METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

MARTA launches color-coded rail system

Under new system, main rail lines – and their deviating branches – will be identified by four primary colors. The changes will minimize confusion, especially for first-time customers and visitors from other cities.

October 2, 2009
1 min to read


On Thursday, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) launched a color-coded rail-line identification system that’s designed to help transit riders more easily navigate the system.

 

The changes coincide with the implementation of a 25-cent base fare increase and an additional $1 for parking at MARTA lots, austerity measures that were approved by MARTA’s board of directors to help ensure the future of transit in metro Atlanta.

Ad Loading...

 

Under the new identification system, main rail lines – and their deviating branches – will be identified by four primary colors. The changes will minimize confusion, especially for first-time customers, and those traveling on lines that split as well as visitors from other cities who are likely more accustomed to color-coded rail systems. Transit systems across the country typically identify rail lines by color rather than the “end-of-line” designations MARTA currently uses.

 

The changes in the rail line identification system are part of an overall update of MARTA’s graphic standards. The new standards will eventually be incorporated throughout the system as vehicles and system equipment are rehabilitated or replaced. MARTA will also be revising its written materials to make it easier and simpler for riders to use the system.

 

More Rail

Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
World Cup Crowds Will Test Transit Systems
ManagementJune 3, 2026

When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of a California High-Speed Rail vehicle
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

Read More →
Sound Transit Sounder train
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service

Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.

Read More →
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline

The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffJune 1, 2026

Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin

Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan

The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.

Read More →
An EMBARK bus going down the street.
Managementby Alex RomanMay 28, 2026

Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership

The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffMay 27, 2026

North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership

To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.

Read More →