Governing
magazine has named MARTA General Manager and CEO Keith Parker as one of its
2016 Public Officials of the Year, but MARTA’s union may not agree with that
assessment.
The magazine’s Publisher Mark Funkhouser writes that in
the group of eight individuals honored this year, he sees some common traits:
“Among the group of eight, I see some common traits that
reflect the evolution of politics and management in state and local government,
such as moderation, collaboration, and a focus on smart financial management.”
Mr. Parker’s listed accomplishments include launching a
safety campaign on MARTA’s trains and buses, decreased wait times, reopened
bathrooms, giving employees bonuses, and finishing his first year with a $9
million surplus, instead of the $33 million deficit that was projected before
he came in.
Governing bills
itself as the nation's leading media platform covering politics, policy and
management for state and local government leaders.
In its profile, the magazine says that Parker helped
MARTA build trust with riders and the general public, which resulted in
approval of a referendum in November that resulted in a $2.5 billion investment
for rail expansion for MARTA.
Outsourcing
Paratransit
Keith Parker’s relationship with the MARTA union has not
been as smooth.
The magazine does not mention the MARTA union’s dispute with the
system over the outsourcing of MARTA’s paratransit service.
In a Transformation
Road Map prepared by KPMG, the consultancy has recommended that MARTA
explore outsourcing its paratransit service as a means of reducing costs. Five-year
savings could range from a loss of $15,390,000 to a savings of $42,940,000.
This proposal has been opposed by Amalgamated Transit Union
Local 732, which has offered a cost-saving
MARTA Mobility proposal, which the union claims includes a series of
recommendations to help the agency achieve its cost and efficiency goals.
In response, the MARTA Board of Commissioners voted to table
their decision to privatize the federally mandated service.
The dispute still figures prominently on the union’s web site under:
Governing writes
that “Today, Parker is regarded by many as the man who saved MARTA, but he is
focused on the work ahead. ‘We’re not doing any victory laps yet,’ he says.”
