Opinion ID: 385008
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Urban Mass Transportation Act.

Text: 40 Finally, appellants argue that in implementing a fare increase MARTA did not and, because of the state-imposed budgetary and expenditure restraints, could not comply with the requirements of the Urban Mass Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq. We find that the district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that these claims lack substantial merit. 41 The Urban Mass Transportation Act was enacted to assist state and local governments in developing and financing improved mass transportation systems. 49 U.S.C. § 1601. MARTA receives federal funds under this act and, therefore, must comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the legislation. Under section 5 of the Act, MARTA is required to hold public hearings prior to any change in transit fare or substantial change in transit service. The purpose of these hearings is to enable MARTA to give consideration to the effect on energy conservation, and the economic, environmental, and social impact of such changes. 42 Appellants contend that no consideration was given to these factors prior to the imposition of the fare increase. The evidence in the record lends no support to this contention. On June 12, 1980, MARTA conducted several public hearings on the question of the proposed fare increase. From the testimony it heard, the district court determined that MARTA considered the public comments voiced at these hearings and weighed the economic, environmental, and social impact of a fare increase and its effect on energy conservation. We find no abuse of discretion with respect to this finding. Furthermore, the record reveals that MARTA did submit assurances to the Urban Mass Transportation Administration that it had complied with the terms of 49 U.S.C. § 1604(i)(3). 43 Appellants next argue that because of the budgetary and expenditure restraints (discussed above) imposed by state law, MARTA had no choice but to increase fares. Therefore, argue appellants, the comments made at the public hearings received merely perfunctory consideration and were actually irrelevant to MARTA's deliberations on the proposed fare increase. 44 We conclude that the district court did not err in finding no unavoidable conflict between the MARTA Act provisions and federal law. We recognize, of course, that these budgetary limitations, in conjunction with other factors such as total receipts and costs, may call for a fare increase. Nevertheless, MARTA retains the discretion to avoid any increase by reducing services or other expenses. Thus, although MARTA is subject to state budgetary limitations, these state laws do not preclude the Authority from considering the environmental, economic, and social effects of a fare increase.