FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2026
MARTA CUSTOMERS MUST SPEND DOWN CURRENT STORED
FARE BEFORE SWITCHING TO BETTER BREEZE SYSTEM IN MARCH
Current Breeze Card and Account Balances Do Not
Carry Over to New, Upgraded Breeze Fare Collection System
ATLANTA – The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is currently upgrading its
entire Breeze fare collection system. New fare equipment including faregates,
fareboxes and validators, and ticket vending machines are being installed
systemwide. Current Breeze fare media such as Breeze cards and the mobile app
are not compatible with the new, better Breeze system and will be discontinued
on May 2, 2026.
MARTA's new Breeze fare
payment system features NEW fare media including Breeze cards,
tickets, and mobile app, and will accept bank cards and mobile wallets. All
MARTA customers must transition to new fare media or use the open payment
feature to ride MARTA after May 2, 2026.
Both the current and new
Breeze systems will be active during the customer transition period March 28 –
May 2, 2026, to give customers time
to spend down any remaining fare, purchase new fare media, and familiarize
themselves with the new system. Current fare balances DO NOT carry over to
new fare media and customers will lose any fare they do not use by May 2, 2026.
Additionally, MARTA will
stop selling current Breeze fare products beginning in March. Below is a list
of current Breeze fare products with the last dates to purchase.
30-day passes
March 1, 2026
20- and 10-trip passes
March 15, 2026
1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and
7-day passes
March 22, 2026
1 and 2 trip passes
March 28, 2026
New Breeze cards and multi-day and monthly
passes will be available for purchase beginning March 28, 2026, at new
touchscreen Breeze vending machines, RideStores, Reduced Fare offices, and in
pop-up locations systemwide. Details of the pop-ups will be shared in March.
Note that Breeze cards will be account-based and fare stored in the customer's
account rather than on the card.
Currently, Breeze
equipment is being installed at rail stations systemwide. There is no change to
bus or rail service, and customers should continue using their current Breeze
fare media. For information on construction impacts and entrance detours visit MARTA.
Here is what customers
will experience with the new, better Breeze system:
NEW FARE EQUIPMENT: New fare equipment systemwide including
faregates and fareboxes, validators, and touch screen Breeze vending machines.
The new faregates are more secure and can be monitored and adjusted remotely,
reducing incidents of fare evasion, resulting in a safer, more secure transit
system.
NEW PAYMENT FEATURE: New machines allow customers to tap a bank card
or smart phone with a mobile wallet at the faregate or farebox to purchase
fare.
NEW APP: Breeze Mobile 2.0 is going away. Customers will
need to download a new Breeze app and purchase a virtual Breeze card to
purchase fare.
NEW BREEZE CARDS: New cards will have the continued options of
multi-day and monthly passes. Breeze cards will be account-based and fare
stored in the customer’s account rather than on the card.
REDUCED FARE AND
MOBILITY CUSTOMERS: Eligible customers will
have the option of getting a new card OR downloading the new mobile
app. Visit a Reduced Fare office, email reducedfare@itsmarta.com, or call 404-848-5112.
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS: MARTA’s institutional partners should email partnerprograms@itsmarta.com.
REGIONAL PARTNERS: CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett, and ATL Xpress transit
agencies will transition to the better Breeze fare collection system. Customers
will receive more information from their transit provider.
For more information
visit MARTA.