MARTA will hold public hearings on proposed bus service modifications at 7 p.m. on September 14 and 15, 2009, to gather input from customers and stakeholders. Modifications to bus routes 1, 19, 44, 55, 70, and 139 are being proposed for implementation on December 5, 2009, to enhance safety on certain routes as well as to respond to community and customer requests. 

Details regarding the proposed changes are listed below.  A community exchange will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. during which staff will be available to provide information regarding the proposed changes and answer any questions prior to the start of the official public hearing.

Fare Changes Effective October 1

MARTA regularly evaluates routes and schedules and proposes adjustments to ensure better schedule adherence and service performance.  Final changes will be recommended based on feedback received from customers as well as the authority’s service analysis.

Copies of the proposed bus service modifications are available for review at MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon, and on the MARTA website www.itsmarta.com.  A summary of the proposed bus modifications can be requested by leaving a message on MARTA’s comment line, 404.848.5299.  The proposed modifications will also be available for public inspection an hour before each hearing, and MARTA staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. 

Patrons may request information in an accessible format by calling MARTA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at 404.848.4037.  For patrons requiring further accommodations, information can be obtained by calling the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 404.848.5665.  In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available at all hearings. 

People unable to attend the hearings can provide comments regarding the proposed bus service modifications to MARTA’s Office of External Affairs through September 20, 2009, by calling 404.848.5299, writing to 2424 Piedmont Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324-3330, completing an online comment card at www.itsmarta.com, or faxing comments to 404.848.4179.

Hearings will be held at the following locations:

Monday, September 14, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Taking MARTA: Bus routes 21, 49, 55, and 97 from Five Points rail station.
Special Bus Shuttle will be provided from Five Points rail station.

Monday, September 14, 2009

7:00 p.m.

North Fulton Service Center

7741 Roswell Road

Sandy Springs, Georgia 30350

Taking MARTA:  Bus route 87 from Dunwoody or North Springs rail stations.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
7 p.m.

College Park Public Safety Complex

3717 College Street

College Park, Georgia 30337

Taking MARTA: Bus routes 72 and 78 from College Park rail station.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 7 p.m.

DeKalb Maloof Auditorium

1300 Commerce Drive

Decatur, Georgia 30030

Taking MARTA:  Walk one block west of Decatur rail station.

Proposed Service Changes:

Route 1 Marietta Boulevard/Centennial Olympic Park will be rerouted outbound to continue on Marietta Street. The Spring Street and Ivan Allen Boulevard segments will be discontinued in the outbound direction only in order to eliminate the hazardous right-turn from Ivan Allen Boulevard onto Marietta Street.

Route 19 Clairmont Road service on Drew Valley Road and Thompson Road, a residential area, will be discontinued in response to neighborhood requests. Route 19 service to Century Center will be served by the proposed realignment of Route 70. Route 19 service to the Skyland Community will be replaced by Route 139. Route 19 will continue to service Brookhaven Station, VA Hospital and Decatur Station.

Route 44 West Wesley Road service to West Paces Ferry Road will be rerouted via Northside Drive instead of West Wesley Road/Howell Mill Road in response to a community request. The route will continue along Northside Drive past North Atlanta High School following a one-way loop to West Paces Ferry Road, Northside Parkway, and Moores Mill Road back to Northside Drive. Selective trips to Marietta Boulevard will be extended on West Wesley Road between Northside Drive and Bolton Road. Service on Howell Mill Road will be discontinued between West Wesley Road and Moores Mill Road.

Route 55 Cleveland Avenue/Lakewood Heights will be permanently rerouted to operate inbound/outbound via Weyman Avenue, Ridge Avenue, Pryor Street, University Avenue and McDonough Boulevard. This realignment eliminates a potentially hazardous condition at Hank Aaron/University Avenue and McDonough Boulevard railroad crossing by partially following the segment now operated by Route 4, in order to avoid the railroad crossing. Route 55 is currently following this routing as a safety detour that will be made permanent in December if approved by the Board.

Route 70 Chamblee will operate between Brookhaven Station and Century Center, replacing service currently provided by Route 19. Route 70 will also service the Briarwood Road and I-85 Access Roads currently serviced by Route 139. The Buford Highway, Clairmont Road to North DeKalb Health Center (select trips), and New Peachtree Road segment to Chamblee Station will be serviced by the proposed realignment of Route 139. Route 70 buses will operate every 45 minutes and provide corporations at the Century Center Complex with new midday and weekend service, in response to customer comments received during last June’s public hearings;

Route 139 Lenox/Plaza Fiesta will operate from Lenox Station to Chamblee Station via Buford Highway, Clairmont Road and New Peachtree Road, replacing service currently provided by Route 70. Route 139 will also replace service to the Skyland community currently served by Route 19. Route 139 will continue to provide service to Plaza Fiesta along Clairmont Road.