In 1974, MARTA was riding high, boasting a 27 percent increase in ridership overall since 1970.

What made MARTA so popular? The then-still-new system offered folks a ton of upgrades and amenities. Many of the new riders were commuters who had never before used mass transit.

ajc.com

Credit: Andria Brooks

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Credit: Andria Brooks

Photos from the National Archives (in color!) show a snapshot of this time in Atlanta history.

SEE THE GALLERY: http://www.ajc.com/gallery/news/local-govt-politics/70s-commute-atlantans-flock-marta/gCZYj/