The six-week closure for renovations of MARTA’s Airport rail station started early Monday and shuttle bus service to maintain transit connectivity to Hartsfield-Jackson International appeared to operate without a hitch.
MARTA riders now must transfer to a shuttle bus during the renovations to arrive or depart from the the world’s busiest airport. MARTA officials noted no issues with the closure, which the agency has been planning for months.
MARTA set up a shuttle bus bridge between the College Park MARTA station and the airport to maintain connectivity for travelers and workers, and notifying employers to prepare them for the disruption.
Officials are recommending riders allow an extra half hour to get to Hartsfield-Jackson on MARTA.
Nursetth Daley traveled to Atlanta for the first time Monday and said she was fond of MARTA’s shuttle system as she exited Hartsfield-Jackson.
”Compared to the cost of me taking an Uber or a taxi, this is very reasonable,” she said.
The shuttles appeared to be operating smoothly on the first day of the station closure. Brian Lane, who lives in Gainesville, took MARTA and the shuttle to the airport on Monday morning.
“I was a little anxious that it might be extra time but (it was) very smooth and didn’t really tackle much extra time to get here,” Lane said, adding that he was “very impressed.”
The Airport station will be closed from April 8 until May 19. MARTA said shuttle buses will be in service from 4 a.m. until 2 a.m., and will drop off and pick up passengers at the domestic terminal North lower level, operating every 12 minutes.
Credit: AJC
Credit: AJC
MARTA Chief Capital Officer Carrie Rocha helped direct traffic for passengers looking for the shuttle station. She said the shuttles should be very efficient.
“The shuttles are coming every few minutes, so no one is waiting more than five or six minutes,” Rocha said.
Not all riders were pleased with the bus bridge.
“It’s just less efficient” said Michael Landry. Landry is an architect from New Orleans and travels to Atlanta about once a month and regularly uses MARTA.
Credit: John Spink
Credit: John Spink
Joe Palladi, who lives in Brookhaven, said having MARTA rail service directly to the airport has “tremendous value,” and losing that during this period with shuttle buses as a substitute “adds a degree of difficulty” — especially for travelers to the city who may not know the station is closed.
“It adds delay — and you know, when you’re traveling you just want to get to where you’re going,” Palladi said. He thinks some who would usually take MARTA to and from the airport will opt to drive or get a ride during the closure, increasing vehicle traffic at the terminal.
Credit: John Spink
Credit: John Spink
MARTA officials said the Airport station closure has been scheduled for a slower travel period — after spring break and before Memorial Day weekend and the busy summer travel season.
They opted to close the station for work to replace floor tiles and prepare the site for a new canopy structure, saying it will ensure safety and reduce construction time by 17 months.
Credit: John Spink
Credit: John Spink
There is still more work planned beyond the closure including ceiling and lighting replacement, elevator rehabilitation, new signs, a new RideStore and a public art installation at the MARTA Airport station. The renovation work will continue into 2025 and is scheduled to be completed before the World Cup in 2026, when Atlanta will be a host city.
Airport MARTA station closure: What you need to know
Key dates: The closure is scheduled for April 8 to May 19
What is changing: While the Airport rail station is closed, passengers traveling to and from the airport on MARTA will take a shuttle between the College Park station and the airport’s Terminal North lower level.
How will this affect travel time? MARTA suggests allowing an extra 30 minutes to to reach the airport. The reverse is also true: The shuttle may also take an extra 30 minutes for passengers taking MARTA from the airport.
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