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ATLANTA – MARTA’s Board of Directors on July 27 approved several projects in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County and awarded a $226 million contract to New Flyer for fixed-route and MARTA Rapid buses.
The five-year contract with New Flyer includes 198 buses: 63 battery electric and 135 compressed natural gas (CNG). The first six MARTA Rapid 60’ articulated battery electric buses arrive next year and will be used for operations on the region’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Summerhill when it opens in 2025. Twelve additional articulated 60’ battery electric buses follow for Rapid lines on Campbellton Road and Clayton Southlake. Federal funds from Sen. Jon Ossoff and the Federal Transit Administration’s Low and No Emissions grant will support the electric bus purchases. The contract also includes an option to purchase fuel-cell powered buses as hydrogen is explored by regional leaders.
A board committee on Thursday also approved an amended Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for Campbellton Corridor BRT that changes the route from an alignment south of Greenbriar Mall to a flyover over I-285 from Greenbriar Parkway to Barge Road Park & Ride. The flyover creates faster, more direct access from future Greenbriar Mall Station to Barge Road Station, cutting travel time roughly in half from the current local bus service. The amended LPA features bridges over Highway 154 and I-285 with ramps to the BRT stations, exclusive bus-only lanes, and a 10’ multi-use path. The new flyover is expected to cost approximately $15 – $25 million and will remain within the overall project budget of $300 million. The project is one of the nine Tier 1 projects and is expected to open in 2028.
Two DeKalb County projects also advanced, including the Buford Highway arterial rapid transit (ART). Currently served by MARTA’s highest ridership route, Route 39, the 10-mile route on Buford Highway connects Lindbergh Center Station to Doraville Station. The project includes traffic signal priority for faster, more reliable service, and distinct shelters that include seating and real-time service information screens and is expected to begin operating in 2026, MARTA stated in a news release.
The South DeKalb Transit Hub moves into final design with the approval of a solicitation of proposals for final design services. The transit hub will provide bus-to-bus transfers in South DeKalb and offer a covered waiting area with seating, restrooms, a customer service kiosk and real-time bus arrival information. The hub is designed to accommodate current and future high-capacity routes. The total project cost is $37 million, and the hub will be operational in 2026.
The full MARTA Board will vote on these items at its next monthly meeting, Aug. 10, at 1:30 p.m.