As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last week, MARTA has seen a big boost in passengers since I-85 collapsed in Atlanta March 30. The agency hopes to take advantage of the opportunity, turning frustrated commuters into long-term customers.
It's unclear whether it will succeed, but it won't be for lack of trying. Among the steps MARTA has taken to entice commuters: It has added more than 2,400 parking spaces at various stations since the I-85 bridge collapsed.
The latest batch of new parking came last week, when MARTA added 750 spaces at three stations (AT&T is providing the spaces). The North Springs station got an extra 400 spaces, Doraville got 100 and College Park got 250.
MARTA also is hiring additional parking attendants to manage the additional lots. And it had previously added spaces at other stations:
*Chamblee: 275 spaces.
*King Memorial: 400 spaces.
*Brookhaven/Oglethorpe: 175 spaces.
*Kensington: 385 spaces.
*East Point: 168 spaces.
*Sandy Springs: 250 spaces.
The new spaces address a pressing need: Since I-85 closed, MARTA has been running out of parking at some stations.
The transit agency also has added staff and expanded service since the I-85 bridge collapse. You can learn more about MARTA's efforts to attract customers – and its prospects for holding on to them when I-85 reopens – here.
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