Commuters in Atlanta can brace for some service detours as MARTA resumes its major renovation project at the iconic Five Points Station on May 17. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority announced the detour of several downtown bus routes and the temporary relocation of customer services including the RideStore and Lost & Found, with changes set to begin in June, as reported by Clayton County News.
Despite the temporary transit shifts, MARTA emphasized that rail service and transfers will not be affected and will continue to operate on their regular schedules. The agency was clear to swiftly adjust planning from last summer's pause in deconstruction work, to now boldly move forward with the next steps of the revitalization project. Street-level station access and Forsyth Street bus stops will be maintained through the deconstruction period.
According to Clayton County News, the transformation is planned to enhance Five Points Station as a vibrant city center with improved safety, connectivity, and new amenities for transit users. The project's initial phase involves the removal of the overhead concrete canopy to make way for the construction of a new one, along with upgrading the central bus hub and pedestrian areas.
On the buses front, routes 3, 40, 813, 21, 49, 55, 107, and 186 will now stop on Forsyth Street, while routes 26, 42, and 816 are set to be detoured to avoid stopping at Five Points. Additional routes like 21, 42, 49, 55, 107, and 186 will terminate at Georgia State Station, route 26 and 813 will terminate at King Memorial Station, and the 816 route will find its end at Civic Center Station. Regional services such as CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett, and Xpress are expected to run as scheduled without changes.
Starting June 6, relocation of MARTA's customer service offices will be implemented, and these include a temporary new home for the MARTA Police precinct, RideStore, Lost & Found, Reduced Fare, and MARTA HOPE. In the meantime, passengers will have access to restrooms at nearby GWCC/CNN Center, Peachtree Center, Georgia State, and West End stations.
The extensive project is backed by the More MARTA Atlanta half-penny sales tax, alongside a $13.8 million state contribution and a $25 million Federal RAISE Grant. The total costs are projected around $230 million. With community spaces, public art, and agriculture featured in the project's design, MARTA aims to transform Five Points into more than just a transit hub—but a thriving hotspot of activities and engagement within Atlanta's urban landscape.
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