Only 6% of Atlanta nightlife customers prefer to use MARTA

Happy Valentine's Day weekend, ATL <3

Lack of transportation leads to safety concerns for nightlife employees and customers – Going out this weekend? Despite Atlanta's amazing nightlife opportunities, you may have to budget for expensive rideshares, thanks to a lack of transit options and limited parking. A recent "Atlanta Nightlife Impact Report" released by the City highlights "limited parking and public transit options" as a safety concern for those who patronize and work in nightlife establishments such as nightclubs, bars, and lounges. 32% of surveyed nightlife customers cited "transportation difficulties" as a challenge they face when going out at night in Atlanta, and 47% cited "lack of parking." Only 6% of nightlife customers prefer to use public transit.

One person surveyed highlighted the lack of walkable nightlife areas: "Although new districts have emerged, they are not planned or serviced well (poor infrastructure, transit connectivity, lack of food)… We don't have a single strip that competes with even Nashville’s Broad Street or Dallas’ Deep Elum, much less major global cities we aspire to compete with.”

The City recommends late-night transportation options, such as a discounted employee rideshare initiative and extended public transit hours. However, the City lists offering discounted parking rates for nightlife employees as "high priority," discounted rideshares for nightlife employees as "moderate priority," establishing a task force to enhance late-night transit as "moderate priority," and supporting current and future efforts to enhance pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure as "low priority."

In ThreadATL's Instagram comments on a post about the report, one person mentioned that those who ride bikes to music venue The Masquerade face pushback from the venue about parking their bikes. While The Masquerade is a less than 10-minute walk from the Five Points MARTA station, the area can be uncomfortable to walk around in at night, and I don't know if I would feel secure parking a bike at Five Points.

I personally work at several venues that are open late, where my shift usually ends anywhere from 11pm-2am depending on the event. I always need to use rideshare for at least some portion of my commute home, due to lack of buses running after 11:30pm and for safety reasons. If I get out by 11:30, I can take the bus to a MARTA station, take the train to the closest station to my apartment, and order a rideshare from there, which is usually $11-12. If I get out later than 11:30, my rideshare home from the venue can cost $20-$30, which severely cuts into my paycheck, considering I make $15 an hour. It's extremely frustrating! For similar reasons, I don't usually stay out late on my nights off.

(WABE has written on the report; view the full report here)

Dickens still in favor of Beltline Rail – In a recent interview with the AJC, Mayor Dickens stated that he is "still a fan" of Beltline Rail. "Dickens, who plans to mount a reelection campaign this year, said almost all types of transit are being considered for sections of the Beltline’s 22-mile loop, which is scheduled to be finished as a multi-use transportation, exercise, and commercial corridor in four years. Those methods of transport could include streetcars and light rail, shuttles, bus-rapid transit routes, even gondolas and self-driving pods, per the report." (Urbanize Atlanta)

'Cop City' activists being surveilled – The Guardian reports that cameras have been placed on light poles outside the houses of some activists for the Stop Cop City movement, as well as outside of a community center. Atlanta Police, the FBI, and ATF have refused to acknowledge the cameras or give any additional information about them. A similar tactic was used on labor activists in Memphis, TN, who were surveilled in 2020. The Memphis cameras were removed after press coverage. (The Guardian) Overall, Atlanta is the most surveilled city in the United States, with approximately 124 security cameras per 1,000 people.

Trump's effect on transit – MARTA is at risk of losing $280 million in grants if the Trump administration succeeds in rescinding funds. That $280M pays for projects and updates such as transit centers in Clayton and DeKalb counties, renovations at Five Points and Brookhaven stations, the new Summerhill, Southlake and Campbellton rapid bus routes, and an upgrade of MARTA’s train control systems. If federal funding is slashed, MARTA would likely divert local funding to support its top priorities. (AJC)

Transit-oriented development being built in Brookhaven – Construction has began in Brookhaven for a mid-rise project called Residences at Perimeter Summit, a 350-unit apartment complex with two restaurants. The development is a mile away from MARTA's Medical Center Station and 1.2 miles away from MARTA's Dunwoody Station. (Project leaders call this "walking distance" – I'd like to see what those 1.2 miles look like for someone actually walking, biking, or rolling.) (Urbanize Atlanta) Rent prices are not yet listed online, but the apartments are classified as luxury.

Young Professionals in Transportation Atlanta is hosting a "Transit-Oriented Drinks" event on February 26 at FADO Midtown at 5:30pm. I hope they'll let me in :)

In a letter to the editor of Urbanize Atlanta, Beltline Rail Now chair Matthew Rao details a number of improvements MARTA could make in addition to the new rail cars.

Speaking of nightlife, I am kind of obsessed with this Instagram influencer/musician JB Got It, who loves Atlanta, tequila sunrises, being a school bus driver, and the midtown bar Bulldogs. He even occasionally highlights MARTA. Listennn... I am literally a lightweight white lesbian who avoids most bars because covid still exists, but JB has me wanting to join the girls at Bulldogs and order a tequila sunrise. It's walking distance to the Midtown MARTA station! Just saying!

NextGen Bus Network Public Meetings

Public meetings on the NextGen Bus Network Redesign draft continue this week. Here is the full list of dates, times, and locations for all meetings:
Saturday, Feb 15, 12:00PM – virtual, North Fulton Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, Feb 18, 12:00PM – in-person and virtual; Clayton Public Meeting 
Riverdale Town Center
7210 Church Street, Riverdale, GA
Wednesday, Feb 19, 12:00PM – virtual; Dekalb Lunch & Learn
Thursday, Feb 20, 12:00PM – in-person and virtual; City of Atlanta Public Meeting
MLK Recreation Center
110 Hillard Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA
Thursday, Feb 20, 12:00PM – virtual; City of Atlanta Lunch & Learn
Thursday, Feb 20, 6:00PM – in-person and virtual; Dekalb Public Meeting
East Central DeKalb Community and Senior Center
4885 Elam Road, Stone Mountain, GA
Friday, Feb 21, 12:00PM – virtual; South Fulton Lunch & Learn
Saturday, Feb 22, 10:00AM – in-person and virtual; MARTA NextGen Bus Network Open House
MARTA Headquarters
2424 Piedmont Road Northeast, Atlanta GA

Planned bus reroutes

Route 71 is rerouted until further notice due to construction.
Route 27 will be rerouted on Wednesday, Feb 19 from 7a.m. to 2p.m. for filming.
Route 9 will be rerouted from February 14 to March 27 for sewer mainline rehabilitation.
Routes 2, 60, 61, 102, and 809 will be rerouted from 9p.m. to 6a.m. on Wednesday, Feb 19 for filming.
Routes 3, 26, 50, 51, and 94 will be rerouted on Saturday, Feb 15 from 8:30am-11am for the Atlanta Mission 5K Race to End Homelessness.
Route 24 will be rerouted on Saturday, Feb 22 from 12:30pm-6:30pm for the Lanta Gras Festival.
Route 86 will be rerouted until August 7, 2025 due to construction on I-20.
Route 800 will be rerouted immediately until further notice for a service adjustment.
Route 66 will be rerouted immediately until further notice due to a road closure.
Route 5 is rerouted until further notice due to a City of Sandy Springs road closure.
Route 49 is rerouted between 9am-3pm daily until further notice due to construction.
Routes 107, 136, and 813 are rerouted immediately until further notice due to Georgia Power construction.
Rolling bus stop closures exist on Route 55 due to MARTA Rapid Summerhill construction.

Have a great weekend!

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