Lawmakers tackle transit problems in rural Georgia

Fresh from igniting what could be a major expansion of public transportation in metro Atlanta, state lawmakers are taking aim at a more difficult task: fixing transit in rural Georgia.

Across large swaths of the state, seniors struggle to make it to medical appointments, workers can’t get to jobs and college students can’t find a ride to class. Many don’t own cars. And unlike their peers in metro Atlanta, their public transit options and private services like Uber and Lyft are limited or nonexistent.

Now a state House of Representatives commission is exploring options to meet rural Georgia’s unique transit needs while also limiting state spending. The commission is considering various private sector incentives, such as tax credits for employers, as well as transit subsidies for the unemployed in rural areas and small cities.

“I’m excited to see what can come out of something like that, creating a competitive environment,” said Rep. Kevin Tanner, R-Dawsonville, who chairs the House Commission on Transit Governance and Funding. “We want to create an environment for innovation.”

Read more: https://politics.myajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/lawmakers-tackle-transit-problems-rural-georgia/Y7ifs5CB6UOCOcWdXlpgOK/