$150 million renovation of MARTA’s Five Points station moving forward

MARTA trains are just one more familiar sight during the average Atlantan's commute these days. But it wasn't always that way. Prior to 1979, taking the train to work wasn't an option in the city after the demise of the streetcars. But MARTA had been planning a rapid rail system throughout the 1970s and by decade's end, the first trains hit the tracks. For that to happen, however, lots of construction was in the offing.

Original caption: "Workers at the MARTA construction site on Peachtree Street near Davison's (now Macy's) stand before the yawning hole that will be part of the tunnel for the first phase of the north line section of rail. Completion of the first phase of the north line, from Five Points to North Avenue, is expected by 1981. The entire line is expected to be completed to Doraville by 1986."

May 25, 1978 -- A MARTA construction sign near the H.L. Green store at MLK and Broad Street promises "Business as usual on Broad Street." Broad Street businesses were seriously impacted by MARTA construction.

Nov. 26, 1978 -- Construction of the downtown Five Points Marta Station continues in front of the old Rich's store.

March 23, 1979 -- Lyndon Wade (left) and MARTA General Manager Alan Kiepper take a close look at rail construction.

Original caption: "June 16, 1980 -- After months of being a hole in the ground, MARTA's Five Points Station is beginning to take shape. The station will be a key part of MARTA's downtown rail system. Part of it is already in use and has been since the West Line opened last December. Commuters just walk around the construction barricades to get to and from trains. The station will eventually allow people to transfer from east-west trains to those on the north and south lines still under construction."

Original caption: "1982 -- Work is progressing on MARTA's Lindbergh Drive station in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood. The station, which occupies the former site of the Atlanta Flea Market, is the last before Lenox Square, the terminus of the current phase of construction on MARTA's north rail line."

Original caption: "Dec. 11, 1980 -- Work is progressing along the North Line of MARTA's rapid rail system. This view, looking north from Whitehall Terrace at Rawson Street, shows rail construction through the heart of downtown. The North Line, which will extend to Doraville, is supposed to be complete by 1985."

April 7, 1979 -- Secretary of Transportation Brock Adams inspects the controls of the operator on a MARTA train.

Original caption: "June 30, 1979 -- Excited passengers on the first day of MARTA rapid rail service crowd [the Avondale station] to take a 25-cent ride into Atlanta."

Original caption: "June 30, 1979 - The first passengers come through, or like the girl on right, climb over, the fare gates. Some of the turnstiles stuck and people had to step over them to get in while they were trying to be repaired."

Original caption: "June 30, 1979 -- The first train arrives at Avondale Station to take the passengers on their first MARTA train ride. Today saw the East Line dedication and first train run at 11:10 a.m. The boy in the foreground is Tim Hargis."

Original caption: "June 30, 1979 -- The East Line MARTA rail station dedication ceremony and inaugural first run of MARTA trains: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Brock Adams and other dignitaries applaud as the inaugural train moves from East Lake to downtown after a breakdown in service."

A sign lets commuters at Hartsfield International Airport know that MARTA's expansion of the South Line to the air terminal is in the offing. On Nov. 4, 2014, Clayton voters approved MARTA bringing bus and rail service to the county, meaning that proposed rail lines could extend farther south than the current Airport station terminus.

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MARTA trains are just one more familiar sight during the average Atlantan's commute these days. But it wasn't always that way. Prior to 1979, taking the train to work wasn't an option in the city after the demise of the streetcars. But MARTA had been planning a rapid rail system throughout the 1970s and by decade's end, the first trains hit the tracks. For that to happen, however, lots of construction was in the offing.

By David Wickert

June 24, 2021

MARTA is moving forward with the $150 million renovation of Five Points station in downtown Atlanta.

On Thursday the MARTA board’s planning committee voted to award a $15 million contract for architectural and engineering design services for the project to Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The full board is expected to consider the contract next month.

Renovating Five Points is a top priority of Atlanta’s More MARTA program, made possible when city voters approved an additional half-penny sales tax for transit expansion in 2016. Five Points is the hub of MARTA’s rail network, and rehabilitating the station will be a complicated undertaking.

Assistant General Manager Marsha Anderson-Bomar said the project will involve “deconstructing” and rebuilding parts of the existing station, building a new plaza and accommodating future development above the station.

“All this work needs to be done while we keep the station fully activated and safe, still a good environment for our customers,” she said.

Anderson-Bomar said MARTA picked Skidmore, Owings & Merrill because of its experience with similar projects. One example: The company was involved in the Hudson Yards development above active rail lines in New York City.

MARTA expects to award a construction contract for the project in October. Work would begin in the spring and set to end in 2025 — in time for Atlanta to possibly host a World Cup soccer semifinal game in 2026.

“Yes, we can deliver this project on time,” Anderson-Bomar told the board. “We will deliver this project on time.”

About the Author

David Wickert

David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.

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$150 million renovation of MARTA’s Five Points station moving forward

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