An unexpected proposal from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to transform MARTA is drawing criticism.

Speaking with Denis O’Hayer on Wednesday, Cagle said that MARTA “doesn’t add value” to the region.

“There are practices where individuals get on there, and they can ride all day, and many people don’t feel as if it is safe; they don’t see predictability and there are other factors that play into this,” said Cagle.

The leader of the state Senate said he’d like to see a new governance system, which could mean more state money for MARTA, and more state control. He said the system needs to be extended throughout the region.

Lee Biola, president of the advocacy group Citizens for Progressive Transit, said MARTA is a huge economic engine, and he thinks it’s growing well under current law.

“I am not going to hold my breath waiting for the state to give money to MARTA,” said Biola. “We’ve been waiting for that for a very long time, and the best thing I think we can do is just to get the state to get out of the way, which fortunately it is doing.”

And Biola added that MARTA’s value goes beyond just moving people from one place to another.

“People who don’t see the value in that don’t really recognize where their own income is coming from, whether it’s directly or indirectly. This whole region and this whole state are benefiting from that economic engine,” he said.

Biola said if the state would give enough money to MARTA for regional expansion, it would deserve more of a say in what the agency does.

Lt. Gov. Cagle says more details of his proposal will be worked out in the coming months.

MARTA declined to comment on Cagle’s statements.