system that reflects Atlanta's values—equity, opportunity, and growth for all. Anything less is a step backward.
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