MARTA Airport station to close in April for 6 weeks. Here’s what to know
The MARTA rail station at Hartsfield-Jackson International will close for six weeks for renovations starting in April, according to the transit agency, though transit service to and from the airport during construction will continue with the use of buses.
The short-term closure is designed to compress the project’s overall construction timeline, but it will still mean significant disruption for airline passengers and airport workers who rely on MARTA rail service. MARTA said the closure will last from April 8 through May 19 to allow for a renovation of the concourse and platform levels of the airport station.
Those traveling to and from the airport on MARTA will be able to take a shuttle between the College Park station and the airport’s Terminal North lower level.
The agency is recommending that those headed to the airport for work or travel by train during the closure to allow an extra 30 minutes to get there. An extra half-hour travel time is nearly as long as it takes to reach the airport by train from many MARTA stations.
Rehabilitation work for the $55 million project at the MARTA Airport station has been going on since June 2022, including structural work, vestibule replacement and electrical upgrades. The transit agency next plans to replace floor tiles on both levels of the station and prepare for a new canopy structure that will improve the “safety and appearance” of the station at the world’s busiest airport.
“We will be providing easily accessible shuttle service for travelers and airport employees between College Park Station and the airport so we can safely complete this necessary work at Airport Station. We ask that if you’re headed to the airport for your shift or to catch a flight, you give yourself an extra 30 minutes to account for the adjustment to our service,” said MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood in a written statement.
The agency said it will have signs and announcements to alert riders of the closure and shuttle service. Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Balram Bheodari in a written statement said the shuttle service “ensures uninterrupted access.”
MARTA said it is opting to close the station for the initial work for safety reasons and to reduce construction time by 17 months.
But there is also more work planned beyond this year at the MARTA Airport station, including ceiling and lighting replacement, elevator rehabilitation, new signs, a new RideStore and a public art installation.
That will require more disruption at the MARTA Airport station, including nightly closures for 10 months of 2025 and “a potential second six-week closure at the end of construction” for installation of the canopy structure, according to the transit agency.
How to use MARTA during the airport station construction
The MARTA station at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will be closed from April 8-May 19, 2024. During those six weeks, MARTA will be using a bus bridge to deliver riders to and from the airport.
Here’s how to use it:
Going to the airport
Red and Gold lines will terminate at the College Park Station and riders should catch the airport shuttle from the bus loop. Shuttles may add an extra 30 minutes to travel time.
The shuttle will drop off riders at the Domestic Terminal North lower level, and riders can take elevators or escalators one level up to the North ticketing area.
Leaving the airport
Riders should go to the Domestic Terminal North and take elevators or escalators to the lower level LN1 or LN2 doors, which lead to the shuttle pickup area.
The MARTA shuttle will take riders to the College Park Station, where riders can pick up Red or Gold line trains going north.
About the Author
As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.
