Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 23, 1999 |
| Jurisdiction | Georgia, U.S. |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent department | State Road and Tollway Authority |
| Website | https://srta.ga.gov/grta/ |
The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA, /ˈɡrɛtə/ "Greta") is a government agency that addresses mobility and air quality in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was set up under former governor of Georgia Roy Barnes, in order to address mobility, air quality and land use and how they relate to the transportation needs of metro Atlanta, including both roads and public transit.[1]
GRTA's jurisdiction encompasses 13 Georgia counties in Metro Atlanta: Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Forest, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale.
History
In July 1998, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce created a board to study the root causes of air pollution in Atlanta to advert the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's threat of withholding $475 million in federal transportation funding from the region. The board presented several recommendations to then-Governor of Georgia Roy Barnes including the creation of a centralized regional planning authority.[2] In January 1999, Barnes introduced legislation creating the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to the Georgia Senate.[3] The legislation was officially signed into law on March 23, 1999.[4]
In June 2017, GRTA combined offices and staff with the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA).[5]
Xpress regional commuter coach service
GRTA operated Xpress, metropolitan Atlanta's first regional commuter bus system, from its start in 2004 until July 2020, when operations were transferred to the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL). As of June, 2025, there are 15 Xpress routes are in operation. Service operates from roughly 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays with most service being rush hours only.
See also
References
- ^ "Catherine Ross, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority". The Bond Buyer. February 17, 2000. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ Trelstad, Brian (2000). "Georgia Regional Transportation Authority: A Case Study of an Innovative Regional Planning Institution". Berkeley Planning Journal. 14: 23–45 – via eScholarship.
- ^ Meyers, Susan Laccetti (January 26, 1999). "Transit authority gives region hope". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. A14. NewsBank 0EADA4364B877929.
- ^ Pruitt, Kathey (March 24, 1999). "1999 GEORGIA LEGISLATURE - GRTA clears final legislative hurdles". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. B1. NewsBank 0EADA4524C1ACFEC.
- ^ Williams, Dave (June 12, 2017). "SRTA, GRTA combine headquarters in downtown Atlanta". Atlanta Business Chronicle. www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved April 18, 2025.