Macon-Bibb Country Transit Authority received mixed results on Open Records & Transparency Grading

Parker Hartley and Katelyn McIntyre

April 28, 2026

The front of the Macon Terminal Station, which is home to the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority.

Students in Mercer’s Civic & Community Journalism class reviewed agency websites and information to assess how transparent they are when it comes to making decisions about how taxpayer dollars are spent. The students also reviewed each agency’s adherence to Georgia’s open record and open government laws.

The Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority (MTA) is the official public transportation provider in Macon and was established in 1980 by the Georgia General Assembly which, “hereby found, declared, and determined that the public convenience and necessity require the creation of a public authority to operate a transit system in the City of Macon and the County of Bibb for transportation of passengers both within and without the City of Macon and the County of Bibb.” Prior to the agency’s creation, the City of Macon purchased the Bibb Transit Company in 1973, which had then operated as the primary public transportation provider for almost 25 years.

MTA operates a total of 11 bus routes and or transit services for residents of Macon-Bibb County with schedules and fares provided. Service is provided on a limited schedule, with no service on Sundays, and fares vary depending on the type of rider and route.

The MTA offers three main transportation services: Rapid Transit is an on-demand service that allows riders to request trips through a smartphone app. Ride Macon refers to the fixed-route bus system, which operates on scheduled routes and set stops. Paratransit is a specialized service for individuals who are unable to use the fixed-route system due to a disability or medical condition, and it typically requires advance scheduling.

Open Records Compliance

Records that were requested: Initially, the request was for the contact information of the Board of Directors—specifically their work phone numbers and email addresses—but it was later modified to instead focus on public employees of the Transit Authority who handle public inquiries.

MTA’S Response Timeliness: The open records request was first delivered on March 26 at 1:20 pm and Craig Ross, the CEO of the Transit Authority, responded two hours later. After a few back-and-forth emails with Craig Ross, the original request was officially amended on April 2 and Ross was available to provide the information that was asked.

Did the agency request a fee? The agency did not request a fee for the information.

Describe the response to the ORR request: Initially, the request was for the contact information of the Board of Directors—specifically their work phone numbers and email addresses—but it was later modified to instead focus on public employees of the Transit Authority who handle public inquiries. In a series of email responses, Craig Ross explained that they do not supply phone numbers for board members as the Board of Directors are not provided with work phone numbers or work email addresses by MTA. The Board is contacted through their personal phones and emails. Ross wrote he consulted their attorney to review the Open Records Act to determine whether they are legally required to provide the initial requested information. In a follow-up email, Ross clarified that they are not required to release the requested information on their board members. The initial request was amended in favor of the contact information of any working employees of the Transit Authority that handles public inquiries. Ross was able to provide such information as followed:

Issues with Fixed Route Buses are directed to Tony Woodard , Chief Operations Officer, at 478-621-7120 or Jeanie Wells, Lead Supervisor, at 478-621-7106. Issues with Paratransit or Rapid Transit (Ride Share) should be directed to June Slaughter at 478-803-2523.

Contact / Process Grading: D

The only contact information the MTA had on their website was the info@mta email and this (478) 803-2521. The contact information for Tony Woodard, Jeanie Wells, June Slaughter, and even Craig Ross is nowhere to be found on the website.

Response Grading: A

The MTA, namely Craig Ross, was quick to respond to both emails as well as the two individual Open Records Requests.

Open Records Grading Scale

Grading scale for the ease of contacting agency staff and finding or filing for public records

A: Agency uses an online portal or has a clearly defined process or contact on its website for requesting public records. An “A” agency may also readily provide the most commonly requested records on its website, including agendas and meeting minutes, so an open records request is not required.

B: Agency has some public information online such as meeting agendas or meeting times, but additional information on how to request public information is not available. There is contact information available for staff.

C: Agency website has contact information for staff but nothing specific about how to request public information/open records.

D: Agency has limited contact information on its website but it is not clearly labeled and/or easily accessible.

F: Agency contact information or how to get public records is not available on the website.

Grade scale for agency’s overall responsiveness and compliance with open records law

A: Provided records within the three-day window or less OR responded and provided an explanation that the record did not exist.

B Acknowledged the request within the three-day requirement, but records were provided after three days.

C: Acknowledged the request but then put forth a long timetable for response or requested a high fee or retrieval price for what should be a digital record and/or PDF that could be emailed.

D: Acknowledged the request but no further information or follow-up or acknowledged and responded to the request outside of the three days.

F: No response or refused to provide a records that falls under the state’s open record law.

Transparency & Public Accessibility

The Web Address for MBCTA is https://mbcta.net/

Does the website list out its key staff or elected board? The info@mta email address and (478) 803-2521 phone number is the only readily available information on the website. The Board of Directors are listed on the site but no direct contact information is provided.

Craig Ross: CEO
Louis Frank Tompkins: Chairman of the Board
Lynn Farmer: Vice-Chair: Board Member
Dave Dicky: Board Member
Rachel Umana: Board Member
Charles Murphy: Board Member
Weston Stroud: Board Member
Deborah Garcia: Board Member

Does the agency have a public information or communications officer? If so, is the name and contact information listed?

The website doesn’t list a public information contact.

Does the website have information on meeting announcements/meeting dates & times?

They have Monthly Board Meetings located in Terminal Station – 4th Floor Morris M. Cohen Conference Room at 5:30 p.m.
They have Board Meeting minutes with clickable links, and they have an attached document for what was discussed during that meeting for each meeting date.
You can find this particular information under MBCTA Today; leadership; Board Meeting Minutes and Board Meetings. Agenda and meeting minutes can be found here

Does the website have meeting agendas posted online?

The public has access to the meeting minutes, date, location, time, as well as where the meeting is held. This is on the website on “MBCTA Today” and under the “Leadership” tab.

Does the agency provide a way for the public to watch its meetings virtually as they happen? And/ or does the agency have recordings of its meetings on the website or linked from the website?

They do not have a way to watch virtually just in person.

Does the agency have social media platforms and if so, which ones? Please list out each platform you can find to include the handle and how it is being used.

They have a Facebook with posts usually being made every week: https://www.facebook.com/maconbibb.transit/
They have an Instagram, but their last post was in December last year: https://secure.instagram.com/mbctransitauthority/
They have an X Account, but no post has ever been made: https://x.com/MaconTransit

Does the agency provide information online for how the public can make open records requests?

They don’t have information on their website about how to file a request.

Please note any other information you found on the website that would be helpful to members of the public who would want to keep up with this agency’s business. This could be things like a calendar of events, operation budget, hours of operation, etc.

They have bus route schedules, times and travel times and all their schedules.

Transparency Grading: Excellent

The MTA provides times of meetings, agendas in advance of meeting, and the minutes from meetings on their website for the public to see.

Public Accessibility: Poor

The agency does not provide contact information online for its leadership or its Board. While the MTA does post regularly on Facebook, the same cannot be said for their other platforms.

Transparency & Assessibility Grading Scale

Transparency

This grade reflects how well the agency follows Georgia law requiring them to post meeting times and dates on its website.

Excellent: Agency had its meeting times and agendas posted on its website.

Satisfactory: Agency had its meeting times on its website as required by law but does not include agendas.

Unsatisfactory: Agency did not have its meeting times and/or agendas posted on its website.

Public Accessibility

This grade reflects how easy the agency makes it for members of the public to find information online about the agency's work for taxpayers.

Superior: Agency provided contact information for leadership, audio or video recordings of meetings and minutes from its meetings. Agency also used social media platforms to share out information of interest to the public.

Above average: Agency provided contact information leadership as well as information and documentation from its meetings.

Average: Agency provided contact information for leadership and was active on social media but did not have audio or video recordings of meetings and/or minutes from its meetings posted online.

Poor: Agency didn’t provide contact information for leadership and didn’t regularly post on social media. Agency also did not have audio or video recordings of meetings or minutes from its meetings available online.