State agency threatens to shut down Atlanta streetcar
ATLANTA (AP) — State transportation authorities have threatened to shut down the Atlanta Streetcar next month unless the city resolves dozens of problems outlined in recent audits.
News outlets report the Georgia Department of Transportation wrote a letter Monday to Mayor Kasim Reed and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Agency CEO Keith Parker, giving the city until June 14 to submit plans to address 60 outstanding problems outlined in the reports.
The problems include poor maintenance procedures, inadequate staffing and a failure to properly investigate accidents. If they are not addressed, the $98 million system will be shut down.
The city and MARTA share responsibility for the downtown Atlanta system, which launched in December 2014.
Reed spokeswoman Jenna Garland says the streetcar is safe and the city has been working hard to improve it.