Atlanta suburb ends bus service

Associated Press - October 14, 2009 7:24 AM ET

JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) - A metro Atlanta county is ending its bus service at the end of March as it struggles with rising costs.

The Clayton County Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to end its contract with MARTA, which operates the county's cash-strapped C-Tran bus system.

The system started five years ago and provided about 2.1 million rides during the last fiscal year. But County Commissioner Michael Edmondson said the county cannot afford to continue the service after the federal funds that helped start it were cut off.

County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell was the lone vote against the measure. He says he hopes the commission can keep the bus network afloat through alternative funding, such as red light camera tickets or a 1-cent sales tax increase.

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com