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ATL to halve express commuter bus trips, aims to boost seat utilization to 56%
Summary
Janine Miller told the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee that the Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority will reduce express commuter bus service from 197 trips to 98 and reduce park‑and‑ride lots, aiming to improve seat utilization amid changed post‑COVID commute patterns.
Janine Miller, executive director of the Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) and GDOT director of planning, told the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee that ATL will reduce its express commuter bus service to better match post‑COVID travel demand.
"We are, proposing and we will soon be adopting a reduction in that commuter bus service, down to a total of 98 trips," Miller said, describing a change from the current 197 trips that operate from 27 park‑and‑ride lots with 45 morning stops. She said 12 of the 98 trips would serve MARTA stations and that ATL will reduce the number of leased park‑and‑ride lots as part of the change.
Why it matters: ATL said commute patterns and demand have changed since the service began and were further altered by the COVID‑19 pandemic; the agency is adjusting service to be more efficient while maintaining corridor coverage.
Service changes and expected outcomes
Miller said the reduction will cut park‑and‑ride lots roughly in half but maintain service in every corridor. ATL projects seat utilization to increase from roughly 10 percent today to about 56 percent under the new plan; Miller characterized that change as a large improvement in efficiency.
Appropriations direction and timing
Miller told the committee that the Appropriations Act directed ATL to coordinate with local transit providers and streamline options; she said the directive contributed to a $4 million reduction in the ATL budget line tied to express commuter service. She said the reduced schedule and other changes will go into effect in June of the coming year after required board and public‑involvement processes.
What was not decided
No committee vote occurred during the presentation. Miller said ATL will continue board review and public outreach as necessary prior to implementing the timetable.
Ending
Miller closed the ATL portion of the presentation noting the agency’s focus on customer competitiveness and cross‑county service and that the changes are intended to improve efficiency while keeping service available across corridors.
