MARTA is the common name for Atlanta's rapid transit system, consisting of a network of bus routes linked to an urban heavy rail metro system. It is operated by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

Shoppers in Fulton and DeKalb counties pay an extra 1% sales tax to support MARTA. Metro Atlanta's inner suburban counties, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton initially agreed to join MARTA but refused membership when voters in their respective counties voted against paying to help fund the system. As a result, all five counties have representation on the MARTA Board of Directors, though only Fulton and DeKalb counties give financial support to MARTA. The inner suburban counties have instead created their own independent bus systems; Cobb Community Transit in 1989 (July 10), Gwinnett County Transit in 2001 (Nov. 5), and C-TRAN in 2001 (Oct. 1) respectively. The system does not receive financial support from the state of Georgia, though it does receive U.S. federal transit subsidies and grants for capital development. By law, half of all MARTA revenues (sales tax plus fare box) must be spent on operations, half on capital expenditures like expanding the system.

Rail

MARTA rail map

Two main lines cross the city, meeting at the Five Points station downtown. The south line goes to Hartsfield International Airport, the north line to North Springs and to Chamblee and Doraville on the northeast line. The west line goes to Hamilton E. Holmes station, and the east to Indian Creek station. There is also a short stub line, the Proctor Creek branch, with one station (Bankhead), extending from the west main line after Ashby station.

The most likely expansion of the rail system at present will be an extension of the west line from Hamilton E. Holmes to Fulton Industrial Boulevard. The north line may eventually be extended to Windward Parkway in Alpharetta with three stations. Extension of the Northeast and South lines is blocked by nonparticipating counties, though the south line may be extended another station with the planned construction of an additional terminal at the Airport.

Stations

North/south (orange line)

• NE10: Doraville
• NE9: Chamblee
• NE8: Brookhaven / Oglethorpe Univ.
• NE7: Lenox

East/west (blue line)

• W5: Hamilton E. Holmes
• W4: West Lake                       P4: Bankhead (Proctor Creek line)
• W3: Ashby
• W2: Vine City
• W1: Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center
• Five Points
• E1: Georgia State
• E2: King Memorial
• E3: Inman Park / Reynoldstown
• E4: Edgewood / Candler Park
• E5: East Lake
• E6: Decatur
• E7: Avondale
• E8: Kensington
• E9: Indian Creek

Bus

External links

• MARTA website
• New Georgia Encyclopedia article
• Georgia Regional Transportation Authority website
• Clayton County C-TRAN website
• Cobb Community Transit website
• Gwinnett County Transit website
• nycsubway.org Atlanta page
• The Clueless Commuter's Guide to MARTA