Where MARTA Came From?

"Greater investment in transit is necessary to “the cultural, social, and economic well-being of the people in the metropolitan area and the development of the educational, commercial,
and industrial resources.”
---Sec. 3, The MARTA Act of 1965

MARTA History

· MARTA originally provided transportation for Fulton and DeKalb counties and was funded on a 1% tax increase. Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties all rejected this project because of the 1% tax increase and fear of crime.

· In 1972 Atlanta Transit Company was bought out for $12.9 million so all public transportation would be controlled.

· MARTA began construction in 1975.

· The first line was finished in 1979.

MARTA Revenue & Expenses

• MARTA is one of the largest transit agencies in the U.S that does not receive assistance from state government

• MARTA revenue comes from a 1% sales tax

• MARTA finances most of its capital equipment and rail construction with bond fund

• MARTA Expenses include:

o Transportation (38%)

o Maintenance (28%)

o Interest (16%)

o General and Administrative (14%)

o Other (4%)

Light Rail in other Countries

• Above are some pictures of Light Rails from other countries including Europe, and Japan
• MARTA received the Clean Bill of Health from the State Auditor, in comparison to other light rail systems MARTA is very clean

cob

cob

MARTA

"The principal rapid transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area."

Routes, Hours of Operation and Accessibilility

Routes

· Marta has 38 train routes and over 125 different Bus Routes, which riders can use to travel from all over the metropolitan area.

· Marta uses lines which are marked by one of four colors: Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow to help reduce the passenger confusion

Hours of Operation

· MARTA buses operate weekdays from approximately 5 a.m. to 1:30 am and until 12:30 a.m. weekends and holidays. Bus schedules may vary by neighborhood.

· MARTA trains operate daily from 5 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. weekdays, with AM and PM peak service every 12 minutes, off-peak service every 15 minutes, and night service after 9 p.m. every 20 minutes.

Accessibility

• All 120 bus routes are equipped with wheelchair lifts or kneeling capabilities.

The Rider Friendly Transit Station

• Serving the Metro Area for the last 30 years, MARTA has been advancing the riding experience, by appealing to the rider.

• From replacing token and cash machines to tap and go breeze systems and eliminating transfers fee for unlimited numbers of transfers in a three-hour span.

• Marta has also even incorporated a “MapQuest” like computer application, known as My Commute, where unfamiliar riders are prepared with all the tools necessary to have a successful trip on MARTA.

• Since MARTA riders all have different needs, the transit authority has become more rider-friendly by encouraging cyclists and now allowing bicycles aboard, appealing to those of other elasticities by producing the MARTA rider-guide in Spanish, and alsoallowing service animals for the visually impaired.

• The dedication to making public transportation accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities, by having equipped all 120 bus routes with wheelchair lift kits or kneeling capabilities and rail stations with wide fare gates , is what MARTA strives to do.

• The Rapid Transit Authority has extended its efforts to help eligible persons with disabilities, which are unable to board, ride, or disembark from any of the regular bus or train systems.