contract also includes provisions for future rail transit to the county by 2025. One high-capacity/rail proposal calls for stations at Hapeville, Mountain View/ATL Hartsfield International Terminal, Forest Park, Fort Gillem, Clayton State/Morrow, Morrow/Southlake and Jonesboro by 2022. A station at Lovejoy is also proposed, which would open as a later phase. In 2018, commuter rail was selected as the locally preferred alternative of transit mode along the corridor. Increased costs and lack of participation from the railroad led to the project's cancellation in 2021. MARTA chose to explore other transportation options to the county. ATL Transit Law In November 2016 Gwinnett and Fulton voters approved a half cent sales tax increase for expanding service. When the Interstate 85 Bridge collapsed MARTA announced an extension of service in response to the incident. CEO Keith Parker reported ridership spiked by 25% the day following the collapse. In January 2018 the state legislature introduced House Bill 930 allowing 13 metro Atlanta counties to raise sales tax by 1 cent for transit expansion if voters approve, on May 3, 2018 Governor Nathan Deal signed the bill into law. Gwinnett County In September 2018, MARTA's Board of Directors and the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners gave conditional approval to an agreement which would see MARTA assume, and significantly expand, operations of Gwinnett's bus system (in operation since 2001) and clear the way for the long-sought-after extension of MARTA's rail system into the county from its current terminus at Doraville. The contract with MARTA would go into effect only if a public vote, that was scheduled for March 19, 2019, succeeded. The agreement called for a new one-cent sales tax that would be collected in Gwinnett County until 2057. On March 19, 2019, the third transit referendum failed, with 54.32% of the vote being "No" to expand. Another referendum was held as part of the November 3rd, 2020 Presidential election, this only funding the extension of the rail system, not having MARTA assume operations of Gwinnett's bus system. This referendum failed, with 50.13% of the vote opposed. COVID-19 Pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic MARTA suspended several bus routes in an effort to promote social distancing on the busier routes. As of April 24, 2021 all suspended bus routes have been restored. In April 2021 the Georgia state government finally announced funding towards MARTA. Announced as part of the state spending plan MARTA is set to receive