Using MARTA (Atlanta's rail and bus transportation system)

[miel]

Info for those unfamiliar with MARTA:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=415039799818

10 popular Atlanta tourist attractions and how to get there on MARTA:
http://www.examiner.com/x-17579-Atlanta-Public-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m9d17-10-Popular-tourist-attractions-and-how-to-get-there-on-MARTA

official site:
http://www.itsmarta.com/

http://martaguide.com/tag/atlantic-station-shuttle/


~Jen

 

[freakchylde]

I'd highly suggest getting a multi-day pass, too. And if you plan on coming next year, go ahead and invest the $5 for the breeze card (includes 2 trips in the price), because you can reload it as needed and any transfer you need is included automatically. The paper cards can only be reloaded with the same fare (if you can manage to reload them, I haven't had much luck with that).

 

[Pellaz]

Although oddly enough, unless they've upgraded 'em, the Breeze cards....are actually just regular paper tickets inside a plastic sleeve.

 

[freakchylde]

Although oddly enough, unless they've upgraded 'em, the Breeze cards....are actually just regular paper tickets inside a plastic sleeve.

They've upgraded. Mine is more like a credit card, and takes a bit to get torn or water/beer damage. Not to mention, they don't expire, so you can reuse them next year.

 

[nomisofsiman]

Best way to get around. If only I knew about Marta the first year I attended at IX, I would've saved so much money.

 

[miel]

Best way to get around. If only I knew about Marta the first year I attended at IX, I would've saved so much money.

Yeah, you really can't beat $2. Plus, you avoid the nightmare called downtown Atlanta traffic. I hope this thread helps some folks.

~Jen

 

[TychoCelchu]

The MARTA rules. It's way better than, for example, the T.

 

[freakchylde]

Ok, after snagging another Breeze card yesterday, it's $5+ the fare. The website is a little misleading. If you get the paper ticket, it's your fare + $.50 (which wasn't misleading).

 

[booB]

The paper cards can only be reloaded with the same fare (if you can manage to reload them, I haven't had much luck with that).

Yeah, I tried to reload my paper one last year, to no avail.

Ok, after snagging another Breeze card yesterday, it's $5+ the fare. The website is a little misleading. If you get the paper ticket, it's your fare + $.50 (which wasn't misleading).

I just checked the website, and what it actually says is that the $5 includes two free trips, but you must ALSO load at least one fare at the time of purchase. So it might still be worth it for perennial ProgPower attendees, especially ones who plan on going somewhere during the weekend.

 

[freakchylde]

Yeah, I tried to reload my paper one last year, to no avail.

Yeah, had that problem the last time I forgot my breeze card at home.

I just checked the website, and what it actually says is that the $5 includes two free trips, but you must ALSO load at least one fare at the time of purchase. So it might still be worth it for perennial ProgPower attendees, especially ones who plan on going somewhere during the weekend.

We'll see tomorrow, when I go to work. It didn't list me as having extra trips on my card Wednesday when I purchased my other one. But yeah, I highly recommend it, given that you can reuse them and load up extra trips if you don't have one of the unlimited week passes (which you can get 1-4 day unlimited passes). They can be purchased at the Rideshare office at the airport.

 

[Jibrille]

I usually always get the multiday pass. I arrive on Wednesday, 2x for airport roundtrip, use it a lot on Wed/Thurs and maybe 3-4x Fri/Sat. Minimum of $20 for each trip where as the 7day pass is $15. That particular one requires the card though.

 

[miel]

It may be helpful to point out that MARTA's hours of operation are 5am to 1am daily.

~Jen

 

[Pellaz]

It may be helpful to point out that MARTA's hours of operation are 5am to 1am daily.

Some day, when Atlanta is ready to take its place amongst the great cities of the world, they'll offer late-night mass-transit service, like real cities do.

Until then..........well, we're better than, say, Flint Michigan.

--Probably.

 

[miel]

bump

 

[J-Man]

Some day, when Atlanta is ready to take its place amongst the great cities of the world, they'll offer late-night mass-transit service, like real cities do.

Until then..........well, we're better than, say, Flint Michigan.

--Probably.

Or El Paso Texas

 

[tenebre]

My wife wants to see Atlanta... where can we go from the earthlink area via marta or other public transport that is nice? Museum?

 

[Cheiron]

High Museum is cab/walking distance from the venue. Honestly, the problem is that the public transportation is terrible (Doesn't go to a lot of places). But there's another thread on here somewhere buried, on other things to do in Atlanta.

You can take MARTA to CNN Center area, and there's some stores there, a park, food, and more.

The below is from About.com on popular places accessible via MARTA.

Destination - Station, line)
•Airport - Airport Station, South
•Atlanta Civic Center - Civic Center, North
•Atlantic Station - Arts Center, North (requires free shuttle)
•Buckhead Neighborhood - Buckhead, Northwest
•Centennial Olympic Park - Peachtree Center, North or GWCC/Philips/CNN, West
•Downtown Decatur - Decatur, East
•Fox Theatre - North Ave, North
•Georgia State University - Georgia State, East
•Georgia World Congress Center/Philips Arena/CNN Center - GWCC/Philips/CNN, West
•High Museum of Art/Alliance Theater/Orchestra - Arts Center, North
•Lenox Square Mall - Lenox, Northeast (Doraville)
•Little Five Points - Inman Park/Reynoldstown, East
•Perimeter Mall - Dunwoody, Northwest (North Springs)
•Phipps Plaza - Lenox, Northeast (Doraville)
•Piedmont Park - Midtown or Arts Center, North (requires short walk)
•State Capitol - Georgia State, East
•Turner Field - Five Points, North/South/East/West Hub (shuttle on game days)
•Underground Atlanta - Five Points, North/South/East/West Hub
•The Varsity - North Ave, North

 

[J-Man]

My wife wants to see Atlanta... where can we go from the earthlink area via marta or other public transport that is nice? Museum?

Sent you a PM

 

[SkiBumMSP]

There is a website that I found that is really good in helping out in getting around a city via public transportation - HopStop. After selecting your city (Atlanta is one of them), you put in your starting and destination addresses and it tells you which bus/trains you will need to take to get there, i.e., walk to the Art Center MARTA stop. Take the train towards the airport. Get off at such-n-such, walk to such-n-such and take such-n-such bus, etc, etc. This could be another handy resource in figuring out how to get around Atlanta, as they also have a pretty decent bus netwok in addition to MARTA for getting around. I believe the Breeze card also work on the buses.

 

[freakchylde]

As long as it is within the MARTA network, the cards will work.