The midnight train to the Peach Drop
Welcome to the second issue of Tracking Atlanta! Thank you for being here.
The draft of the of the NextGen Bus Network plan is out, and I wrote about some questions and concerns.
🍑 The Peach Drop is back, and MARTA is ready – MARTA will provide increased train service through downtown Atlanta for the Peach Drop on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024; the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade & Game on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025; and the Polar Opposite Race on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
PEACH DROP – Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 Trains will run every 7 minutes on the Red/Gold Lines between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station and on the Blue/Green Lines between Ashby Station and Candler Park Station.
Extra trains will be placed into service to accommodate increased ridership after the celebration.
PEACH BOWL – Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 Trains will run every 7 minutes on the Red/Gold Lines between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station and on the Blue/Green Lines between Ashby Station and King Memorial Station.
Extra trains will be placed into service to accommodate increased ridership after the game.
POLAR OPPOSITE RACE – Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 Trains will run every 7 minutes on the Red/Gold Lines between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station and on the Blue/Green Lines between Ashby Station and Candler Park Station.
Extra trains will be placed into service to accommodate increased ridership after the race.
Mayor Andre Dickens stated he wants to improve MARTA, but also said that Beltline Rail is “a 100-year thing.” (Saporta Report)
SMARTA – Software developer Chad Etzel created a more user-friendly, updated version of the MARTA app, called “Smarta.” It looks great for easily seeing bus cancellations, which aren’t even on the native app (I have to constantly switch between the app and itsmarta.com when checking.) (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Service changes – Effective Saturday, December 14, many bus schedules were changed to better reflect travel times along routes and give customers a better idea of when buses will realistically show up. Rail frequency has increased on weekdays to every 10 minutes during peak hours (approximately 6 a.m.- 9 p.m. and 3 p.m.- 7 p.m.), and every 12 minutes during midday hours, as announced in the Nov. 1 Annual Customer Charter.
The new Indian Creek pedestrian bridge was successfully installed, and the East Lake pedestrian bridge has reopened. (Decaturish)
MARTA Rapid Summerhill – MARTA is seeking state lawmakers’ approval for traffic cameras to monitor bus-only lanes for the upcoming MARTA Rapid Summerhill BRT route. (Fox 5 Atlanta).
MARTA Mobility van hit by car – A MARTA Mobility driver was injured after a car collided into the van on Memorial Drive. No passengers were in the van. (AJC)
Three pedestrians were hit by drivers in a three-day span in Cobb County. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Bus stop shelters vandalized – More than 100 bus stop shelters, mostly around Memorial Drive, were shattered within one week. Replacing the glass panes of the shelters will cost MARTA an estimated $20,000, making it more difficult to make improvements to the many bus stops that have no shelters in the first place. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Have a safe and happy New Year's!
