Apr 17, 2026 - Transit

MARTA rolls out leaner, faster Atlanta bus network

Thomas Wheatley

Illustration of a MARTA station sign with the top three stripes extending off to the right into the distance. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

MARTA riders will see a brand new bus route map tomorrow — a leaner, more efficient one, officials say — as the transit agency rolls out the system's first comprehensive redesign since the 1970s.

Why it matters: MARTA buses move hundreds of thousands of people every week to the places the heavy rail system can't reach.

Transit agency officials say the NextGen bus route redesign will put more people within reach of more hospitals, grocery stores, jobs and schools than before, and faster.

Catch up quick: In 2021, MARTA hired planning firm Human Transit to rebuild the bus route map from the ground up.

After public feedback and study, the transit agency leadership chose to prioritize more frequent and reliable bus service on high-demand corridors rather than a vast coverage area.

Yes, but: MARTA is launching Reach, an on-demand rideshare-style vehicle that will pick up and drop off riders in 12 zones across the system to better serve people in less-dense areas.

Zoom in: The new system map has fewer routes (roughly 80 compared to 113 under the old system). But it is more efficient, MARTA officials said, and brings 6% more people within one quarter-mile of a bus stop.

Buses will run every 15 minutes on 17 high-traffic corridors like Buford Highway and Campbellton Road, compared to just five corridors under the previous route map..

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MARTA rolls out leaner, faster Atlanta bus network

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