MARTA to resume Five Points station project
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The latest rendering of the planned Five Points concourse redesign. Photo: Courtesy of Skanska/SOM
Next month, construction crews plan to restart work on one of MARTA's most important and hotly debated projects: the $230 million Five Points station overhaul.
Why it matters: The project was delayed last year after uproar from elected officials and community members over initial plans to close street-level access to the station.
- Mayor Andre Dickens also urged MARTA to pause the project until an audit of the sales tax that's funding much of the makeover was complete.
The latest: Detours for downtown bus routes will begin May 17 as the first phase of the project begins, which involves deconstructing the station's existing concrete canopy.
- Street-level and elevator access to the station will be open via Forsyth Street during that time.
- Other impacts — such as the closing of the Broad Street Plaza, Alabama Street and Peachtree Street station entrances, and the relocation of offices — will be announced once those details have been finalized, MARTA said.
What they're saying: MARTA says the project "will make transit a more attractive choice for those who live nearby" and reduce the need for surface parking in Downtown.
The other side: Darin Givens, co-founder of ThreadATL, an urbanism advocacy organization, told Axios that MARTA should use money set aside for this project toward expanding bus-rapid transit or streetcar services.
- "A new canopy isn't going to put any extra eyes on the street," he said. "That's what we should be doing with a station overhaul."
Catch up quick: MARTA originally announced it planned to close both street-level and bus access while it renovated the station.
- That prompted widespread criticism from city leaders and a variety of organizations who said the closure would disproportionately affect low-income riders, predominately Black and brown communities, seniors, and riders with disabilities.
- Following public outcry, MARTA hit the pause button on the project.
- The project is expected to cost around $230 million and, in addition to the More MARTA sales tax, is funded with state and federal dollars.
The big picture: MARTA's announcement that the project is back on comes nearly a month after it alleged Dickens' administration held up permits for the project until the audit of More MARTA sales tax program was complete.
- "Because of the delays, it is already behind schedule, and it is critical that we begin work to deliver this transformational project for our riders, our system, and the downtown area," MARTA said in a statement last month.
- Dickens denied those claims at last month's MARTA board of directors meeting, according to the AJC.
What's next: Additional phases of the project include installing a new canopy, improving the station's centralized bus hub and connection to Broad Street, and adding community spaces and public art.