Here’s what the Gwinnett MARTA referendum would bring to Buford

02/25/2019 -- Lawrenceville, Georgia -- The interior of the Gwinnett County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections building in Lawrenceville, Monday, February 25, 2019.  (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

02/25/2019 -- Lawrenceville, Georgia -- The interior of the Gwinnett County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections building in Lawrenceville, Monday, February 25, 2019. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

Buford residents currently have a sole express route to Atlanta as the entirety of their public transportation options. If Gwinnett County voters approve the March 19 MARTA referendum, Buford’s transit options will significantly increase.

The city at the northern end of Gwinnett will get new local bus routes, direct connect commuter buses to Chamblee, rapid bus routes and an additional express route. The county’s transit plan, included in its pending contract with MARTA, also includes programs to subsidize Uber and Lyft rides to transit stations and paratransit for those with disabilities.

READ | How would MARTA in Gwinnett affect your neighborhood? Here's the plan.

LISTEN | Podcast: Understanding Gwinnett County's upcoming MARTA vote

Here’s what Buford will get if the referendum is passed:

Within 5 years

• New local bus route from Mall of Georgia to Gwinnett Place Mall

• On-demand flex transit service

• Direct connect bus service to Chamblee MARTA station from I-985 Park-and-Ride

Within 5 to 10 years

• New local bus route from I-985 park-and-ride to Sugarloaf Mills Park-and-Ride

• New local bus route between Mall of Georgia/I-985 Park-and-Ride and Georgia Gwinnett College

Within 10 to 30 years

• New rapid bus route from Mall of Georgia/I-985 Park-and-Ride to Infinite Energy Transit Center

• New rapid bus route from Mall of Georgia/I-985 Park-and-Ride to Snellville Park-and-Ride with a stop at the Lawrenceville Transit Center

• New express route beginning in Hall County, stopping at the I-985/Mall of Georgia Park-and-Ride, McGinnis Ferry Park-and-Ride and Jimmy Carter Boulevard hub

Early voting has begun for the referendum. You can cast a ballot from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gwinnett County elections office at 455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville every day through March 15 — that includes Saturdays and Sundays. There are also seven satellite voting locations that open on March 4.

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