Atlanta City Council asks Mayor to renegotiate More MARTA IGA—deadline to watch

Atlanta City Council on Monday approved a resolution asking Mayor Andre Dickens to renegotiate the city’s “More MARTA” intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with MARTA, with the stated goal of aligning roles and responsibilities with “current priorities.” The measure is Resolution 26-R-3743.

For residents and commuters, the practical point isn’t a new rail headline—it’s governance. The IGA is the document that sets who makes which decisions as More MARTA projects move forward. Under the current agreement, a formal role for City Council is limited, even as the program continues planning, design, construction, and future operations.

Quick background: what the IGA controls

More MARTA is based on the half-cent sales tax voters approved in 2016, creating a partnership between MARTA and the City of Atlanta. Civic Atlanta notes the current IGA was signed in 2020 and that it vests decision-making authority with the MARTA board, with advice from the Mayor’s Office—without a formal Council role in the governance process.

What Council asked the Mayor to do

Civic Atlanta reports the resolution would require a renegotiated agreement to be presented to both City Council and the MARTA board for approval by November 1, 2026. In other words: Council’s action is a request to restart and update the governing terms, not an immediate rewrite.

WABE reports Councilmember Thomas Worthy described the intent as adding formal Council input, emphasizing “clarity, accountability, transparency, and a role for council” as guiding principles for the renegotiation effort.

Who would be involved in the renegotiation

A secondary write-up of the resolution’s details lists the Mayor’s renegotiation team as including the Mayor’s senior leadership—such as the Chief of Staff (or designee), Chief Operating Officer (or designee), Chief Strategy Officer (or designee), Chief Financial Officer (or designee), and the City Attorney (or designee)—along with leadership from City Council’s Finance/Executive and Transportation committees (including the chair and transportation vice chair).

That same write-up says the request is designed to keep the renegotiation overseen by the Mayor under City charter authority, rather than creating a new committee/board structure subject to open-meetings requirements.

What to watch next

Nov. 1, 2026 is the key checkpoint residents should track. By that date, the updated agreement is expected to be brought back for City Council and MARTA board consideration. Until then, the most relevant updates will be who the Mayor names publicly for the renegotiation effort and what governance changes are proposed before any final approvals.

Sources

• Atlanta City Council press release (Resolution 26-R-3743)
• Center for Civic Innovation (Civic Atlanta): renegotiation timeline by Nov. 1, 2026
• WABE: Councilmember Worthy on More MARTA accountability