FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June 15, 2023
MARTA, CITY OF ATLANTA CELEBRATE GROUNDBREAKING OF REGION’S
FIRST BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINE
ATLANTA _ The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and City of Atlanta
announce the construction of the region’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) line,
newly named MARTA Rapid. Construction on the line will begin immediately with
service scheduled for 2025.
The five-mile BRT line will
connect downtown Atlanta to Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the
Beltline, with connections to MARTA’s heavy rail system at Five Points, Georgia
State, and Garnett Stations. The high-capacity transit line will have new
electric buses and operate in 85 percent dedicated lanes with transit signal
priority. Fourteen BRT stations along the route will feature off-board fare
collection so you can pay before you board, real-time service information, and
level boarding, along with other amenities consistent with rail stations. Tour
the route here Route Tour | MARTA
Rapid Summerhill BRT - YouTube.
“We are excited to celebrate
this milestone in the More MARTA Atlanta Program and get started building the
region’s first BRT line in this vital city corridor,” said MARTA General
Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “This line will provide an efficient
connection between historic city neighborhoods, job centers, Georgia State, and
our rail system, and will be the benchmark for future BRT lines in metro
Atlanta.”
“Investments
in transit are really investments in our people, communities and future,” said
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “I came into office with a long-term vision to
assure that all our residents would share in Atlanta’s growth and prosperity,
and transit equity is a huge part of that charge.”
“BRT
is the future of transit. I’ve spearheaded BRT projects in other cities and
seen it transform communities,” added MARTA Chief Capital Officer Carrie Rocha.
“BRT can be built faster and at lower cost, bringing the amenities of rail
service while remaining flexible in ways rail is not. I’m excited to get
started building the first BRT in the region!”
MARTA Rapid will be the name
for the overall BRT system in metro Atlanta, with individual lines denoted by
color, similar to the rail system. For example, MARTA Rapid Silver or MARTA
Rapid Purple. The color of the Summerhill BRT line is still being determined. MARTA
has BRT lines planned for Clayton Southlake, SR54/Jonesboro Road, Campbellton
Road, Clifton Corridor and on GA 400.
The Summerhill BRT line is
funded through a federal TIGER Grant and the More MARTA Atlanta half-penny
sales tax. Visit MARTA Rapid |
Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit - YouTube to hear from community members
and business owners along the BRT route.
For photos from the groundbreaking celebration and video of the
BRT route click here Summerhill
Groundbreaking EPK - OneDrive (live.com).
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