Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers (GARP), newsletter for September 2011:

Enough money has been raised by proponents of a "high speed" rail line between Atlanta and Chattanooga that federal matching funds may now be available for further study.

MARTA fares will be rising on September 24th, with a single ride base fare increasing from $2 to $2.50. It's MARTA's largest percentage hike ever, and the first time it went up as much as 50 cents. Meanwhile, Governor Nathan Deal blocked a scheduled gas tax increase but he's done nothing for transit riders.

Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable worked all summer to come up with a list of transit and road projects for a sales tax referendum for next year. For rail, it includes the Clifton Corridor (a line that woudl link the existing MARTA rail system at Lindbergh with Emory University, a light rail line between Midtown Atlanta at Arts Center Station and Cumberland, and part of the Atlanta Beltline streetcar. Conspicuously absent from the list is any commuter rail, such as the Atlanta-Griffin line. It also ignores the sense of urgency for a new Amtrak station in the Atlanta area.