The Georgia Transit Association advocates for a state and regional transit governance model aimed at enhancing access to public and human services transit while preserving local control. Key recommendations include designating a single state agency to streamline transit program administration and develop a strategic transit plan every five years. Improved coordination among multiple transit agencies is essential for optimizing service delivery across Georgia's counties.

1. Transit Governance Position

2. State Transit Governance
State Level Transit Governance
The Georgia Transit Association (GTA) supports a state transit governance model that
enhances access to public and human services transit, preserves local control, and
coordinates existing transit programs to eliminate the duplication of services.
Recommendations
• Designate a single state agency to administer public and human
services transit programs, streamline policy guidance, and to
maximize state transit funding to create a stronger transit
network.
• Authorize the state agency to establish a statewide transit
planning process, and direct it to produce a strategic transit
plan every five years.

3. State Transit Governance Cont’d.
Figure 1: Transit Coordination Chart (FTA, 2016)

4. Georgia Transit Systems - 2016
Issue:
There are multiple agencies that are
responsible for delivering transit services.
Improved state governance is a critical first step
to optimize local, multi-county, and multi-
regional transit services.
• There are multiple definitions of a “region”
• Public transit is available in 120+ of Georgia’s
159 counties
• Human services transit is available in all 159
counties (DHS)
• Medicaid transit service is available in all 159
counties (DCH)
• GRTA Express Bus services provides critical
suburban to urban linkage
Figure 2: Transit Map (GDOT, 2016)

5. Regional Transit Governance
Regional Level Transit Governance
The Georgia Transit Association (GTA) supports a regional transit governance model that
enhances access to public and human services transit, preserves local control, and
coordinates existing transit programs to eliminate the duplication of services.
Recommendations
• Develop a voluntary process for local governments to designate
a transit service region, and to establish all reasonable and
necessary intergovernmental agreements to administer public
and human services transit programs, streamline policy
guidance, and to maximize funding to create a stronger transit
network.