Friday, February 15, 2002
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Friday, February 15, 2002 |
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ARC, GRTA seeking closer relationship At an historic meeting of metropolitan Atlanta's key regional planning and transportation agencies the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority forged a set of principles on how they will work together more closely in the future on issues critical to the region. The board of directors of each agency, along with members of the Georgia State Transportation Board, met at Jekyll Island last week in a series of work sessions to hear updates on major transportation initiatives. "The priorities of both of our agencies are focused on providing solutions to mobility and air quality challenges," said ARC Chairman Crandle Bray. "By coming together at this first joint working session, we are now stronger and more unified in our goals than ever before." "Our joint energies today helped us turn a new page on Atlanta's regional transportation story," said Sonny Deriso, GRTA chairman. "Now more than ever, we are shoulder to shoulder on an agenda of new transportation choices for the Atlanta region." Outcomes of the meeting included agreement to pursue: Annual joint retreats of ARC, GRTA and Georgia Department of Transportation boards. Development of a Memorandum of Agreement between ARC and GRTA to clarify and underscore individual and joint roles. Regular meetings of agency chairmen and executive directors (at least twice annually). Exploration of ways to build cross representation on the agencies' respective committees. An invitation to the governor of Georgia to attend the next joint retreat. A joint public awareness campaign on critical regional transportation issues and clarification of agency roles in solution-building. Over the next several weeks, staffs of the two organizations will compile all of the recommendations from the working session into a draft action plan for consideration by both boards.
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