MARTA creates rider advisory council

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has launched its first-ever Riders’ Advisory Council (RAC), a group of 24 volunteers who will provide feedback on passenger experience improvements.  

Managed by MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen, the RAC includes representatives from the agency’s service area and at-large members. MARTA employees, contractors and elected officials are ineligible to serve as RAC members, who will serve two-year terms and meet monthly.

The council will be charged with learning the inner workings of the transit system and offering viewpoints on potential rider impacts from projects such as station enhancements, the design of new rail cars, customer communications and digital signage.  

The RAC fulfills a pledge to make the agency more customer focused, said MARTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Parker in a press release.

“Getting input directly from the people who ride MARTA has always been key for me and our leadership team,” Parker said. “The RAC will allow us to gather ideas and opinions with a more systematic and robust approach.”