As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported, MARTA recently rolled out a proposed expansion to be paid for with the half-penny sales tax Atlanta voters approved in 2016. The expansion includes 21 miles of light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit lines and other transit improvements in the city (you can read more about the details here).
The expansion comes as MARTA ridership is declining. Data from the Federal Transit Administration show MARTA passenger trips fell 2.6 percent in 2017. It's the second consecutive year MARTA ridership has declined – and further evidence that the agency was not able to capitalize on the collapse of the I-85 bridge to boost ridership last year.
MARTA isn’t alone. Transit ridership is declining around metro Atlanta and across the nation. Look for a full report next week. In the meantime, we’d like to hear from you. Are you a former MARTA rider? Why did you stop riding? What would persuade you to give it another try?
If you’re a former MARTA rider willing to be quoted in an AJC article, contact dwickert@ajc.com.
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