MARTA Launches Fully Redrawn System, Increasing Access and Opportunity

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) launched its NextGen Bus Network, marking a “generational transformation” as the agency redraws the entire system for the first time.

Interim MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt explained the motivation and goals of the new network. “Atlanta has changed significantly over the last 40 years, and our bus network must reflect that reality. We want to provide a modern transit experience that prioritizes frequency, consistency, and significantly expanded access to the places that matter most to our riders. On balance, this network is a massive improvement for most of our customers and for the region. Our goal is to deliver more access to more places in less time.”

The NextGen Bus Network offers:

• High-frequency service, tripling the number of corridors where a bus arrives every 15 minutes or less.
• Greater consistency throughout the week, including during off-peak hours and the weekends when service levels will remain nearly the same as for weekday commuting.
• Greater access, with 6 percent more people in the region located within a quarter of a mile of MARTA service.
• Expanded opportunities, as the average rider can reach more services within a 60-minute travel window compared to the prior network:
  • 31 percent more hospitals
  • 27 percent more grocery stores
  • 22 percent more jobs
  • 21 percent more colleges and universities
    

As part of the NextGen Bus Network, MARTA also launched the first phase of the opening of its BRT system—the Rapid A-Line, which will continue rollout as construction is completed.