Gwinnett on track to join Atlanta's MARTA

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia's second-largest county has cleared two hurdles to joining MARTA the public transportation system in neighboring Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a contract to take over and expand transit services in Gwinnett County was approved Thursday by the MARTA Board of Directors.

The agreement has already been approved by Gwinnett's leadership. Next up: the contract has to go before Gwinnett voters. A referendum is scheduled for March.

The contract between MARTA and Gwinnett would allocate 29 percent of a penny sales tax collected in the county over the first six years toward taking over and expanding Gwinnett's existing bus system. It would also help pay for maintenance and operations of the larger MARTA system.