Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
MARTA Rail System
System map
Overview
Locale	Atlanta, Georgia
Transit type	Bus Bus rapid transit (2025) Paratransit Rapid transit (heavy rail) Streetcar
Number of lines	Bus: 100 Bus rapid transit: 1 (2025) Rail rapid transit: 4 Streetcar: 1
Number of stations	38 (rail) 12 (streetcar)
Daily ridership	204,200 (total, weekdays, Q3 2024)[1] 109,900 (bus, weekdays, Q3 2024) 90,500 (rail, weekdays, Q3 2024) 1,100 (streetcar, weekdays, Q3 2024)
Annual ridership	64,306,800 (total, 2023)[2] 32,285,600 (bus, 2023) 31,110,300 (rail, 2023) 184,500 (streetcar, 2023)
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Website	itsmarta.com
Operation
Began operation	February 17, 1972; 52 years ago (1972-02-17) (buses) June 30, 1979; 45 years ago (1979-06-30) (rail)
Technical
System length	48 mi (77 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Third rail, 750 V DC (rapid transit) Overhead line, 750 V DC (streetcar)
Top speed	70 mph (110 km/h)

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA /ˈmɑːrtə/) is the principal public transport operator in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting of 48 miles (77 km) of rail track with 38 subway stations. MARTA's rapid transit system is the eighth-largest rapid transit system in the United States by ridership.

MARTA operates almost exclusively in Fulton, Clayton, and DeKalb counties, although they maintain bus service to two destinations in neighboring Cobb County (Six Flags Over Georgia and the Cumberland Transfer Center next to the Cumberland Mall), while Doraville station serves portions of Gwinnett County via Ride Gwinnett buses. MARTA also operates Mobility, a separate paratransit service for disabled customers.

In 2023, the entire system (bus and subway lines) had 64,306,800 rides, or about 204,200 per weekday in the third quarter of 2024.

MARTA's first bus rapid transit (BRT) line is currently under construction. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2025 with revenue service beginning in late 2025. The 5-mile line will run from downtown Atlanta, through Summerhill, and end at the Atlanta Beltline. The line, named the "MARTA Rapid Summerhill", will utilize new 60-foot articulated electric buses.