ATLANTA - Fulton County commissioners voted Tuesday to join 10 other counties in a metro Atlanta bus system. <br>
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Catherine Ross, executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, said the system, expected by late 2003, will make Atlanta like cities such as Chicago and San Francisco, where express buses are linked to rail systems. <br>
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GRTA approached 13 metro counties with an offer to spend $350 million to accelerate local road improvements and $159 million for buses, park-and-ride lots and maintenance. In return, the 11 counties must contribute a total of $21.3 million for operating costs through 2006. <br>
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Fulton County will contribute $2.45 million toward the bus operation and will receive $31.2 million for roads. <br>
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Only Fayette and Cherokee counties said no to the bus system, although Fulton almost was left out after missing its original deadline April 3.
