After pushback from city leaders and riders, MARTA said it would explore keeping pedestrian access open to the Five Points Station during a four-year renovation project.
The $230 million project, which will include removing the concrete canopy over the station, is set to begin July 6 with the re-routing of buses to other nearby stations.
However, the transit agency’s plan to close all pedestrian access to the station on July 29 was met with a chorus of protest, especially with the 2026 World Cup matches on the way.
In a statement emailed to Rough Draft on Friday, MARTA said it would explore opening street access after completion of the first phase of the project, which is expected to last 18 months.
“If during the first phase of this project, engineers can safely provide street access, that will be explored and implemented as soon as feasible,” the statement said. “MARTA acknowledges that the first phase of this work is inconvenient, and we pledge to continue listening to customers and other stakeholders on how we can improve. We ask that you meet us halfway while still holding us accountable.”
Despite calls by Mayor Andre Dickens, Â the Atlanta City Council, and Central Atlanta Progress President A.J. Robinson to pause the entire project, MARTA said it would proceed as planned after signing multiple contracts.
Dickens said he wanted to pause the project until an audit of More MARTA, the sales tax funding the Five Points revamp and other future projects, was complete.
Robinson called the redesign of the station “deeply flawed” and said it would not solve the problems facing the Downtown station.
MARTA said in its Friday statement that removal of the concrete canopy was not just a cosmetic fix, but necessary due water damage that has weakened the structure.