MARTA tells DeKalb commissioners ridership has largely returned; new fare system, on‑demand service and station projects planned

Jonathan Hunt, interim general manager and CEO for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, told the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 4 that system ridership has returned close to pre‑pandemic levels and that MARTA plans several capital and service changes aimed at growing and stabilizing those gains. "We continue to see a cyclical increase in riders on all other modes of transit and rail," Hunt said during the quarterly briefing.

Hunt reviewed near‑term design and procurement timelines for two Arterial Rapid Transit corridors: Buford Highway and Candler Road. He said MARTA released a solicitation for the Buford Highway final design consultant on June 26 and expects to award the contract in 2026, issue construction bids in mid‑2027 and begin construction in late 2027. The Candler Road ART final‑design selection is still underway with an anticipated award in 2026.

On transit hubs, Hunt said MARTA has onboarded a final‑design consultant for the South DeKalb Transit Hub and is coordinating closely with DeKalb County. He warned that recent Georgia Power utility work added a utility pole over property…