Beginning March 7, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will officially launch MARTA Reach, a sophisticated on-demand transit service designed to provide flexible, point-to-point shared rides in 12 zones in metro Atlanta.

An important part of the authority’s NextGen Bus Network, MARTA Reach will bring transit service directly to the rider’s location and offer a seamless link to the broader rail and bus system.

MARTA Reach

Residents can request a ride through the MARTA Reach app or reservation line, which provides a pickup window of 30 minutes or less.

The service operates 18 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring that whether a rider is commuting to work or traveling within their own neighborhood, MARTA is ready when they are.

“MARTA Reach represents a fundamental shift in how we serve our communities,” said MARTA Interim GM/CEO Jonathan Hunt. “By integrating on-demand technology into our NextGen Bus Network, we are providing a ‘first-mile, last-mile’ solution that makes transit more accessible, efficient, and more personal for our customers.”

MARTA Reach is launching in 12 distinct zones: West Atlanta, Kirkwood/Candler Park, County Line, Lakewood, Oakley Industrial, Fulton Industrial, East Point, Hillandale, Candler-McAfee/Belvedere Park, Cedar Grove, Gresham Park, and North Fulton. Within these areas, riders can travel curb-to-curb or connect directly to MARTA’s fixed-route bus and rail systems.

Further Details on the Program

 To ensure the launch proceeded as scheduled, and despite a nationwide USDOT manufacturer recall on the permanent Dodge Ram ProMaster vehicle fleet, MARTA has successfully deployed a fleet of leased Ford Starcraft vans.

While the vehicles are fully ADA-accessible and equipped with two wheelchair slots, customers should note that the temporary vehicles utilize a wheelchair lift rather than a ramp and, unlike the permanent fleet, will not be equipped with bike racks. Bicycles will be permitted on MARTA Reach once the permanent vehicles are cleared for service.

To help everyone get acquainted with the service, MARTA Reach is free to ride from March 7 until March 28, 2026.

Once the better Breeze fare payment system goes live on March 28, the MARTA Reach fare will be $2.50, the same as standard bus and rail service. This fare includes four free transfers for customers using the Breeze system, which will soon support contactless tap-to-pay options via bank cards and mobile wallets.