MARTA ENCOURAGES FANS TO “LET MARTA DRIVE” TO
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 MATCHES & EVENTS
Authority Focused on Providing Safe, Clean,
Reliable Service Throughout Global Sporting Event
ATLANTA – With fewer than 100 days remaining until the world’s largest sporting event arrives in Atlanta, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) today detailed its comprehensive “Let MARTA Drive” campaign, a robust readiness plan designed to provide a world-class
transit experience for the millions of fans and residents expected during the World Cup.
“MARTA stands ready to provide the mobility backbone for this global event,” said Jonathan Hunt, Interim General Manager and CEO at MARTA. “We will provide increased rail
frequency, station upgrades, and tech-enabled customer support to ensure a seamless, world-class transit experience for visitors and metro Atlantans alike. We want the world to know that the safest and most reliable way to get around Atlanta this summer is to let MARTA drive.”
Striving for Operational
Excellence
To meet the unprecedented demand of the global tournament, MARTA is implementing a high-capacity service plan. Key operational highlights include:
- Robust Rail Frequency: On match days, MARTA will augment rail services to five-minute headways, ensuring fans can reach the stadium and fan zones with minimal wait times.
- Rapid Response Bus Fleet: A minimum of 30 buses will be staged as a rapid response fleet, including vans positioned at five strategic stations to mitigate any potential service disruptions.
- Crowd Control Strategies: Match day service will include deploying specialized shuttle trains for crowd egress from Atlanta Stadium and maintaining standby bus fleets to respond to real-time ridership surges. As part of its crowd control measures, MARTA will urge customers to use
all rail stations located in Downtown Atlanta near the stadium and entertainment district, including SEC District, Vine City, Five Points, Peachtree Center, and Garnett Stations.
- Extended Support: MARTA Transit Ambassadors will provide up to 12 hours of daily coverage on both match and non-match days to assist with wayfinding and crowd management.
Rail Station
Modernization
MARTA has prioritized the rehabilitation and modernization of key downtown rail stations, including the renaming of the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station to the Sports, Entertainment and Convention (SEC) District Station to improve navigation for
international guests.
At Five Points Station, MARTA will temporarily pause major exterior construction to ensure a festive atmosphere, wrapping the perimeter in a massive mural by local artist Vera Zeigler to provide a polished, welcoming environment for visitors. These efforts,
combined with substantial rehabilitation work at Airport, Garnett, and Peachtree Center Stations, ensure MARTA reflects the best of Atlanta.
Focus on World-Class
Customer Experience
To simplify the transit experience for customers, MARTA is launching its better Breeze modernized fare payment system before the first whistle blows. Once launched on March 28, 2026, this system allows customers to tap-and-pay directly at faregates and validators
using their bank cards or mobile wallets, eliminating the need to wait in line for a physical card.
For those who prefer a physical souvenir, MARTA is producing 100,000 commemorative World Cup-branded Breeze cards featuring two unique designs that will be available in ticket vending machines.
The agency’s people-centered support strategy will feature hundreds of Transit Ambassadors
who will provide 12 hours of daily coverage to assist with using MARTA and finding their way around the city. In addition to MARTA staff, 100 FIFA volunteers will be stationed throughout the system to provide personalized navigation assistance in multiple languages.
Customer Safety Remains
Paramount
At MARTA, the safety of our customers and employees is the highest priority. To prepare for this summer, the MARTA Police Department is working in lockstep with FIFA, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), and other local law enforcement
and public service agencies to provide a unified security environment.
MARTA has recently completed rigorous live-scale simulations, including a simulated train assault exercise and active shooter tabletop drills with federal partners to test multi-agency coordination.
Let MARTA Drive
As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup continues, MARTA’s goal is to ensure that every fan arriving from around the world or next door can focus on the matches, events, and celebrations while MARTA handles the drive.
For more information on MARTA’s World Cup plan, please visit
MARTA.
