Mass transit buses rolling through Coweta County could be a possible scenario to help alleviate the traffic problems choking the metro area.

That's the word according to Georgia Regional Transportation Authority media director Charles Walston.

While the authority has not offered funds to Coweta County to start a bus system like the authority has done to Clayton County, Walston said Coweta County is part of the region that has to deal with alleviating traffic jams and cleaning up the air.

In the last two weeks, GRTA announced it would provide $4 million in start-up funds to help Clayton County start a bus system.

The system would be administered by MARTA, but Walston said Clayton officials are looking at naming the bus system the Southern Crescent Transportation System.

If the system is approved by the Clayton County Commission and starts operating, Coweta could play a role in the new transportation system.

“By naming it Southern Crescent, Clayton officials are looking at possibly branching out to Henry and Fayette counties. Coweta could also possibly fit into the mix,” Walston said.

Another scenario that could see buses in the county is the construction of commuter rail lines. Within the next four years, lines from Atlanta to Athens and Atlanta to Macon will be up and running. When rail stations are built, Walston said you also need park and ride lots and buses to get the commuters to the station.

“We look at all possible scenarios as pieces in a puzzle. Coweta County is definitely part of the big regional picture,” he said.

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