Public meetings set for I-285 Express Lane Transit Study, officials to discuss proposals for one of Georgia’s busiest corridors

ATLANTA –MARTA, Transit Link Authority (ATL) and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in partnership with counties and municipalities along the I-285 corridor, will hold public meetings on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, to gather feedback on the preliminary plans for the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study. 

The meetings offer commuters and residents the chance to learn and share their opinions about proposed transit services along the northern arc of I-285, one of the busiest corridors in Georgia.

The I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study explores the potential to expand transit access using GDOT’s planned Express Lanes along the northern portion of I-285 between the H.E. Holmes and Indian Creek MARTA stations. Public input is needed to refine these plans, which seek to offer reliable and flexible transit options. Meeting details are as follows:

• Wednesday, Dec. 4

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Smyrna Community Center

1250 Powder Springs St., Smyrna

Accessible via CobbLinc Route 25

• Thursday, Dec. 5

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Hampton Inn Perimeter Center

769 Hammond Dr. NE, Atlanta

Accessible via MARTA Red Line, Route 150, and Xpress Route 401

• Thursday, Dec. 5
• 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Clarkston Community Center 3701 College Ave., Clarkston

Accessible via MARTA Routes 120, 125

For those unable to attend in person, meeting materials can be viewed virtually atwww.i285expresslanestransit.com.

Projections within the study area indicate a 42 percent population increase and a 33 percent growth in jobs by 2050, underscoring the need for enhanced transit solutions, officials stated. 

“The I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study is a pivotal step in shaping how we address the region’s growing need for expanded and reliable public transportation,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “By tapping into the funded Express Lanes infrastructure investments already planned for I-285, we have an opportunity to provide efficient transit solutions that benefit residents and commuters alike.”

GDOT’s I-285 Top End Express Lanes project will add two new, barrier-separated express lanes in each direction along I-285, running parallel to the existing general-purpose lanes. Georgia’s Express Lanes provide drivers with the option to bypass traffic congestion for a fee, offering more reliable travel times. Transit services can use all Georgia Express Lanes without charge.

In addition to GDOT’s ongoing work with the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project, the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study explores ways to best utilize the GDOT-funded Top End Express Lanes project to enhance transit access. The study, officials said, will identify needed improvements, such as optimal ramp and station locations, along with strategies for future funding and project implementation.

To date, the study has evaluated critical performance metrics to develop initial plans, and public input will play a vital role in refining these design concepts. Feedback gathered from the public meetings will help advance the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study, ensuring that the final plans are tailored to meet the region’s future transit needs.

Participants are encouraged to submit their comments by Dec. 18, 2024, either in-person at the scheduled public meetings or online at www.i285expresslanestransit.com. To leave comments online, scroll to the bottom of the page for the submission form.

To learn more, visit www.i285expresslanestransit.com.