The Rapid A-line project in Atlanta, designed to provide faster bus service, has been delayed and its cost has increased from $58 million to $122.9 million. The new completion date is now set for fall 2026, with plans to partially open it by April 2026. The project is primarily funded by the city's half-penny More MARTA sales tax. MARTA's expansion projects overseer, Abhay "A.J." Joshi, explained that unexpected issues, such as unmarked utility lines and an unlisted underground parking garage, caused the delays and cost increase, as mentioned by Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Local residents and officials have raised concerns about public transportation ahead of the World Cup. Enoch Ogunnoiki, a resident of the Summerhill area, said, "Traffic itself right now is already crazy, I couldn’t even imagine what it’s going to be like then." Councilmember Michael Julian Bond added, "I’m really upset about it. Because MARTA has delayed, I believe the cost has gone up, and I think they’re asking us to pay more, which I don’t think is going to happen," as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Atlanta Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks requested more details on the cost breakdown of a MARTA project, stating, "It would be highly irresponsible for the city to agree to substantially increase a single project budget by tens of millions of dollars without the detailed, requested information on that project," according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Bond also emphasized the need for MARTA to share the financial burden rather than relying only on city funds. MARTA officials aim to proceed with construction to fully use a $12.6 million federal grant, with over $4 million still unspent, before the September 30 deadline. Formal approval for the budget increase from both MARTA’s board and city officials is needed by May to keep the project on schedule.
