GA HB1200

Creates metropolitan transit authorities (coterminous with existing metropolitan area planning commissions) and regional transit authorities (formed by two or more contiguous counties or a single county with municipal concurrence) to plan, finance, construct, operate, and manage regional mass transit systems across Georgia.

Metropolitan transit authority boards include county chief executives, mayors from transit-supporting counties, appointees by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House, plus nonvoting members from MARTA, GRTA, and other planning bodies; regional authority boards include county leaders, mayors, and similar state-level appointees.

Authorities must adopt public transit system plans with goals for increasing ridership, coordinating fares and transfers, improving access for transit-dependent populations, and maintaining financial viability, along with performance standards covering on-time performance, ridership, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Authorities serve as the primary recipients of federal and state transit funds for new projects, must adopt annual budgets and five-year capital programs after public hearings, and may issue tax-exempt revenue bonds maturing up to 40 years—though bonds do not constitute state debt or pledge state taxing power.

Establishes Citizens Transit Advisory Committees composed of transit riders to advise each authority's board, and exempts authorities from state and local taxes, including sales/use tax and motor fuel tax for public transit service providers.