MARTA Completes 1,000 New Bus Stop Amenities Within Five Years

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has completed the installation of 1,000 new bus stop amenities throughout its service area, ensuring 70 percent of customers now have a sheltered space in which to wait for a bus. The installations consist of bus shelters, standalone benches, and other seating options, and include trash cans and signs with service information at stops in the City of Atlanta, and in Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties.

“We are focused on improving the transit experience for our customers, and that includes making the time spent waiting for the bus more comfortable,” said Collie Greenwood, MARTA general manager and CEO. “These bus stop amenities are an important investment in the communities we serve, and the result of a commitment we made to our jurisdictional partners and customers five years ago.”

Throughout the five-year program, MARTA used ridership data along with feedback from customers, community stakeholders, and elected officials to determine the bus stops that required shelters and seating upgrades.

The agency is now beginning the process of procuring a vendor for the next phase of the project and considering other amenities to deliver at stops. For instance, stops that may not meet the initial criteria for amenities may benefit from canopies, micro shelters, and increased lighting. MARTA is also upgrading its bus stops with new signs that include route information and a QR code that links to bus schedules.