FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9,
2022
MARTA EXPANDS ON-DEMAND
TRANSIT PILOT PROGRAM
MARTA Reach Provides
Rideshare Service in Clayton, DeKalb, & Fulton Counties
ATLANTA – The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), in partnership with
Georgia Tech, announces an expansion of MARTA Reach, a six-month pilot
rideshare service designed to connect riders to-and-from MARTA bus and rail.
The pilot, meant to test how on-demand shuttles can be used to make it easier
and faster for customers to get to their destinations using MARTA, will be
expanded to include the Dixie Hills neighborhood and cities of Avondale
Estates, Alpharetta, Roswell, Forest Park, and Morrow.
“We have seen significant interest and loyalty
from the early riders of MARTA Reach,” said MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer
Rhonda Allen. “Most of our riders take many trips a day, connecting to grocery
stores, schools and day care, social activities, and the broader MARTA system.
We’re thrilled at the opportunity to expand the program to serve more riders in
more parts of our region for the second half of the pilot.”
Starting May 16:
- The current
West Atlanta zone will be expanded to include Dixie Hills, alongside the
Florida Heights and Collier Heights neighborhoods. New connections will be
made to West Lake and Bankhead Stations.
- The current
Belvedere zone will be expanded to include the City of Avondale Estates.
New connections will be made to Kensington Station.
Starting May 30:
- The current Gillem Logistics Zone
will expand into the cities of Forest Park and Morrow, including new
connections to Route 196, Clayton State University, Southern Regional
Hospital, and Southlake Mall.
- A new zone will be introduced
in North Fulton, including Georgia State University’s Alpharetta Campus,
Downtown Alpharetta, and the Avalon District. Connections will be provided
to Routes 85, 140, 141, 142 via the Mansell Park & Ride.
“The North
Fulton CID is excited to welcome the MARTA Reach Pilot Program to North
Fulton,” said Executive Director Brandon Beach, “This program has proven its
effectiveness in other areas of Metro Atlanta and we look forward to our
members, businesses, and residents receiving the benefits of the
program.”
Professor Pascal Van Hentenryck and Georgia
Tech’s Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) team is providing the
technology, including routing logic, and rider, operator, and administrator
system apps for the project.
“We are really thrilled about this expansion
that will give MARTA Reach an opportunity to provide first- and last-mile
connectivity to more riders, expanding a growing and loyal customer base,” said
Van Hentenryck. “It will also allow us to improve our understanding of the
sweet spots for MARTA Reach, and where it best complements the existing MARTA
network. The first months of the pilot have been incredibly exciting, and the
expansion will build on the great progress MARTA Reach has already
accomplished."
To order a ride download the MARTA Reach app from your smartphone’s
mobile app store. The app will guide you to designated pick-up and drop-off
stops near the beginning or end of your trip. If there’s not a stop where you’d
like, you can request additional stop locations in the app. Riders who do not
have a smartphone can call MARTA Customer Service at 404-848-5000 to request a
ride. All MARTA Reach vehicles are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
MARTA Reach debuted on March 1 in West Atlanta,
Belvedere, and the Gillem Logistics Center and costs the same as a MARTA fare,
$2.50. The service runs from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and is a
ridesharing service, meaning other passengers may be picked up and dropped off
during a trip.
Electronic
press kit including video on how to call a MARTA Reach EPK - OneDrive (live.com).
Follow MARTA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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