The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced it will officially launch its NextGen Bus Network on April 18.

The historic initiative represents the first time since MARTA began bus operations in the early 1970s that the entire system has been redrawn from scratch.

MARTA’s New Bus Network

The new bus network is designed to meet the needs of modern transit customers in an ever-evolving Atlanta region. Moving away from the incremental changes of the past, MARTA is launching a new bus network designed for how people live and work today.

“Atlanta has changed significantly over the last 40 years, and our bus network must reflect that reality,” said Interim MARTA GM/CEO Jonathan Hunt. “We want to provide a modern transit experience that prioritizes frequency, consistency, and significantly expanded access to the places that matter most to our riders. On balance, this network is a massive improvement for most of our customers and for the region. Our goal is to deliver more access to more places in less time.”

The cornerstone of the NextGen Network is a dramatic increase in high-frequency service. The new network triples the number of corridors with buses arriving every 15 minutes or better, increasing from five to 17.

The 15-minute frequency means more riders will no longer need to consult a schedule and can arrive at a stop and know a bus is coming shortly, MARTA said.

Additionally, 11 routes will feature service every 20 minutes or better, ensuring that one-third of the entire network provides high-frequency reliability.

Greater Consistency, Access

In a major shift from previous operations, the NextGen Network introduces greater service consistency, both during off-peak hours and during the weekends.

Whether a rider is commuting on a Monday morning, heading to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon, or traveling to a place of worship on Sunday, MARTA officials said the service levels will remain nearly the same for most routes.

The 81 fixed routes will operate at the same frequency for most of the day, seven days a week, making the system more useful for all our customers, not just traditional workweek commuters.

The redesigned network consists of 81 fixed bus routes optimized for speed and frequency, as well as 12 MARTA Reach on-demand zones, providing flexible, curb-to-curb connectivity in lower-density areas where traditional fixed-route buses were less efficient.

While the total number of routes will be lower than before, the strategic redesign actually increases overall access, with 6% more people in the region within a quarter of a mile of MARTA service.

By prioritizing frequency and directness, the NextGen Bus Network dramatically expands the opportunities available to the average rider within a 60-minute travel window. Compared to the existing network, the average rider can now reach:

• 31% more hospitals
• 27% more grocery stores
• 22% more jobs
• 21% more colleges and universities