Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (Marta /ˈmɑːrtə/) is the principal public transport operator in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting of 48 miles (77 km) of rail track with 38 subway stations. MARTA's rapid transit system is the eighth-largest rapid transit system in the United States by ridership.
| Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority | |
|---|---|
MARTA Rail System | |
System map | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Transit type |
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| Number of lines |
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| Number of stations | 38 (rail) 12 (streetcar) |
| Daily ridership |
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| Annual ridership |
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| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Website | itsmarta |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | February 17, 1972 (buses) June 30, 1979 (rail) |
| Technical | |
| System length | 48 mi (77 km) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | Third rail, 750 V DC (rapid transit) Overhead line, 750 V DC (streetcar) |
| Top speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
MARTA operates almost exclusively in Fulton, Clayton, and DeKalb counties, although they maintain bus service to two destinations in neighboring Cobb County (Six Flags Over Georgia and the Cumberland Transfer Center next to the Cumberland Mall), while Doraville station serves portions of Gwinnett County via Ride Gwinnett buses. MARTA also operates Mobility, a separate paratransit service for disabled customers.
In 2022, the entire system (bus and subway lines) had 57,089,900 rides, or about 203,800 per weekday in the third quarter of 2023. MARTA's first bus rapid transit (BRT) line is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in Summer 2025. The 5-mile line will run from downtown Atlanta, through Summerhill, and end at the Atlanta BeltLine. The line, named the "Summerhill BRT Line", will utilize new electric buses.