MARTA presents feasibility study: Buford Highway strongest BRT candidate; I‑285 express-lanes transit planning advances

MARTA staff briefed DeKalb County’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on a feasibility study that examined converting existing arterial rapid transit (ART) corridors to bus rapid transit (BRT) and provided an update on an I‑285 express‑lanes transit study.

Michael Rafshoon (MARTA) introduced the presentations and said the work was intended to identify modes and costs that would expand transit access in DeKalb. Marcus Arnold (director, federal corridors) led the ART-to-BRT feasibility results and Jessica Choi (director, local corridors) reviewed corridor comparisons and project hurdles.

Key findings: Buford (Buford) Highway strongest near‑term BRT candidate

- MARTA studied three corridors: Buford Highway, Candler Road and Memorial Drive. It found Buford Highway (the county’s highest‑ridership bus corridor) has the greatest near‑term potential to convert from ART to BRT given existing lane geometry and demand.

- Ridership projections at feasibility level showed ART could increase ridership on Buford by roughly 70% compared with current local service; BRT showed a smaller improvement at this high level of analysis (about 19% improvement over current local bus in the feasibility model). For Candler Road the study estimated a smaller ART ridership uplift and a roughly 25% uplift for BRT over existing service.

Costs and schedule

- MARTA presented capital-cost ranges: ART implementation for a corridor typically estimated at $25–$50 million; BRT conversions were estimated at roughly $200–$400 million depending on corridor constraints. Annual operating-cost differences were smaller (on the order of $2–$3 million more per year for BRT in the corridors shown).

- Estimated schedules at the feasibility level were roughly four years to implement ART components and up to eight years to deliver full BRT, assuming funding and the environmental/real‑estate processes proceed.

Operational and implementation hurdles

- MARTA flagged key hurdles to converting ART to BRT: the funding gap (BRT requires substantially more capital), right‑of‑way constraints on some corridors (notably Candler Road), and the need to manage customer expectations because BRT timelines are longer.

- MARTA staff explained federal environmental review (NEPA) requirements and internal agreements (referenced as the agency’s RTCAA/fifteenth‑amendment commitments) that shape which modes and projects are fundable under established regional agreements.

I‑285 express lanes transit study

- MARTA also summarized the I‑285 top‑end express lanes transit study, begun in mid‑2023 and approaching completion. The effort evaluates opportunities to run reliable transit services using Georgia DOT’s planned express lanes between H.E. Holmes and Indian Creek, with the goal of improving regional job access and reliability.

- MARTA tested multiple service concepts—point‑to‑point express, central‑rider services and commuter‑focused runs—and developed hybrid alternatives that combine high‑performing elements. The study will produce recommended service plans, conceptual station designs and cost estimates; MARTA expects to finalize the report in summer 2025 and to pursue local agreements and funding pathways thereafter.

Local coordination and next steps

- MARTA emphasized partnership: local jurisdictions control land use, zoning and some right‑of‑way decisions that affect station footprints, sidewalks and supportive infrastructure. Staff recommended a unified outreach approach with DeKalb to manage expectations and to align land‑use and transit investment.

- On Memorial Drive, MARTA said the corridor requires more detailed analysis before selecting a locally preferred alternative and that no implementation funding is in place beyond the feasibility study.

- MARTA flagged two related internal funding/implementation efforts: an alternative finance committee and a TOD (transit‑oriented development) accelerator to help bridge funding gaps.

What commissioners asked and requested

DeKalb commissioners sought timelines and clarification on community engagement: Commissioners requested clearer schedules for public outreach on South DeKalb priorities (the South DeKalb transit hub and the Stonecrest area), and asked MARTA to return for a focused briefing on South DeKalb work when staff could present more detailed next steps and updated design materials. MARTA agreed to follow up with district‑level briefings.