MARTA launches its better Breeze fare payment system on Saturday, March 28, and customers will have until May 2 to get familiar with the new system and switch to the payment option that works best for them.
During the five-week customer transition period, riders will encounter old and new fare equipment, construction work, and temporary entrances and exits, according to a press release from the transit agency.
“If you’ve ever done an improvement project, you know it can be messy and inconvenient, but short-term pain is often necessary for long-term gain,” MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt said in a statement. “We are asking our valued customers to bear with us as installation of the better Breeze system continues, pay attention to signs and announcements to enter and exit rail stations, and use this transition period to get a new Breeze card or plan to use tap to pay with your bank card or mobile wallet to ride by May 2nd.”
From Saturday, March 28, to Saturday, May 2, both the old and new Breeze systems will be active. During this customer transition period, riders can:
- Use old Breeze cards and tickets at any existing old faregates and validators. Old ticket vending machines will be turned off, and no fare may be added to old cards. Note that old faregates will be left open to ensure access to rail stations but customers should still tap if possible.
- Use Breeze Mobile 2.0 at any existing old faregates and validators. Breeze Mobile 2.0 is no longer available for download and fare cannot be added. The new Breeze Mobile app will be available for download on Android and iOS devices starting Saturday, March 28, and can be used to manage your physical Breeze card and purchase fare.
- Purchase new Breeze cards or tickets at new ticket vending machines.
- Purchase new Breeze cards or tickets at Ride Stores for MARTA, ATL Xpress, CobbLinc, Connect Douglas, and Ride Gwinnett.
- Purchase, load, and manage new Breeze cards on the new www.breezecard.com. New Breeze cards are account based meaning fare is stored in your account, not on the actual card.
- Tap to pay using a bank card (all major credit and debit cards accepted) at any new faregate or orange bus validator. Note that some new faregates will remain open to ensure access to rail stations but customers should tap if possible.
- Tap to pay using a mobile wallet at any new faregate or orange bus validator. You must have a bank card connected to your mobile wallet. Again, note that some new faregates will remain open to ensure access to rail stations but customers should still tap if possible.
- Pay with cash on local bus routes (exact change required) or use cash to purchase a new Breeze card or ticket at any Ride Store or new ticket vending machine.
- Reduced Fare and Mobility customers may use stored fare on their old cards at any old faregates or validators. New cards will be available for purchase at Reduced Fare offices and be mailed directly to customers. If you have a new mailing address, call 404-848-5112 or email reducedfare@itsmarta.com.
For customers unable to spend down old Breeze balances before switching to better Breeze, balance transfers to a new, registered Breeze account will be accommodated May 5 – Oct. 30. Information on how to transfer balances will be provided soon, MARTA said.
For more information visit MARTA and view Get to Know Better Breeze or (Spanish)Get to Know Better Breeze.