The MARTA board of directors on Thursday approved a $3,500 bonus for frontline and unionized employees working through the coronavirus pandemic.

The one-time payment would go to bus and rail operators, mechanics and supervisors, and members of the MARTA Police Department with the rank of major and below. The $13 million cost would come from budget surpluses that resulted from higher-than-expected sales tax revenue, lower-than-expected costs and federal pandemic relief.

It’s the second round of bonuses for MARTA employees during the pandemic. In April 2020, the agency announced $500 “hero bonuses” for workers.

On Thursday, the board also approved a 2% raise for employees that will take effect in February.

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Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC