Fulton County loses funds by not joining bus network

ATLANTA - The Fulton County Commission lost a chance to receive $31.3 million in federal funding when it voted this week to delay joining a bus system operated by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. <br> <br> It surprised many residents that Fulton - the center of metro Atlanta - will not be participating in the metro bus network. <br> <br> ``It was fairly shortsighted to turn away from a project that would have given us federal dollars,&#39;&#39; said Donna Gathers, who heads the Sandy Springs Business Association. ``This is foolish.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Wednesday&#39;s commission vote split along party lines, with the three Republican commissioners urging acceptance of GRTA&#39;s deal and the four Democrats asking for more time, charging that Fulton&#39;s urban districts were not getting their share. GRTA immediately notified them it will not wait. <br> <br> Fulton may have missed the bus completely by not joining this year, said GRTA spokesman William Mecke, but Fulton&#39;s pullout will not affect service in the 10 participating counties or stops in downtown Atlanta.