MARTA’s Rapid A-Line, the city’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) line connecting Downtown to the Atlanta Beltline Southside Trail, will launch on Saturday, April 18.
The five-mile Rapid A-Line will connect Downtown Atlanta to Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Southside Trail, with connections to MARTA trains at Five Points, Georgia State, and Garnett Stations.
Officials said Saturday’s launch, which coincides with MARTA’s new bus route plan called the NextGen Bus Network, will be phase one of the BRT line with service hours from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Construction is still underway on some of the line, meaning not all stations and the dedicated bus lane are complete.
In areas under construction, temporary bus stops located near stations will be used, including at Convocation Center, Summerhill, Ormond Street, Peoplestown, and Carver. Temporary stops near unfinished stations are fare-free.
MARTA cautioned motorists that the red “bus-only” lanes are to be used by the Rapid A-Line dedicated buses, regional transit partner buses, and emergency vehicles.
According to a press release, there are multiple intersections where buses receive priority to pass through the intersection ahead of other vehicles. Drivers should observe all traffic signals and wait for the bus to clear before proceeding through the following intersections:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at Forsyth Street
- Mitchell Street turning right onto Washington Street
- Washington Street turning left onto Memorial Drive
- Hank Aaron Drive at Haygood Avenue
Since its groundbreaking, the project has experienced challenges, including the discovery of old infrastructure during excavation, and a battery recall on the New Flyer battery-electric buses purchased to operate on the line.
These unforeseen circumstances have delayed completion of BRT stations and necessitated a phased opening. Phase 2 of the Rapid A-Line launch is scheduled for fall when all BRT stations are complete.
To learn more, visit Rapid A-Line.
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