DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has appointed local business leader Devon Hudson to the MARTA Board of Directors, as reported by an announcement from DeKalb County. Hudson, an established entrepreneur and owner of Devon Hudson State Farm Agency, brings extensive community service experience and a background in real estate development to the table. His mission on the board is to foster the growth of mass transit in anticipation of the region's evolving needs.
"I am pleased to appoint an exceptionally qualified leader who shares my commitment to strengthening and expanding transit," CEO Cochran-Johnson said, in a statement obtained by DeKalb County. Hudson’s resume features multiple retail and commercial property developments across South DeKalb, including the Trinity Office Park, which addressed the area's shortfall of professional office spaces, and the leadership of multiple civic organizations.
A graduate of Illinois State University with degrees in Finance and Computer Science, Devon Hudson's alignment with DeKalb's goals echoes through his past recognitions. His accolades include the Outstanding Minority Business Award from the Georgia Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, and the Outstanding Young People of Atlanta Award. Devon "embodies both business excellence and community dedication, making him a strong advocate for equitable growth in DeKalb’s evolving transit system," Cochran-Johnson further expanded on Hudson's qualifications, as per DeKalb County website.
This new appointment aligns with DeKalb County’s increased commitment to an integrated and fair transit system for its citizens. Cochran-Johnson has set in motion an update to the DeKalb Master Transit Plan, a blueprint last visited in 2018, ensuring its relevance to the county’s current requirements and ambitions. The update is supported by a significant $500,000 contribution from the Atlanta Regional Commission, signifying a regional effort to this strategic cause. "DeKalb is at the forefront of regional mobility," Cochran-Johnson noted, emphasizing the strategic steps being taken "to build a connected, equitable transit network that moves both people and opportunity forward," as mentioned on the DeKalb County website.
The drive to modernize comes amidst major infrastructure projects like the Georgia Department of Transportation's I-285/I-20 Interchange Project and the Top-End Express Lanes Project, with a collective budget exceeding $11 billion. These initiatives demonstrate a concentrated push to re-imagine metropolitan Atlanta's transportation landscape to benefit both commuting and residential communities in DeKalb County and its twelve cities.
