MARTA bus riders will have either shorter or longer waits at stops this Saturday and beyond as the agency adjusts service along many of its routes.
After weeks of planning and hearing from riders, the transit agency is unveiling changes to address riders' concerns and improve on-time performance, MARTA said Thursday.
The changes will come a week before MARTA’s new fares kick in. The cost to ride a MARTA bus or train will rise to $2.50 on Oct. 2, a 50 cent increase.
MARTA trains, however, are not affected by this weekend's moves, the agency said.
The agency wants to cut down on the number of buses running behind schedule and address transit access issues, said Johnny Dunning, senior director of transit system planning.
Over the past two years, MARTA has made sweeping cutbacks to deal with millions of dollars in revenue shortfalls. Last fall, the agency eliminated 2,700 of 11,500 bus stops and cut train service as well.
Dunning said the upcoming service changes do not include a restoration of any previous cuts but attempts to fine-tune the routes that exist.
Major realignments are being made to some bus routes, including Peachtree Industrial in north DeKalb; Donald L. Hollowell Parkway in northwest Atlanta; Joseph E. Boone Boulevard/Dixie Hills in west Atlanta; Boulevard/Monroe Drive north of Downtown; and Buffington Road/South Fulton Park & Ride.
Modest changes are also being made to many others. In both cases, shorter or longer waits can be expected at many stops on weekdays and weekends.
For example, buses will stop more frequently on the Howell Mill/Cumberland route, every 25 minutes during weekday peak periods, instead of every 30 minutes. Those serving the Lavista Road route will arrive every 50 minutes instead of every 45 minutes.
MARTA is also changing the location of its downtown Five Points terminus to Alabama Street at Broad Street instead of the current location on Wall Street at Pryor Street.
Since drastically cutting routes last fall, MARTA has restored some of the services, including the bus shuttle from Five Points to Braves games.
MARTA last raised its regular fares in October 2009, from $1.75 to $2. It was the first fare increase since 2001.
Much of the agency’s funding comes from a 1 percent sales tax levied in DeKalb and Fulton counties. Next year, voters in the 10-county Atlanta region will vote on a 1 percent sales tax for transportation projects, including mass transit.
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