If you ride the bus, pay attention. MARTA officially flips the switch on its NextGen Bus Network this Saturday, April 18, completely redrawing the system for the first time since service began in 1972. The 81 fixed routes will run at consistent frequencies for most of the day, seven days a week, with the number of high-frequency corridors tripling. Many riders will see a bus every 15 minutes or less on the busiest lines, and nearly a dozen additional routes land at 20 minutes or better.
The headline addition is the new Rapid A-Line, a five-mile route designed to operate more like rail than a bus. It runs from downtown through Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, and Peoplestown, with connections to the BeltLine's Southside Trail. Dedicated lanes in some stretches and traffic signal priority are meant to keep it moving. MARTA Project Manager Bryan Hobbs called it rail on rubber tires, a first for the region.
Not everyone wins. Some routes are disappearing as part of the overhaul, and riders will need to check the new map before Saturday. The timing lines up with the BeltLine's latest Southeast Trail opening (Segments 4 and 5 opened Thursday) and sets the stage for a more connected southeast side heading into FIFA World Cup summer.
