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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Six MARTA board members rode MARTA fewer than 10 times in the last year, according to a records request made by Atlanta News First.

Board Chair Katie Powers has made one MARTA trip since January 2023. The board’s vice chair and secretary each rode the transit system six times since June 2023.

“I understand that is perhaps a concern,” said MARTA board chair Katie Powers. “I’ve got an almost 2-year-old and so I think many metro Atlanta families will relate when I say we don’t get out. But when we do, when there is an event where we can utilize and access MARTA, we certainly enjoy that.”

Powers, who lives in Clayton County, said she rode MARTA fewer than a dozen times annually before she became a mother.

Powers said they’re constantly working to improve access in counties bordering Fulton County.

The MARTA board of directors is made up of 13 active members. It has two ex-officio members.

Powers said a board member’s personal ridership does not impact the decision-making of the board of directors.

“I don’t think ridership on the board affects anything other than the anecdotal evidence that individual perspectives bring,” she said. “We’re there for every rider [from] your everyday rider to your casual rider.”

Atlanta News First reached out to all six board members who had fewer than 10 total rides in the last year. Powers was the only one who responded to requests for comment.

The data showed CEO Collie Greenwood has made 160 MARTA trips since January 2023.

The data breakdown did not differentiate between bus and rail trips.

“If you’re tasked with calling the shots of a such a large transit agency, you should have transit experience,” said Greyson Forster of Atlanta.

Forster initially requested the ridership data from MARTA and posted the report on social media recently.

“Definitely what stands out is the under-ten trippers,” said Forster, who just graduated from Midtown High School.

Forster said the lack of ridership suggested the board is out of touch with the daily concerns of those who rely on public transportation across the metro.

“I ask MARTA leadership to explore the system through the lens of the riders,” said Forster. Experience one of the hundreds of buses that are canceled every day. Experience the infrequent late night, weekend transit service, hear the conversation at the bus stop.”

Forster said he was a member of the Atlanta Students Advocating for Pedestrians club while at Midtown High School.

Among MARTA’s most pressing projects, the transit system recently announced it is pausing its planned renovation of the Five Points MARTA station in downtown Atlanta.

The move came after pushback from Mayor Andre Dickens, the Atlanta City Council and some transit advocacy groups.

Critics were concerned about the projected 18-month closure of pedestrian access to the rail and bus hub.

On Tuesday, MARTA announced it was awarded $25 million as part of a federal grant for a new transit hub in south DeKalb County.

MARTA’s next board meeting is July 18.

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