MARTA on schedule to finish escalator repairs

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

About 45 of MARTA’s escalators remain out of service, but the transit agency said Wednesday it is on target to have those repaired and in working order by May.

Enlarge photo

Kristi E. Swartz, kswartz@ajc.com All 149 of MARTA's escalators will be working by May, officials said.

More Atlanta/Fulton news »

• Beryl may bring rain, wind here
• Not all cheating the same at APS
• Sneiderman battle recalls 1989 saga
• Citizen Review Board under scrutiny
• Atlanta/South Fulton
• North Fulton

Escalators at some of the busiest stations -- the airport, Georgia State, North Avenue and Lindbergh-- all are working. At other stations, such as Five Points and Peachtree Center, a few are still being repaired, MARTA deputy general manager Dwight Ferrell said.

MARTA shut down 100 of its 149 escalators in January after learning that a mechanic working for an outside contractor had bypassed a safety circuit on an escalator at the Dunwoody station.

The shutdown came after MARTA determined that the mechanic had worked on or inspected scores of the machines.

“We think that we still made the right decision [to shut down the escalators for repair],” Ferrell said. “We don’t like that we’ve impacted our customers, but we feel better that we’ve made these repairs.”

The escalators have been repaired by starting with the longest ones first and then moving to the shorter ones, Ferrell said.

MARTA has contracted with Schindler Elevator Corp. to do the repairs. The cost will be more than $1 million, Ferrell said.

Money for the inspections and repairs will come out of MARTA's operating budget, which already has been slashed. MARTA faces a $120 million budget deficit.

Ferrell said MARTA will increase the number of staff at its stations this weekend and is encouraging people to take mass transit instead of getting on the roads.

In all, the city estimates an additional 300,000 visitors for several events this weekend, such as the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, the Sweetwater 420 Fest, a robotics competition, an Atlanta Braves series and an Atlanta Hawks playoff game.

Two separate groups have plans at private venues throughout metro Atlanta this weekend using variations of the name "Freaknik."