Deal forms transit task force

*Attached is PDF of executive order

Panel to draft bill to coordinate Atlanta region agencies

Gov. Nathan Deal today signed an executive order to create the Transit Governance Task Force, which will take the executive findings of the Transit Governance Study Commission and use them as a basis for developing a legislative proposal to be introduced in the 2012 session of the General Assembly.

“The metro Atlanta region has a multitude of transit agencies that work independently of each other,” Deal said. “The study committee found that commuters, transit stakeholders and the general public would benefit from oversight, streamlining and coordination of the individual transit systems in the metro Atlanta region. This represents the next step in the process, where we move toward drafting legislation that can make a real difference.”

Deal named state House Majority Caucus Chairwoman Donna Sheldon (R-Dacula) and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) as co-chairs. Rounding out the task force will be Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville), Sen. Ron Ramsey (D-Decatur), Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta), Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-DeKalb), who chairs the MARTA Oversight Board, the mayors of the City of Atlanta, the City of Riverdale, the City of Johns Creek, and the county commission chairs of Gwinnett, Douglas and Rockdale counties.