MARTA RAPID A-LINE TO LAUNCH IN
PHASES; PHASE ONE OPENS APRIL 18th AS PART OF NEXTGEN BUS NETWORK
ATLANTA – The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Rapid A-Line,
the Atlanta region’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) line, will launch in two
phases with the first phase beginning Saturday, April 18, 2026, as part of the NextGen Bus Network.
The five-mile Rapid A-Line connects Downtown Atlanta to Capitol
Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Beltline’s Southside Trail, with
connections to MARTA’s heavy rail system at Five Points, Georgia State, and
Garnett Stations.
Since its
groundbreaking, the project has experienced challenges including
the discovery of old infrastructure during excavation, and a battery
recall on the New Flyer battery-electric buses purchased to operate on the
line. These unforeseen circumstances have delayed completion of all 14 BRT
stations and may require supplemental vehicles to provide initial
service.
When Phase 1 launches on
April 18, 2026, it will feature the following:
- Service
hours - 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- In
areas where construction has been completed, buses will operate in
dedicated lanes with transit signal priority.
- In
areas under construction, temporary bus stops located near
stations will be used.
Information about how to
ride the new line, including detailed station and temporary stop locations and
better Breeze fare payment instructions, will be shared soon.
Phase 2 of the launch is
scheduled for fall when all BRT stations are complete. The BRT stations feature
offboard fare payment using the new, better Breeze system, real-time service
information, level boarding, and other amenities associated with rail stations.