Axios Atlanta took MARTA's new rapid bus line out for a spin this week, one of the first rider-focused looks at the long-delayed service since it started carrying passengers.
Bus rapid transit (or BRT) has been part of MARTA's expansion map for years as a cheaper, faster-to-deploy alternative to new rail lines. The new route connects downtown and points south through the Summerhill corridor, an area that has seen significant development around Georgia State's baseball stadium and the old Turner Field footprint.
BRT lines use dedicated lanes, traffic-signal priority, and level boarding to move riders closer to rail-style speeds without the rail-style cost. For SE BeltLine corridor residents, the rapid bus route offers another transit option beyond the streetcar extension and MARTA's existing bus and rail network.
For Atlanta, the launch of a functional BRT line is one of the more meaningful transit wins in years, and a test case for whether the format can work in a city that has historically preferred rail (or cars) over buses.
