The World Cup is here. Here's how to plan your commute around the games
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Georgia Commute Options has mapped out when you can expect heavier-than-usual traffic during the World Cup. Screenshot: Courtesy of Georgia Commute Options
With about 300,000 people expected to visit Atlanta for the city's eight World Cup matches, you'll want to avoid the accompanying traffic in and around Downtown over the next month.
Why it matters: Dodging Atlanta traffic is stressful on a normal day, and the World Cup will likely put even more strain on the region's congested roads.
Driving the news: Georgia Commute Options has a World Cup resource guide that will help you plan your commute on match days.
- Managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Commute Options has rolled out projected traffic patterns that will help you decide if you should leave work (or home) earlier or later, take MARTA or work remotely.
How it works: Johann Weber, director of Georgia Commute Options, told Axios the organization gathered state Department of Transportation data that detailed how fast vehicles typically move on days with no major events.
- They compared traffic volume on those days to when the city hosts large events such as the 2024 Copa América opening match, the Super Bowl in 2019, Dragon Con and last year's sold-out Beyoncé concerts.
- That information resulted in their estimates for the best times to travel to Downtown and when you should avoid the area.
What they're saying: Weber said they are advising Downtown-based employers who require in-office attendance on a match day to reconsider.
- It boils down to this: If you're heading Downtown on a game day, be prepared for surprises and plan for delays.
- "We're telling folks it'll be lively, it'll be a celebration Downtown," Weber told Axios. "You will notice it if you are nearby, but...the data doesn't suggest at this point that it's going to be gridlock and this big dramatic, regional challenge."
How to get around: If you want to avoid unnecessary headaches, leave your vehicle at home and use MARTA, which plans to run rail service every five minutes until 10:30pm on match days, Weber said.
- If you're planning to check out the Fan Festival, you can also use MARTA or a ride-share service to avoid expensive parking.
Catch up quick: Georgia Commute Options provides consulting for employers and their employees who want to get around the region more efficiently.
- The program — which began as the Clean Air Campaign following the 1996 Olympics and was renamed a decade ago — helps arrange carpool efforts for employers in the 20-county metro region and provides incentives for employees who use mass transit or the Express Lanes.
What we're watching: If recent violence, including the stabbing death of 66-year-old Margaret Swan, will make some hesitate before boarding a MARTA train.
- The agency's officers have started working six-day-a-week shifts and will continue that schedule until the World Cup ends, according to the AJC.