Current Status (February 2026):
Service Starts April 18, 2026!
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Phase 1 of service for the route will start on April 18, 2026, to align with the start of NextGen Bus Network Redesign.
Phase one of service will feature the following:
- Service from 5am to 1am with the fee of $2.50 and free transfers.
- New compressed natural gas (CNG) buses with Rapid A-Line branding.
- 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.
Rapid A-Line 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 the use of supplemental vehicles to provide initial service.
Monthly Station Feature
Transit Signal Priority
Introduced to improve service efficiency, the Monthly Station Feature aims to increase reliability and rider satisfaction. Please check out this month’s station feature below!
Traffic signal priority technology enhances the efficiency of the route by:
- Using smart sensors and intersection technology to detect approaching BRT vehicles.
- Adjusting traffic signals to give buses priority and reduce intersection delays.
- Cutting overall travel time, boosting system efficiency and encouraging higher ridership.
- Lowering congestion and.
MARTA Rapid A-Line Features
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective public transportation system that uses dedicated bus lanes to avoid traffic congestion. Our BRT system includes features such as frequent service, electric buses, and well-designed stations with pre-payment systems to speed up boarding. BRT provides a flexible, low-cost service. BRTs help improve air quality and promote sustainable urban mobility. BRT systems are designed to be fast, reliable, and accessible for passengers. Continue reading below for more information on what the Rapid A-Line BRT project has to offer.
- 14 new stations with level boarding, real-time arrival information, and off-board fare collection so you can pay before you board.
- Brand-new 60-foot articulated electric buses
- Trips every 10 to 12 minutes during peak hours
- Total travel time from Five Points south to Carver will be 12-15 minutes
- 85% dedicated bus lanes with transit signal priority to bypass traffic
General improvements provided by the MARTA Rapid A-Line project.
Rendering of MARTA Rapid A-Line stations
Construction Overview
Construction will impact the travel routes in several ways. Please see the information below on what you can expect during construction hours from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. To maintain the project schedule, the team may do night work to complete projects in a timely manner. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working diligently to finish the project. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the Rapid Response Team email (
rapidaline@itsmarta.com) or hotline (404.848.3006).
Construction activity will cause traffic detours and periodic lane reductions. Please see the links below for more details. Plan accordingly as these lane closures will impact travel times, sidewalks, cycle tracks, and parking lanes.
On-street parking:
On-street parking will be closed in locations along the route during the next phase of construction as the team continues to prepare for future Rapid station installations and road widening. All drivers along the route should adhere to posted signage such as the restricting parking access signs. Please refrain from blocking vehicles parked in prohibited on-street parking spots. Any vehicles that obscure construction activity will be towed at the owner’s expense.
On-street parking spots are closed in the following locations:
- Hank Aaron Drive from Ormond Street to McDonough Boulevard intersection.
- Along Mitchell Street and MLK Jr. Drive at various locations depending on active construction.
- Mitchell Street between Shirley Franklin Boulevard and Washington Street (left lane parking area).
- Washington Street between Mitchell Street and Memorial Drive.
Construction Impacts
Please anticipate traffic lane closures and pedestrian and bicycle detours for necessary road widening work at the following locations:
Low impact construction may continue after scheduled hours when traffic is at its lowest, and crew members will comply with local noise ordinances. The construction crew may also work during weekends to maintain the project schedule during periods of inclement weather.
Please look for posted signage for detailed parking and lane restriction instructions when traveling the corridor.
Bus Stop Impacts:
Effective until to spring 2026, bus routes 49 and 55 are detoured due to construction. Please refer to the map above for the locations of the detoured routes. We appreciate your continued cooperation and understanding. You can view the details of the specific detour routes at
https://itsmarta.com/bus-reroutes.aspx
Several existing bus stops along the corridor will be intermittently impacted by construction. Please refer to the rider alert above, which is also posted at bus stops, for information about service to bus stops during construction.
For assistance with trip planning, please visit MARTA’s
Plan a Trip web page, download the
MARTA On the Go app, or contact MARTA Customer Service at (404)848-5000. For information about MARTA’s ADA complementary paratransit service, visit the
MARTA Mobility webpage or call (404) 848-4037.
Project Overview
The MARTA Rapid A-Line, will provide a 5-mile roundtrip route that connects Downtown Atlanta to the Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Atlanta BeltLine with fast, frequent premium transit service. Connections to
MARTA’s heavy rail system will be provided at Five Points, Georgia State, and Garnett stations.
The project is funded through a Federal TIGER Grant and the More MARTA program with the City of Atlanta. Planning and design work took place between Spring 2019 and Summer 2022. Following preliminary utility work that started in 2022, construction kicked off with an official groundbreaking in June 2023. Due to the nature of construction and unexpected delays, construction will be completed after 2025 with revenue service beginning thereafter.
Project Map:
See all the places MARTA is expanding in Atlanta, Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties including faster service, improved transit hubs, and expanded service.
itsmarta.com/current-projects
Project Planning Archives
Community engagement on the planning and design for this project has been taking place since 2019. Please see the materials below for a variety of presentations and other project information.
*This material is based upon work supported by the USDOT under FTA FY 2017 TIGER Grant No. GA 2020-022-00. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the USDOT.
Previously Released Newsletters:
Previously Released Construction Alerts:
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January 28, 2025 Alert
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January 31, 2025 Alert
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February 20, 2025 Alert
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March 7, 2025 Alert
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April 8, 2025 Alert
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April 24, 2025 Alert
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July 14, 2025 Alert
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July 23, 2025 Alert
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September 25, 2025 Alert
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October 15, 2025 Alert
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October 22, 2025 Alert
- November 6, 2025 Alert
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November 21, 2025 Alert
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February 2, 2026 Alert
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February 5, 2026 Alert
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February 20, 2026 Alert
Contact
For general project questions, contact our MARTA Rapid Response Team:
Houston Harris & Makaela Edmonds
rapidaline@itsmarta.com
404.848.3006
Follow our progress! Sign up for project email updates
here by selecting Rapid Summerhill under Expansion Projects.