Published by and for the employees of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority January 2001

County locations and, indeed, the entire metro region. New Rail Stations Open “I’m pleased to announce that these new stations are a gift INSIDE: that will keep giving,” he said. Amid Fanfare, Patrons “We project 36,000 daily riders for these stations by 2005. This Editorial: New Rail Stations, By Jeff Dickinson signifies a new day for transpor­ Buses Add To MARTA's Luster Two set of • Senior Publications Editor tation in north Fulton County.” ribbons Honoring Those Who ARTA got into got cut on Local, state and national Maintain the Powers the holiday spirit December dignitaries were on hand for the Memorial Garden when its two new 1 6, when ribbon-cutting ceremonies at rail stations—Sandy MARTA's Sandy Springs and North Springs and North o two Springs. Despite the frigid, rainy Springs—were opened f newest rail weather, hundreds of guests to the public in separate stations attended each ceremony. Each opened. station featured live entertain­ ceremonies December 16. -O 7 In keeping with the gift- | Top, ment, a variety of food and giving atmosphere of the MARTA drinks and plenty of optimism officials holiday season, MARTA’s about the growing transportation and area General Manager/CEO options for an area plagued by dignitaries Nathaniel R Ford Jr. said the worsening traffic. Scenes From The open Authority was doing more than State Rep. Johnny Isaakson New Stations' Openings North talked about MARTA’s impor­ presiding over opening ceremo­ Springs nies—it was opening stations tant role in helping to alleviate Station, transportation-related problems that will hold long-lasting and below, in the metro area. “Transporta­ benefits for their north Fulton they open tion is a partnership, and the lack Sandy of it in suburban areas has Springs Station. exacerbated problems such as air quality and traffic congestion,” Isaakson said. “MARTA has Holiday Happenings taken a big step in helping to At MARTA alleviate some of these problems with the opening of these two General Manager/CEO new stations.”0 Nathaniel P. Ford Jr. addresses those as­ I1 ■ * INSIDE S p* sembled at the opening of More photos of the as MARTA Board Chair­ openings of Sandy man William Moseley Springs and North $ looks on. Springs stations (page 3) Service Anniversaries

Lindbergh Center TOD MARTA Sets Goals Project Nears Next Phase For 2001 Legislative Session ...... | | ]# or this year’s with disabilities. (Gov. Roy S:| legislative Barnes has already included session, MARTA this item in his FY01 supple­ With Closing of South Lot has as its goals mental budget.) W capital assistance The other funding —v any initial moved when parking was Lindbergh Drive. for purchasing request concerns the opera­ W A V inconveniences eliminated in the north half of The closing of the south alternative-fueled buses and tion of MARTA’s Paratransit that the Lindbergh the surface parking lot in front lot was originally scheduled the provision of Paratransit service, operated in accor­ Center Transit of the station. to take place on Feb. 16, but service. dance with the Americans y Oriented Develop­ That first move of cus­ the winter weather has caused The Authority is request­ with Disabilities Act. ment (TOD) project tomers from the surface lot to construction delays. The ing that the Georgia Depart­ MARTA is requesting may have caused MARTA’s the former employee lots south lot closing is tenta­ ment of Transportation’s $483,384 (or 10 percent of customers appear to have been behind the Headquarters tively set for sometime at the budget for Fiscal Year 2002 the program’s total annual weathered. Now, however, building posed some chal­ end of February or the first include $2.38 million in state costs) for nonfixed route MARTA faces another hurdle lenges, because customers had part of March. funds for the acquisition of Paratransit services. when the south half of the to be directed up Piedmont Updates will be provided 70 compressed natural gas Any MARTA employee surface parking lot at Road and then onto Sydney in Transit Times, TOD Today buses. (This amount repre­ who is interested in contact­ Marcus Boulevard. and in a TOD brochure as sents 10 percent of the buses’ ing his or her representative closes and customers are This next phase of the more details become avail­ estimated cost.) regarding these legislative rerouted again. Lindbergh Center TOD project able. These buses will help matters is encouraged to Georgia meet federal clean- contact the Office of Govern­ Construction on the TOD will not be quite as challeng­ When the south surface air goals and will also be ment Relations at ext. project at Lindbergh Center ing because customers will parking lot does close, fully accessible to persons 5048.□ Station began last July and only have to move a few though, it will provide MARTA’s customers were hundred yards west on See “Lindbergh ” on page 2 Lindbergh: TOD Moves to Next Phase MARTAnet Puts Authority Continued from front to MARTA customers in the MARTA’s customers with lots that had formerly been more parking than they reserved for employees’ Information A Click Away currently have. The south use. Regardless of the date nnouncements of information and much more. trative Services. Payroll surface lot now has 600 y t ^ employees’ When the home page for information, including vacation parking spaces available to of the closing of the south T V retirements or MARTAnet is opened, a listing time and sick leave, can be customers’ use, while the surface parking lot at W y moving on to other of eight categories appears on accessed with just a few mouse new temporary lot that will Lindbergh Center Station, W jobs get posted in the left side of the page. These clicks. Employees will be able be located just a few hundred MARTA will have a mini­ elevator lobbies or in categories offer information on to fill out the form for request­ yards down Lindbergh Drive mum of seven days in break rooms throughout the the various departments through­ ing a non-revenue vehicle will offer approximately 800 which to make customers Authority. And when someone is out the Authority, MARTA’s without having to leave their spaces. aware of the change to their the guest of honor at a baby Strategic Plan, employee work areas. Construction and grading parking situation and of the shower or when a significant information, contract informa­ Several innovative options on the temporary lot have options available to them. tion, job listings, news and MARTA employee event is for MARTAnet are also being been ongoing for some time, The temporary lot will be events and a comprehensive investigated for the future. scheduled, a flier is normally but rain and the unseason­ open for at least a week telephone directory. Microsoft NetMeeting is being posted somewhere at the ably cold weather have before the south lot closes, The MARTAnet site is still explored, which would allow Authority. But can we be sure prevented crews from giving MARTA ample under development and con­ employees to be a part of a that everyone receives the completing the work. Before opportunity to make the struction, and not all of the MARTA meeting via a information they need to? customers may park in the information known. pages are completed. Several of conferencing connection Thanks to the Office of temporary lot, asphalt will In addition to a bro­ the key pages, such as job through the Intranet. The Information Technology, we’ll be applied after all the chure that will be distrib­ become less reliant on postings listings and employee informa­ possibility of centralized kiosks grading is complete. uted to the public, MARTA of this nature in the near future. tion, are not yet complete. at outlying MARTA facilities is In addition to the 800- will produce fliers and signs Information Technology has In addition to reducing the also being investigated. This space temporary lot, parking that will be distributed by a worked with many other paper needed to print fliers would allow employees at will continue to be available variety of personnel.□ departments at MARTA to create announcing employee events facilities throughout the MARTAnet, which is the and important notices, Authority to access any infor­ Authority’s system designed to MARTAnet has also been mation they needed on put employees one mouse-click designed to streamline the entire MARTAnet at a kiosk located in Tending the Garden away from internal information. internal communication process a centralized building at their MARTAnet, which can be at the Authority. MARTAnet will particular facility. accessed on the Internet by reduce report distribution time MARTAnet is being billed typing http://150.150J.212 or by offering online documents as “Your comprehensive search http.V/MARTAnet, will allow instantaneously. for MARTA information.” As employees to find out about MARTAnet will also allow MARTAnet developments upcoming events, retirement employees to download and occur, Transit Times will report notices, personnel policies, print forms from payroll, them so you’ll be able to benefit benefits information, payroll accounts payable and Adminis­ from the system.□

E D I T 0 R A L New Rail Stations, New Rail Cars, New Buses, New Year Bring Many Opportunities

where they live. The current rail cars # t finally happened, and Avondale MOW's Powers Memorial Garden con­ remain perfectly adequate—they get f it was a red-letter day tinues to provide onlookers with the sense of us to where we're going, and that's for everyone working at natural beauty and serenity its designers intended. the bottom line—but it's always nice MARTA. I'm referring to Sam Chaney, Boris Burton, Trez Liggons and Ricky to have new additions to the family. the opening of the new Thompson (left to right) have devoted themselves While on the subject of every­ rail stations at North to the maintenance of the garden despite last thing new, I would be remiss not to SpringsV and Sandy Springs. The summer's drought and this winter's unusually cold mention the growth in the number opening ceremonies were impres­ conditions. The MARTA family extends its apprecia­ of CNG buses MARTA now offers. As sive and well-staged, but most tion to the groundskeepers and looks forward to a longtime DeKalb County resident, importantly, the customers who the garden's springtime colors. J came to experience the new sta­ I used to go long stretches without tions appeared impressed by what seeing a CNG bus in my neighbor­ they saw, and also by what they hood, but no more. They're an rode in when they boarded the new increasingly common sight and are T ransitC huckles rail cars. destined to become moreso as I used to work in Sandy Springs, MARTA continues to acquire CNG and I can tell you honestly: it would buses and expand its CNG facilities. have improved the quality of my As a very public way of proclaiming life immeasurably to have a MARTA MARTA's commitment to clean air, rail station nearby. As it was, I rode it's tough to beat a fleet of CNG the #5 bus out of Lindbergh Center buses. Station, which was vastly preferable to negotiating Sandy Springs traf­ fic. I know thai many commuters We at Transit Times have always will appreciate the improvement in welcomed employee input, and their travel. recently we've begun to receive The new rail cars—for the more input from you than ever, benefit of those who haven't had which means we're doing our jobs. the pleasure of experiencing them In the months to come, we hope yet are marvelous. Like other you'll continue to let us know how MARTA riders, I'm accustomed to we can serve the Authority's work the type of rail cars we've had for force better, because we want to years now. But the new rail cars are produce a newspaper that not only really nice, and I can't help but informs you of current events within think that they'll make a big im­ MARTA, but one that stimulates pression on customers, especially discussion of issues that concern all new customers who are riding of us. Stay in touch with us in MARTA for the first time because 2001 !□ — Tom Heintjes the system has expanded closer to Publications Editor

2 TRANSIT TIMES JANUARY 2001 New Stations: A Photographic Essay Of Grand Openings

(1) Oscar Harris, Nathaniel R Ford Jr., Ray Hornbuckle, Amos Beasley, Laura Lawson, Thomas O'Neill and Ms. Lawson's son, Carlos, stand behind Mr. Beasley's grandson, Mike, at . (2) Maj. Wesley Tillman gathers at North Springs Station with John Keys (center) and Jack Stephens. The Atlanta Art Choir sings carols. (4) Nathaniel R Ford Jr. addresses the crowd as William R. Moseley (left) looks on. (5) Board members Amos Beasley, Laura Lawson and Harold Buckley share a conversa­ tion. (6) William R. Moseley, Rep. Johnny Isaakson and John Keys gather at Sandy Springs Station. (7) Nathaniel P Ford Jr, former Board member Julia Mitchell-lvey, Johnny Isakson and Board member George Ivey stand at Sandy Springs Station. (8) Charles Pursley, Paul Vespermann, Nathaniel R Ford Jr. and Board members Mychal Walker and George Ivey head for a rail car. (9) The Marketing Department's Mitzi Rutledge, Barbara Prowell-Jones and Sylvia Burjey huddle against the cold at North Springs Station.

Holiday Happenings at MARTA

The holiday season was a busy one for the MARTA family. Santa Express (1) was a success, evidenced by Roosevelt Stripling and his children visiting St. Nick. The Temptations (2) won the talent show at the Christmas Party, beating some impressive competition. The Holiday Cops Shop was again a generous and successful event, symbolizing the best of what MARTA is about: enhancing our communities. Ofc. Darren Tilmon and his son, Darren Jr., (at left in the photo) accompany some shoppers (3), and the group assembles prior to shopping (4).Q

JANUARY 2001 TRANSIT TIMES 3 What is your New Year’s resolution?

Marietta Solomon, Station Alethia Woods, Walter Shell, Bus Opera­ Samuel P. Jacobs, Station Keenan Frizzell, Services: “I want to finish Serviceperson III: “I tor. “I want to make more Sen’ices: “I resolve to save Reprographic Services: my resolution from last want to lose weight. One money this year. I’d like money this year. The best “To reach my goal of year, which is to grow way I’ll probably try to to do that by getting a way I know how to go getting back in shape. more as an individual in do that is to cut back on raise and also by starting a about doing that is to stay I’m going to go moun­ my art career. I also want some of my favorite business from home.” out of the stores." tain biking and practice to grow in my career here foods, although it won't tae bo, and I’m dieting to at MARTA.” be easy." lose 35 pounds.”

The Uptown Comedy Comer is offering a 50% discount on tick­ ets to MARTA employees on Wednesday and Sunday nights. As Longtime Atlanta long as 10 or more MARTA employees purchase tickets to any Buses Of Yore residents might recog­ show on Wednesday or Sunday night, they will get them at $5 instead of the normal price of $10. nize these buses in a The showtime available for for the 50% discount on the two 1953 photograph nights is 8:30 p.m. Any MARTA employee interested in attending a recently acquired by show at the Uptown Comedy Comer can call Prince Sanders at MARTA's Jim Brown. 404-344-2142 and he will make the reservation. The buses, run by ^ Sanders, who is in Station Services, will ensure that tickets are at MARTA's precursor the box office at the comedy club. Employees will then be required agency, the Atlanta to show their MARTA identification badge to receive the discount. The Uptown Comedy Comer is located at 2140 Peachtree Road. Transit System, are shown parked at Brisbane Garage. Note EMPLOYEE CLASSIFIEDS the overhead catena­ ries, a reminder of how MARTA's Employee Classifieds are a free way to far the system has offer goods or services to your coworkers. To place evolved. J a classified ad, fax your information to ext. 5098 and we'll publish it in the next available issue. AUTOMOBILE FOR SALE: 1997 Saturn SL2, with new tires. Excellent condition. $10,500 or best offer. Call (770) 322-7850 or ext. 5128.Q MARTA 2424 Piedmont Road 23rd Annual Transit Evaluation Atlanta, GA 30324 Seminar Successful The Office of Transit means of exchanging infor­ Research and Analysis mation and keeping current hosted its 23rd annual on latest Authority develop­ Transit Evaluation Seminar ments. The Service Monitor­ on December 12-14, 2000, ing staff benefited from at MARTA Headquarters. gaining a broadened perspec­ The seminar featured topics tive of MARTA’s goals and such as an update on the objectives, and they also Authority’s retirement renewed their commitment to benefits, job access, and meet future challenges. developments on TOD Planning for this year’s projects. The program’s seminar series is already highlight was a tour of the underway, and your input new Sandy Springs and and suggestions for the North Springs rail stations. programming are welcome. The seminar series, Those interested in contribut­ January Service Anniversaries initiated in 1977, has been an ing suggestions may contact Forty Years Twenty Years Patricia Cooper eagerly anticipated annual Lekha Mukherjee at ext. William T. Elder Margaret A. Fox Freddie L. Ross event, functioning as a 5450.a Richard Sims Thirty Years Fifteen Years Ronald Smith Russell J. Malcom Eurethia Alexander Berjees Taaj Cecil J. Meadows Sr. Valerie G. Bee Ronald R Cotten Five Years T R A N SIT ® IBS Twenty-Five Years Lillie M. Daniels Neil J. Bradley Eddie W. Atwell Thomas G. Henderson Robert C. Connolly is published monthly by Victor Dookie Jackie R. Cook Kenneth A. McDonald MARTA Sabrina M. Dooley Thomas H. Cooper James D. Moss Office of Marketing Michael Hemingway Lillie Drayton William C. Ritter Division of Customer Development Yvonne Hill Lorrine Thomas 2424 Piedmont Road, NE Randall S. Dunn Gwendolyn Irving Atlanta, GA 30324 Robert Fowler Richard A. Vernick Jr. Henry Kenner (404) 848-5157 Melvin Humphrey Eddie L. Walker Darnell W. Parker (404) 848-5098 (fax) William J. O'Neil Bessie W. Williams Queius L. Person www.itsmarta.com Homer L. Scott Kenneth I. Pettis Earl H. Smith Ten Years Carlos M. Rivera Jeff Dickinson, Senior Editor Melvin Turner Richard M. Avery Dexter B. Shelton Tom Heintjes, Editor Stanley L. Williams Willie Benton Tanya Y. Young Kelly Mills, Photographer Elmer Cheney Steven N. Zachery

4 TRANSIT TIMES JANUARY 2001