Tag: transit

It may be hard to imagine today, when gridlock traffic is synonymous with Atlanta, but riding public transit was once the norm. Here, a brief look at the city's former streetcar system and why Atlanta's public transit had such a decline.

MARTA announced Saturday morning that its General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker has died at age 55.

Should MARTA buses come more frequently or should they serve more people? The agency hopes to answer these questions to make a more robust system.

Atlanta is hilly and addicted to cars. But it’s a great place to ride a bicycle and is only getting better with more trails, more bike lanes, and more riders, proving that old car-dependent adage doesn’t have to last forever.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for public-transit agencies across the nation. Even when the pandemic does end, it’s possible that our work and travel patterns will be disrupted permanently. Then, there’s the economic impact of the pandemic and its corresponding effect on tax revenue, a major source of funding for many transit agencies, including MARTA.

On March 19, Gwinnett County voters will convene at the polls to answer one consequential question: Do we want MARTA? Here's what to know before election day and what has happened with the MARTA referendum so far.

Back in November, voters overwhelmingly approved a sales tax increase to fund transit expansion in the City of Atlanta. MARTA just released its ideal expansion plans, which include bus rapid transit crisscrossing the city, late night and weekend bus service, and 21 miles of light rail. But there is a fatal flaw: the light rail infrastructure goes through one of the most congested part of town, the downtown path of the Atlanta Streetcar.

The largest investment in Atlanta transit since MARTA was built would add light rail, express buses to some of the city’s most congested corridors, and at least two “transit centers,” according to a presentation delivered during a MARTA Board of Directors work session on Thursday.

One month into his tenure, Parker dished on his optimism for widespread transit expansion, MARTA’s venturing into mixed-use development, and the prospects of a region-wide system being called “The ATL.”

With tax dollars rolling in, city and MARTA officials are having to prioritize their transit wish list. And to the dismay of the BeltLine’s creator, Ryan Gravel, it’s looking like light rail along the loop may be sacrificed on the altar of expediency and cost. We broke down what's happening right now with transit along the BeltLine.