MARTA is planning extra rail and bus service to help deal with anticipated crowds in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve.
The additional service will begin at 5 a.m. Sunday and run through 2 a.m. Monday, spokeswoman Stephany Fisher said in a news release Friday.
Several New Year’s Eve events are expected to bring large crowds to downtown Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons are playing the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 4:25 p.m.; Woodruff Park is opening at 5:30 p.m. for the annual Peach Drop; and 90s R&B group XSCAPE is headlining a concert at Philips Arena at 8 p.m.
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Rail lines will provide more frequent service, and trains will be added as needed, Fisher said. Riders should buy round-trip tickets at the beginning of their itineraries to avoid long lines on return trips, Fisher said.
The last trains will depart all stations at 2 a.m. Monday. All stations will be cleared before the final run to ensure no one is left behind.
To attend the Peach Drop, take the train to the Peachtree Center station if you’re coming from the north or the Five Points station if you’re coming from the south, east, or west, the agency said.
“Atlanta offers so many great events to ring in the new year, and we want everyone to leave their car at home, take MARTA, and have a safe and enjoyable evening,” MARTA interim general manager and CEO Elizabeth O’Neill said in the release.
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