MARTA Implements Drastic Service Cuts

From MARTA:

MARTA TO IMPLEMENT ESSENTIAL SERVICE PLAN, SHIFT FOCUS TO BUSIEST BUS ROUTES, REQUIRE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Authority will Operate 41 Routes, Double Service on 34 Busiest Routes

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced it will implement an Essential Service plan that reduces the number of bus routes and allows for a doubling of service on the busiest, most critical routes. This plan keeps MARTA running for health care personnel and other essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Beginning Monday, April 20, MARTA will run 40 bus routes and one new circulator service that provide transportation to 17 hospitals, 22 urgent care centers, 85 grocery stores and 16 job centers/industrial hubs. Buses will be added to the 34 busiest routes. A list and map of the routes are attached.
“This Essential Service plan will serve the largest number of people and with these important destinations in mind, provide as much coverage in our service area as possible,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This was not an easy decision. I know it will have a negative impact on many bus-dependent areas, but it is necessary to keep MARTA operating and allow space on our busiest routes for customers to practice social distancing.”
Bus ridership, while down 40 percent, remains steady on busy routes, resulting in unacceptable crowding. Rear door boarding, and suspension of bus fares have exacerbated the issue. Despite MARTA’s implementation of several crowding mitigation efforts such as instructing operators to display a ‘Bus Full’ sign when at capacity, a customer hotline to report a full bus and request another, and seat spacing signs to encourage social distancing, there are too many instances of customers ignoring the guidelines.
This Essential Service plan will address crowding by placing MARTA’s entire bus fleet on 41 routes. Decals near the boarding door of all buses will encourage customers NOT to board a bus that has no open seats and to wait for the next bus that will be coming along in most cases within 10 minutes. The MARTA Police Department will dispatch officers to the busiest routes to assist with overcrowding, limiting the number of passengers who board, and escorting off the bus those customers who are joyriding. MPD has also created a mobile team of officers who will respond in real time to bus operators who need assistance.
Rail ridership is down almost 80 percent, leaving room on trains for social distancing. Rail service will continue to operate on a Sunday schedule during weekdays with a start time of 5 a.m.
The Essential Service plan route list, map, and schedule can be found at www.itsmarta.com. For real-time service alerts, follow @MARTASERVICE on Twitter or download MARTA’s On The Go app.

Bus #	Name	Starts	Ends	Peak Frequency, minutes
2	Ponce de Leon Avenue / Druid Hills	East Lake Station	North Ave. Station	30
4	Moreland Avenue	Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station	Leila Valley/Thomasville Heights/Rebel Forest	30
5	Piedmont Road / Sandy Springs	Dunwoody Station	Lindbergh Station	7.5-15
6	Clifton Road / Emory	Inman Park/Reynodstown Station	Lindbergh Station	30
15	Candler Road	Decatur Station	River Rd. & Linecrest Rd./Bouldercrest Rd.	7.5-15
19	Clairmont Road / W Howard Ave	Decatur Station	Chamblee Station	15-30
21	Memorial Drive	Kensington Station	5 Points Station	10-20
26	Marietta Street / Perry Boulevard	5 Points Station	Bankhead Station	15-30
39	Buford Highway	Lindbergh Station	Doraville Station	7.5-15
40	Peachtree Street / Downtown	West End Station	Arts Center Station	15-30
42	Pryor Road	Lakewood/Ft McPherson Station	5 Points Station	15-30
49	McDonough Boulevard	5 Points Station	Metro Transition Ctr.	7.5-15
50	Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway	North Ave. Station	Bankhead Station	15-30
51	Joseph E Boone Boulevard	HE Holmes Station	North Ave. Station	10-20
60	Hightower Road	HE Holmes Station	Moores Mill Center	15-30
71	Cascade Road	West End Station	4375 Apt. Complex	5-10
73	Fulton Industrial	HE Holmes Station	LaGrange Blvd. or Westpark Dr.	5-10
78	Cleveland Avenue	East Point Station	Cleveland Ave. at Jonesboro Rd.	5-10
82	Camp Creek / South Fulton Parkway	College Park Station	Derrick Industrial Pkwy.	7.5-15
83	Campbellton Road	Oakland City Station	Barge Road PNR Lot	5-10
84	Washington Rd / Camp Crk Marketplace	East Point Station	Social Security Admin. Office	10-20
86	Fairington Road	Kensington Station	Mall of Stonecrest	10-20
89	Old National Highway	College Park Station	Union City or Riverdale	7.5-15
95	Metropolitan Parkway	West End Station	City of Hapeville	7.5-15
102	North Avenue / Little Five Points	North Ave. Station	Edgewood Candler Park Station	15-30
107	Glenwood	Georgia State Station	Indian Creek Station	10-20
110	Peachtree Road / Buckhead	Arts Center Station	Lenox Station	7.5-15
111	Snapfinger Woods	Indian Creek Station	Mall of Stonecrest	10-20
117	Rockbridge Road / Panola Road	Avondale Station	XPRESS Panola PNR Lot	7.5-15
120	East Ponce De Leon Avenue	Avondale Station	Goldsmith PNR Lot	10-20
121	Memorial Drive / N Hairston Road	Kensington Station	N. Royal Atlanta Dr. or Hugh Howell Rd.	7.5-15
172	Sylvan Road / Virginia Avenue	College Park Station	Oakland City Station	45
178	Empire Boulevard	Lakewood/Ft McPherson Station	Hamilton Blvd.	22
185	Alpharetta	N Springs Station	Old Milton Pkwy	15-30
186	Rainbow Drive / South DeKalb	5 Points Station	Snapfinger Woods Dr.	7.5-15
191	Riverdale / ATL Intl Terminal	Lakewood Station	Clayton Justice Center	20-40
192	Old Dixie / Tara Boulevard	East Point Station	Clayton Justice Center	22-45
193	Morrow / Jonesboro	East Point Station	Clayton Justice Center	15-30
196	Upper Riverdale / Southlake	College Park Station	Southlake Mall	7.5-15
816	North Highland Avenue	5 Points Station	Emory University Hospital	30
Special	Oakley Industrial Circulator	College Park Station	Oakley Industrial Boulevard	60