Free MARTA shuttle service to Carter Center for President Carter's repose

Welcome to 2025's first issue of Tracking Atlanta! Thank you for being here.

• Bus, bike, or walk to President Carter’s services – MARTA is offering free bus service from King Memorial Station to The Carter Center for the public to pay respect to the late President Jimmy Carter. The free bus shuttles are the only way to access the memorial unless you plan to walk or bike. No bags will be allowed on the shuttles or at the Carter Center. Free bus shuttles will depart from King Memorial Station every three to five minutes around-the-clock beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Mobility customers may call the reservation office for transport to The Carter Center or travel to King Memorial Station and take a Mobility shuttle. Find more information about MARTA’s transportation plan here and a full schedule of President Carter’s funeral services here.
• On Sat. Jan 4 and Sun. Jan. 5, all rail lines will operate on special schedules continuously for 60 hours (starting at 6 pm on Sat. Jan 4) to support the special bus shuttle service to The Carter Presidential Center. The Red Line will service to Airport and Green Line will service to King Memorial all weekend.
• As a result, local bus routes from King Memorial Station will be detoured starting Thu. Jan. 2, and no parking is available at the station.
  
  President Carter, a native of Plains, also served two terms as a Georgia State Senator and as the state’s 76th governor from 1971 to 1975. It was during his first year as governor that voters passed a one percent sales tax to fund MARTA operations.
  “MARTA joins the country in mourning the loss of our longest living president and Georgia’s native son,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “President Carter led a life of service, and his dedication to human and civil rights changed us for the better. MARTA is especially grateful for his leadership in bringing public transportation plans to fruition in metro Atlanta, and we are proud to help pay tribute to him.” (MARTA)
• MARTA bus driver shot and killed – A MARTA bus driver was shot and killed by a passenger at Decatur Station at 6:30pm on Jan. 3, allegedly after three individuals were allegedly arguing about the bus fare. A bystander was also injured by a ricocheting bullet. (Decaturish)
• PAD will resume community support – The Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative program (PAD) was out of service for several days during the new year while the contract between the City of Atlanta and PAD was unsigned. PAD provides support to vulnerable Atlantans facing homelessness, mental health crises, and substance abuse issues, and typically, Atlanta residents can call 311 to connect those in crisis with PAD’s non-police support instead of calling 911. (WABE)
  Although a new contract was authorized in November for the agreement, the contract wasn’t signed by January 1, with the City of Atlanta blaming PAD in an Instagram comment. Mayor Andre Dickens has a history of interfering with the City Council’s work with PAD. Councilmember Amir Farokhi called the Dickens’ administration handling of the contract “confusing and revisionary at best and gaslighting at worst.”
• Warming centers open -- The City of Atlanta's warming centers will be open this weekend during the cold snap. (City of Atlanta)
• Streetcar pause – The Streetcar will be temporarily unavailable from January 13 to 17 to allow Georgia Power to make emergency repairs. MARTA shuttles “wrapped to look like the streetcar” will provide service along the streetcar route, in case you were worried about aesthetics. (MARTA)
• Xpress bus changes – Atlanta’s Transit Link Authority will be conducting a study to see how best to redesign the Xpress bus service, due to Xpress ridership being only 30% of pre-pandemic levels. Xpress “provides passenger trips from Cherokee to Coweta with the goal to better connect transit options across the 13-county region of metro Atlanta.” Xpress will host a virtual public meeting on Jan. 15 at 6:30pm for public comment on the redesign plan. (Xpress)
  
  I didn’t know that Xpress and Georgia Commute Options offers members 5 free Uber rides home per year for emergencies, unexpected overtime, etc.!
• Cheshire Bridge Rd. unsafe for bus commuters – A bus stop on Cheshire Bridge Rd. was missing a sign, bench, and trash can for several months when a reckless car driver allegedly plowed through the bus stop, destroying its accommodations, according to a witness who lives on Cheshire Bridge and a 27 route bus driver who I asked. I reached out to MARTA for more information, but haven't received a response yet, and nothing has been published about the incident. The bus stop now has a sign and bench again.
• Yeah, they do that -- A Cybertruck burst into flames at a DeKalb County Tesla dealership on New Year's Eve. (Decaturish)

Have a great weekend, and stay warm!