MARTA announces public transportation plan for President Carter viewing

ATLANTA – The body of President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100, will lie in repose at The Carter Presidential Center from 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, before being taken to Washington, D.C., for services there. MARTA will provide direct bus service from King Memorial rail station to The Carter Presidential Center for those who wish to pay tribute to the nation’s only president from Georgia.

President Carter, a native of Plains, also served two terms as a Georgia State Senator and as the state’s 76^th governor from 1971 to 1975. It was during his first year as governor that voters passed a one percent sales tax to fund MARTA operations.

“MARTA joins the country in mourning the loss of our longest living president and Georgia’s native son,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “President Carter led a life of service, and his dedication to human and civil rights changed us for the better. MARTA is especially grateful for his leadership in bringing public transportation plans to fruition in metro Atlanta, and we are proud to help pay tribute to him.”

“President Carter embodied what it means to be a public servant, from his time in the U.S. Navy and as Governor of Georgia to his Presidency and his time as a Nobel Prize winning advocate for peace, human rights, and public health. MARTA is proud to pay tribute to him and we offer our deepest condolences to his family,” said MARTA Board Chair Katie Powers.

Those wishing to pay their respects must take a bus to The Carter Presidential Center unless they plan to walk or bike. Free bus shuttles will depart from King Memorial Station every three to five minutes around-the-clock beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. You must take the train to King Memorial Station and ride the shuttles to The Carter Center. Rail service will operate continuously for 60 hours. 

While the bus shuttles to The Carter Center are free, customers must still pay a fare to ride MARTA to King Memorial Station. Download BREEZE MOBILE 2.0 to tap and go at the faregates. 

Please note there is no public parking available at King Memorial. MARTA has 24,345 parking spaces systemwide, with almost 10,000 of those regularly available. PARKING MAP AND AVAILABILITY

Mobility service will run every 15-20 minutes from King Memorial. Mobility customers must still call the reservations office to secure a ride. Local bus routes out of King Memorial Station will be rerouted. LOCAL BUS REROUTES

Visitors will be subject to search at The Carter Center, and any prohibited item will be surrendered and not returned. A list of prohibited items, a complete bus and rail service schedule, a how to ride MARTA video, and other event information can be found at MARTA. 

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

No backpacks/bags/purses/clutches/camera bags are allowed on the buses or at The Carter Center. An exception will be made for diaper bags, which will be searched by hand. Aerosols, ammunition, animals other than service animals, bicycles, balloons, coolers, drones and other unmanned aircraft systems, explosives, firearms, glass, thermal or metal containers, laser pointers, mace, packages, selfie sticks, toy guns, weapons of any kind, or any other items determined to be potential safety hazards are not allowed.

MARTA Transit Ambassadors, MARTA Police Officers, and MARTA support staff will be deployed systemwide to assist customers. Look for staff in yellow shirts, red beanies, and MARTA safety vests. Please expect to wait for prolonged periods of time. There will be many mourners, given the deep ties the President maintained in our state and the warmth with which he was regarded. 

Please visit JimmyCarterTribute.org for more information and to leave online condolences.