History

Above: Bibb Transit company in the mid Twentieth Century

City bus service became the dominant mode of public transportation in 1938 when the Georgia Power Company changed over from rail lines to bus service. Later the Transit System was owned by a private individual, Emmett Barnes III, and was known as the Bibb Transit Company. June Steraman, the only director who worked under the private ownership, continued as director when Bibb Transit became the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority. Steraman was one of the longest serving members when she retired in 1995.

The original Terminal Station was built in 1916. It is the current location of the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority, at 200 Cherry Street in downtown Macon.

The City of Macon purchased Transit from Barnes in 1973, and the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority was formed in 1980 by an act of the Georgia legislature. In 1981 the Authority began working toward the goal of its vision statement to “become a nationally recognized public transportation system.” Joseph McElroy, who worked for the system for thirty-one years and served as director the last part of those years, retired in late 2005 and leaves a legacy of steady progress with BTS and MTA. When he retired it was announced that current General Manager and CEO Carl Jackson would take over.

Jackson, who was serving as general manager of a bus rapid transit project in Ontario, Canada, when he was selected to become head of MTA after a nationwide search, has put several new initiatives on the agenda, including “working with stakeholders, elected officials, and the community on transit solutions that meet or exceed the transportation needs of the community.” The Transit Authority’s Board is made up of individuals appointed by the Macon Mayor and the Board of Bibb County Commissioners, Mayor Robert Reichert and Commission Chairman Charles Ward Bishop, respectively. Presently serving on the Board are Tom Hudson, chairman; S. Craig Ross, vice chairman; Morris Cohen, secretary, and Board Members Chuck Howard, Anderson Stroud, Jr., Nettie Thomas, and Deborah White. Commenting on the future of the Transit Authority, General Manager Jackson stated,“MTA continues to commit resources to newer,more environmentally friendly buses to attract riders out of cars by improving the reliability of our current service.”