Let’s Get Back to the Basics at JTA

[marcuscnelson]

Side note - if you're Dallas or Atlanta, two cities with significantly larger transit systems featuring legit rail transit, what pat of looking to a leader at JTA is appealing to you?

I doubt Ferguson is a serious candidate for Marta. I speculate that he's either a token finalist so that they can promote the in house guy, or it's a favor to someone to get him credibility for him to get the JTA role permanently. Or combo of both.

The Marta in house guy has no experience as head of an agency, and somehow one of the largest transit agency's in the US has two other finalists with no experience either. That's puzzling. It's a win-win for everyone though. The in house guy gets job and Ferguson is happy to have his name floated for a big job.

Just checked into MARTA's board meeting today and it does in fact sound like this is what played out.

[Charles Hunter]

It is my understanding that the next round of JTA public meetings will include cost estimates for each of the alternatives. Also, in response to public interest (including MetroJax?), they will include a "traditional streetcar" service as a new alternative.

[marcuscnelson]

^Updates on both of the above:

Ferguson is indeed the JTA Board's pick to be Interim CEO, and in the Daily Record article below he expresses interest in being their final pick.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/aug/27/cleveland-ferguson-to-serve-as-interim-jta-ceo/

The discussion on those new Skyway public meetings with cost estimates is over in this thread.

[Steve]

Dude, Ferguson could be the second coming of Jesus. They need to pick an outsider.

[thelakelander]

I second that. They need an outsider. Half the board needs to go as well. Its time for a fresh start. They should can the Skyway meetings altogether until leadership and direction is fleshed out.