Originally published on Atlanta News First
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - On Tuesday, more opponents of MARTA’s planned renovation to its Five Points hub rallied outside the downtown station.
“Don’t close Five Points,” dozens chanted after a press conference that included city leaders, downtown business leaders, transit advocacy groups and labor unions.
The group echoed sentiments of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens calling for MARTA to halt its renovation plan.
“We need more access, not less,” said Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman. “This is a moment that we need better transit, and plowing ahead with this ill-conceived plan is the wrong direction.”
Shipman said the onus now sits with the MARTA Board, who could listen to the growing opposition and re-think the renovation plan.
RELATED: Riders, transit advocates push for keeping access point open during Five Points MARTA station renovation
A MARTA spokesperson provided the following statement after the press conference, stressing that MARTA is staying the course with the planned renovation:
“We are full steam ahead to revitalize Five Points and deliver an enhanced experience for our riders with as limited disruption as possible. Delaying this work is irresponsible and does nothing to alleviate the service impacts necessary for such complex deconstruction work. The time to do this work is now, not years from now when we will be left with no choice and potentially forced to close the entire station without the benefit of detour planning and communications.
We welcome all viewpoints for a project of this scope and pledge to continue listening and adjusting, when possible, but we remain committed to delivering this project that was approved by our partners at the City, by voters, and supported by the state and federal government.”
Along with Shipman, Councilmember Jason Dozier, Rebecca Serna with Propel ATL, and Deborah Scott from Georgia Stand-Up joined activists outside Five Points on Tuesday.
Serna said she’d like to see improvements in how those with disabilities will be able to navigate the station during the renovation.
RELATED: MARTA responds to Atlanta mayor, says Five Points station renovation plan will not stop
Tuesday afternoon, Dickens provided the following statement in support of the opposition rally:
“I echo the frustrations expressed by Atlantans today over the proposed Five Points redevelopment plan. In addition to the serious concerns about accessibility and the potential closure of the station for four years, preliminary findings show MARTA may owe the citizens of Atlanta $70 million—or more. I stand by my call to pause construction activity until we can reassess and determine a better path forward.”
In a May 29 Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee meeting, MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood initially indicated the renovation plan, set to start on July 6, called for the closure of the station to pedestrians for up to four years.
He was questioned on the timeline multiple times by councilmembers.
“This kind of progress comes with disruption,” Greenwood said. “That’s not to belittle the impact [of the closure].”
In the meeting, Greenwood said he trusts the contractors and design process that called for the lengthy project timeline.
“This is a product [renovation plan] that they [contractors] have come up with. This a product that the administration has supported,” said Greenwood during the meeting.
Eight days after the meeting, Dickens, pointing to a preliminary report from an audit into MARTA, wrote a letter to Greenwood urging MARTA to halt the renovation project.
RELATED: Atlanta mayor to MARTA: Stop $230 million Five Points expansion until audit complete
“Given the significance of the insights expected from this report, I am requesting that MARTA temporarily halt the Five Points MARTA station project until we are in receipt of the final report and engage in subsequent discussions together to determine the best possible path forward for MARTA and the City of Atlanta,” said Dickens in the letter acquired by Atlanta News First.
Shipman on Tuesday said he believes the full audit report will be released in the next few weeks.
Greenwood explained the audit findings as premature and any financial discrepancies can be explained.
“The appropriate correction is simply an accounting function, not a reason to significantly alter the course of the More MARTA capital priorities that we have mutually agreed to advance,” said Greenwood in a response letter sent on June 10.
Dickens and Greenwood are expected to meet in a closed-door meeting on June 28.
The renovation plan calls for eight bus routes to be re-routed from Five Points starting on Saturday, July 6.
The station will be closed off to pedestrians coming or leaving the station starting on July 29.
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