Mayor Kasim Reed says proposal for Streetcar outside contractor "forthcoming"

ATLANTA - Mayor Kasim Reed is coy about when the city plans to seek proposals for an outside contractor to take over the Atlanta Streetcar.

The Mayor was responding to the FOX 5 I-Team report Wednesday night that the city has decided to pick a transit professional to run the troubled Streetcar.

Two weeks ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation, which oversees streetcar safety, issued a stern letter telling MARTA and the city they have until next Tuesday to fix sixty separate safety and security issues. If they don't provide a plan, the state vowed to shut the Streetcar down.

Wednesday, the FOX 5 I-Team broke the story that Mayor Reed has decided to request proposals for an outside contractor to run the Streetcar.

His staff said the request for proposals or RFP could go out as early as today. We found a flyer on the city web site inviting transportation industry leaders to come to city hall to hear from city officials about the work “relating to the operations and maintenance of the Atlanta Streetcar.”

Pressed for a timetable, Mayor Reed would only say the RFP is “likely forthcoming.”