MARTA will undergo a sweeping redesign of its bus network, aiming to triple access to frequent service and improve equity across the Atlanta region. The NextGen Bus Network, set to launch in late 2025, will streamline routes, expand on-demand options, and prioritize communities historically underserved by transit.
Key Improvements
The overhaul addresses long-standing challenges in Atlanta’s transit system. When implemented, the network will:
- Expand frequent service from 5 corridors to 17, reducing wait times for thousands of riders.
- Add 12 on-demand zones for flexible transit in lower-density areas, accessible via app.
- Simplify routes from 113 to 81, making the system easier to navigate.
- Increase accessibility to 74,000 more people and 76,400 additional jobs within a 15-minute walk of frequent service.
“This is a major step toward a more equitable and rider-focused transit system,” said Collie Greenwood, MARTA’s General Manager and CEO. “The NextGen Bus Network is built from the voices of the people we serve.”
Community-Driven Redesign
The plan follows four years of public engagement, including 60 meetings and 15,000 survey responses. Feedback prioritized equity, particularly for low-income and minority residents. Key outcomes include:
- 6% increase in overall population served.
- 11% rise in minority residents near transit.
- 22% more jobs accessible within 60 minutes.
Next Steps
MARTA will begin final preparations immediately, with infrastructure upgrades and rider education campaigns planned ahead of the 2025 launch. For details, visit martanextgenbusnetwork.com.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
