MARTA Rail
The MARTA rail line has a station at the Hartsfield airport located at the west end. This rail line will take you downtown in less than 30 minutes. You can get to Perimeter Mall in less than 45 minutes. Compare that to the hour or more that you may travel in rush hour traffic! The MARTA rail system is color coded with the Red Line, Gold Line, Blue Line and Green Line. The Red Line serves North Springs to the Airport, Gold Line is Doraville to the Airport, H.E. Holmes-Indian Creek is the Blue Line and Proctor Creek to Edgewood is the Green Line.
Destinations are announced on the trains, as well as connections to bus routes at each station, along with connections to other rail lines and any landmarks that apply to each station. From 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, trains run every 15 minutes. It changes to every 20 minutes from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am. On weekends, all the lines run every 20 minutes. You can plan your trip using the MyCommute Trip Planner, which will help you with the schedules and train or bus stops that pertain to your trip. Additional help is available by calling the MARTA Customer Information Center at 404-848-5000. That line is open weekdays from 7:00 am. to 7:00 pm, and on weekends and holidays you can call from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
In order to access the bus or train you will need a Breeze Card. Breeze Vending Machines are located in all the rail stations, and at the MARTA Ridestores at the airport and Five Points. You can also learn about Breeze Cards at Breezecard.com. Load your Breeze Card at any of these places, or online at the MARTA website. Always get to your bus stop or rail station a few minutes early. Tap your Breeze Card on the blue target to pay the fare. Access to the system is granted after your card has been read. When you exit, tap the Breeze card on the blue target. Transfer for free by tapping again immediately on the bus or the station at your point of exit.
If you are riding a bicycle, you can take it on the train, just be mindful of your fellow passengers. Use extra caution.
• Don’t board full trains with a bicycle
• Keep your bike out of the aisle and away from the train door
• Use the elevator when taking your bike in and out of the rail stations
MARTA is one of the more unique transit systems in that they allow unrestricted bicycle access on trains. Very few transit systems in the country offer this service.
MARTA Bus System
MyCommute Trip Planner will help you plan out the details of getting where you want to go in the Atlanta area via bus. Newbies to Atlanta bus services are urged to check out “A Rookie’s Guide to Riding MARTA.” This little brochure will give you all the information you need to successfully navigate the MARTA system.
On weekdays, buses run from 5:00 am to 1:00 am, and until 12:30 am on weekends and holidays. The schedules vary by neighborhoods, so be sure to check the times on your route.
Paying your bus fare is the same as you would for the train. Get and load a Breeze Card and tap it on the blue target to pay your fare.If you have bicycle and want to ride the bus, you will need to place it on the rack on the front of the bus. Each bus has room for only two bikes, so you may or may not have a chance to take your bike on any given bus. Service animals are allowed, but be sure to read the service animal brochure. Small pets are allowed on the MARTA system, however they must be carried in rigid pet carriers with locks or latches. You must keep your carrier out of the aisles and off the seats.
The MARTA system is quite expansive, so you shouldn’t have any problems getting to your destination. Make sure you arrive a little early to your stop, and be sure that your Breeze Card is loaded with the correct amount to cover your entire trip. Ride happily, knowing that you are saving money by riding MARTA and you are being a good steward by not adding to the vehicular air pollution by driving unnecessarily.
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Atlanta_Rapid_Transit_Authority
http://www.examiner.com/article/tips-for-riding-marta-to-from-the-atlant...
