MARTA Board agenda July 16: More MARTA IGA amendment + Buford Highway ART design
MARTA’s July 16 agenda for More MARTA includes an IGA governance amendment plus AE50576 systems engineering and AE50544 Buford Highway ART final design.
MARTA’s Board meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026 had a “More MARTA” agenda that included (1) an amendment to the More MARTA intergovernmental agreement (IGA) and (2) two major consulting-contract authorizations tied to the Buford Highway Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) alignment planning.
Planning and Capital Programs Committee materials dated June 25 spell out what each item would authorize—and why these approvals matter to riders along Buford Highway/Route 39 even before any construction work is underway.
More MARTA IGA amendment: shifting liaison roles and funding framework
One agenda item would authorize an amendment to the More MARTA Atlanta Expansion Program IGA (tied to IGA A600488). The June 25 committee packet explains the “core change” as modifying how liaison support works inside the program’s governance structure.
In the original IGA, the structure included a single Program Management Office Liaison (PMO Liaison). The amendment request would replace that with three liaison roles: a Program Management Officer, a Project Manager, and a Community Liaison.
The committee packet also ties the change to the half-cent sales tax framework for More MARTA, and states the amendment would increase the IGA authorization to $15,000,000 (with an identified not-to-exceed liaison support funding level of $500,000 per year for 2026–2056 in the packet).
That packet further notes that Atlanta City Council approved Ordinance 25-O-1425 on August 18, 2025, identifying the three liaison positions and setting the not-to-exceed funding approach for the liaison support.
Contract authorization (AE50576): systems engineering consulting “backbone”
A second agenda item would authorize award(s) for systems engineering consulting services under contract code AE50576.
According to the June 25 packet, AE50576 is intended to provide expertise in support of MARTA’s Capital Programs Expansion and Innovation work and its Operations division. The packet lists systems areas the consulting would support, including traction power/third-rail power, train control and signaling, fare collection, communications/control center needs, SCADA/corrosion control, and items such as CCTV and audio-visual information.
The committee packet also says the “program” for AE50576 would run as a five-year term with a total contract award of $20M, funded with Local Capital funds, and that tasks would be assigned through negotiated work orders to multiple firms listed in the packet.
Contract authorization (AE50544): Buford Highway ART final design
The third agenda item would authorize a contract for “final design services” for the Buford Highway ART alignment under AE50544.
MARTA’s Buford Highway ART project page describes the project’s status as 30% design complete, with MARTA coordinating with the Georgia Department of Transportation because Buford Highway is a state route.
In the June 25 committee packet, MARTA says the Buford Highway ART design “requires” architectural and engineering consulting services to complete final design and implementation planning.
The packet’s scope description for AE50544 includes work such as project management and controls; public outreach/communications/branding; professional design and permitting; constructability and value engineering; intelligent transportation systems (ITS) integration and signal design; project-specific safety and security certification; and design services during construction.
The June 25 packet also states the recommended award is to HNTB, in an amount of $4,700,000, with a five-year term, and that the final-design procurement is funded with Local Capital funds.
Why these agenda actions matter for Route 39 riders
These items don’t automatically set “when buses start” or “when construction begins.” Instead, they shape the planning environment that has to come next for a busy corridor.
IGA amendment: changing governance and liaison roles can affect how quickly and smoothly participating agencies coordinate—especially when a corridor project requires roadway coordination, permitting work, and traffic-signal programming for bus operations.
AE50576 systems engineering: systems engineering is the workstream that helps connect multiple transit subsystems. Authorizing it earlier can reduce the chances of later rework when systems integration decisions surface.
AE50544 final design: moving from 30% design toward final design is when details tend to become more “build-ready”—including permitting-oriented documentation and the design inputs needed to keep corridor planning aligned.
What to watch next
To track how these agenda-linked authorizations translate into actual project steps, keep an eye on MARTA’s Buford Highway ART project page and the MARTA board documents archive for updates posted alongside the July 16 agenda materials.
Sources
- MARTA Board Agenda (July 16, 2026) — More MARTA-related resolutions and contract items (AE50576, AE50544)
- ATLDOT: More MARTA program page — governance framework context connected to IGA structure
- WABE (Closer Look) — More MARTA accountability discussion with Councilmember Worthy
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