MARTA marks King Holiday with commemorative bus

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), in partnership with The King Center, unveiled a commemorative bus honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King at the 2025 King Holiday Observance kickoff reception. 

Held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center and Aquatic Center, the event marks the start of this year’s observance under the theme, “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365.”

The commemorative bus reflects MARTA’s ongoing commitment to equity and highlights the historical connection between public transit and the Civil Rights Movement, officials said.  King once described urban public transportation as “a genuine Civil Rights issue,” emphasizing its vital role in providing access to opportunity.

“MARTA is proud to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King,” said MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide. “Public transit connects people to opportunity, and this commemorative bus stands as a reminder of the power of inclusion and justice to drive transformative change.”

The bus will begin service on Route 3, which travels along MLK Drive through Sweet Auburn, the Atlanta University Center, and to H.E. Holmes Station. On the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Monday, Jan. 20, MARTA will also display its restored 1955 bus across from Dr. King’s Birth Home, providing a poignant reminder of Rosa Parks’ courageous stand that ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

For more information about the King Holiday Observance, visit The King Center’s website.