FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2024
FTA TRIENNIAL REVIEW SHOWS MARTA’S STRONG STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC
MONEY, ENSURES COMPETITIVENESS FOR FUTURE FEDERAL FUNDING
ATLANTA – The
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Triennial Review finds the Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to be an outstanding steward of
taxpayer money and positions the Authority to remain competitive for future
federal funding.
The review looked
at 23 different program areas, such as Legal, Financial Management,
Procurement, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and others, and examined a
sample of grant award management and program implementation practices to assess
MARTA’s compliance with federal requirements.
As the recipient
of federal funding, MARTA must illustrate that it spent federal money where and
how it said it would, and that it was done following federal procedures and
documentation processes.
“These findings
underscore how methodical we are in our bookkeeping, how seriously we take the
responsibility of receiving public funds, and how well we document our
processes,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “Not only did
we account for each dollar spent, but we also illustrated our continued good
stewardship of COVID relief money and addressed the three minor deficiencies
identified during the review before the final report was issued.”
MARTA took
corrective action on three deficiencies identified in the review, updating
procurement procedures, and addressing an engineering challenge that caused
inactivity on two grants. By resolving these areas immediately and illustrating
strong compliance during the review process, MARTA is well positioned to
compete for future federal funding necessary for large capital projects.
MARTA, like all
transit agencies, undergoes consistent internal and external audits that review safety
procedures, ridership data, finances, and program-specific information. Such
rigorous review ensures MARTA remains compliant with local, state, and federal
requirements, maintains strong fiscal and quality controls, and continues to be
honest and accurate in its reporting.
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