the atlanta regional commission is so far the closest that the area has come to a metropolitan government. it approves only those projects deemed to have a positive effect beyond the immediate area in which they are to be constructed. the georgia regional transportation authority is somewhat of a cross between arc and marta, working to improve mobility, air quality, and land use practices in the region. grta also operates xpress buses from 11 counties, and could operate commuter rail service in the future. currently, plans for commuter rail and eventual intercity rail (including the long-proposed but still unfunded atlanta multimodal passenger terminal) are the responsibility of the georgia rail passenger authority, which receives almost no funding.