by Robin Kemp
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock announced Wednesday that he has secured $5 million in federal investments for a massive MARTA operations and maintenance facility coming to Old Dixie Road in Forest Park.
 In a press release, Warnock said, “Strengthening MARTA’s presence in Clayton County helps create jobs, provide commuters with affordable options to get around, bolster the local economy and combat climate change. I fought to include investments for this critical project in the funding package, and I’m glad it’s inches away from getting over the finish line. I’ll continue to work closely with commuters and MARTA officials and employees on how I can best support Atlanta’s public transportation needs.”
The Clayton Multipurpose Operations and Maintenance Facility will support 31 regional bus routes and more than 250 buses. It also will host a MARTA Police precinct, training areas, bus maintenance, offices for transit operations and administration, bus fueling, inspections, repairs, cleaning, and parking for both buses and employees.
The facility is projected to bring at least 350 construction and 700 permanent jobs to the county, and is one of a number of federally-funded projects totaling $95 million that Warnock secured for FY2022.
