MARTA, Atlanta break ground on region’s first BRT line

June 16, 2023

The Summerhill BRT will be the first of several BRT lines planned as part of the authority’s MARTA Rapid service.

MARTA, city of Atlanta and community representatives celebrated the start of construction on the Summerhill BRT project - the region's first BRT project.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Atlanta, Ga., celebrated the start of construction on the region’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) line, which will be part of the authority’s planned MARTA Rapid service.

The five-mile Summerhill BRT will connect downtown Atlanta to the Capital Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown and the Atlanta BeltLine, with trips every 10 to 12 minutes. The route will feature 14 stations with level boarding, real-time arrival information and off-board fare collection.

“We are excited to celebrate this milestone in the More MARTA Atlanta Program and get started building the region’s first BRT line in this vital city corridor,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “This line will provide an efficient connection between historic city neighborhoods, job centers, Georgia State and our rail system and will be the benchmark for future BRT lines in metro Atlanta.”

When the Summerhill BRT line opens in 2025, a trip from Five Points south to Carver will take between 12 and 15 minutes aided by dedicated bus lanes with transit signal priority along 85 percent of the corridor. The line will also be served by a fleet of electric buses.

“BRT is the future of transit. I’ve spearheaded BRT projects in other cities and seen it transform communities,” added MARTA Chief Capital Officer Carrie Rocha. “BRT can be built faster and at lower cost, bringing the amenities of rail service while remaining flexible in ways rail is not. I’m excited to get started building the first BRT in the region!”

The Summerhill BRT line is funded through a $12.63 million federal TIGER Grant that was awarded through the programs Fiscal Year 2017 round and the More MARTA program with the city of Atlanta.

“Investments in transit are really investments in our people, communities and future,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “I came into office with a long-term vision to assure that all our residents would share in Atlanta’s growth and prosperity and transit equity is a huge part of that charge.”

In addition to the Summerhill BRT, MARTA is planning additional BRT projects for the Campbellton Corridor, Southlake, State Route 54, Clifton Corridor and on GA 400. Each BRT line will be assigned a different color name that will be determined later, and the BRT service will operate as MARTA Rapid.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.