MARTA to Hold Public Hearings for Proposed Bus Service Changes

Just got this statement from MARTA. Worth noting if you ride the bus, particularly Route 6:

MARTA will hold public hearings on proposed bus service modifications at 7 p.m. on January 22 and 24, 2013, to gather input from customers and stakeholders. Modifications to bus routes 6, 15, 21, 51, 67, 86, 95, 110, 172 and 186 are being proposed for implementation on April 20, 2013, to improve service and respond to customer and community feedback.  Details regarding the proposed changes are listed below. 

Prior to the start of the official public hearing, MARTA staff will be available for a community exchange to provide information regarding the proposed changes and answer any questions. Also, from January 8^th through January 16^th from 3 to 6 p.m., MARTA staff will be visiting the rail station bus loops that serve these routes to inform customers about the changes and solicit feedback. The schedule for these on-site visits is listed below.

MARTA regularly evaluates bus route performance including scheduling, on-time performance, ridership and safety. Final changes will be recommended based on feedback received from customers as well as the Authority’s service analysis.

Copies of the proposed bus service modifications are available for review at MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on the MARTA website www.itsmarta.com.  A summary of the proposed bus modifications can be requested by leaving a message on MARTA’s comment line, 404.848.5299.  The proposed modifications will also be available for public inspection before each hearing.

Patrons may request information in an accessible format (free of charge) in accordance with the ADA and Limited English Proficiency regulations by calling MARTA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at 404.848.4037. For patrons requiring further accommodations, information can be obtained by calling the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 404.848.5665.  In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available at all hearings. 

People unable to attend the hearings can provide comments regarding the proposed bus service modifications to MARTA’s Office of External Affairs through January 27, 2013, by leaving a message at 404.848.5299, writing to 2424 Piedmont Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324-3330, completing an online comment card at www.itsmarta.com, or faxing comments to 404.848.4179. 

Hearings will be held at the following locations:

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Adamsville Recreation Center
3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW
7:00 PM
Community Exchange from 6:30 – 7:00 PM
Riding MARTA: Take the Route 73 out of Hamilton E. Holmes Station

Thursday, January 24, 2013

MARTA Headquarters Building
2424 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, 30324
7:00 P.M.
Community Exchange from 6 – 7 PM
Riding MARTA: Across the street from Lindbergh Center Station

MALOOF AUDITORIUM
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, 30030
7:00 PM
Community Exchange from 6 – 7 PM
Riding MARTA: Walk one block west of the Decatur Station

Schedule for MARTA Rail Station Bus Loop Informational Visits:

Date	Station Location - Routes
Wed. Jan 9	Inman Park– Route 6
Wed. Jan 9	Decatur– Route 15
Thur. Jan 10	Five Points– Route 51, 110, & 186
Fri. Jan 11	Oakland City– Route 172
Fri. Jan 11	College Park– Route 172
Mon. Jan 14	East Lake– Route 86
Mon. Jan 14	Kensington– Route 21
Tues. Jan 15	Lenox– Route 110
Tues. Jan 15	West End– Route 67 & 95
Wed, Jan 16	West Lake– Route 51 & 67
Wed, Jan 16	Georgia State– Route 21

Proposed Service Changes

Route 6– Emory: Realign services to operate a short turn alignment from Lindbergh Station to the North Decatur and Oxford Roads traffic circle (roundabout) and continue operation from Lindbergh Station to Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station via alternating trips on weekdays only. Saturday and Sunday services remain unchanged and will continue to operate between Lindbergh Station and Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station all trips.

Route 15– South DeKalb/Candler Road:  Realign services with an extension along River Road and Linecrest Road segments and discontinue the Ridgetop Drive, Lincolndale Drive and Clevemont Court segments in the East Glen subdivision.

Route 21– Memorial Drive: Realign services to discontinue direct service to King Memorial Station inbound to Georgia State Station. Route 21 would continue to provide direct service to King Memorial Station outbound from Georgia State Station only.

Route 51– Joseph E. Boone Blvd. /Dixie Hills: Realign services to maintain current routing to New Jersey Avenue and Joseph E. Boone Blvd., which will be the new terminus for Route 51 with the exception of the selected trips that operate via Collier Heights Apartments. The segments along Aurora Avenue, Morehouse Drive, Morris Brown Avenue and Wadley Street will be discontinued. The segments along Anderson Avenue, Tiger Flowers Drive, Carver Drive, Hyacinth Avenue, Verbena Street and Penelope Street will be assumed by modifications to Route 67-West End.

Route 67– West End: Realign services to operate a one way loop from West Lake Station that assumes segments from Route 51 – Joseph E. Boone Blvd. /Dixie Hills and the restructure of the services currently provided by Route 67.   The new alignment would operate as follows from West Lake Station: Right-Anderson Avenue, Left-Waterbury Drive, Right-Anderson Avenue, Left-Tiger Flowers Drive, Left-Carver Drive, Right-Hyacinth Avenue, Left-Verbena Street, Right-Penelope Street, Left-Aaron Street, Right-Penelope Road, and Right-Anderson Avenue returning to West Lake Station. The segment along Verbena Street between Waterbury Drive and Chenault Place and along Chenault Place will be discontinued.

Route 86– Fairington Road/McAfee Road: Realign services to operate a short turn alignment from GRTA Panola Road Park and Ride Lot to the I-20 Access Road and Old Hillandale Drive on all service days during the hours that the Mall at Stonecrest is closed.

Route 95– Metropolitan Parkway/Hapeville: Discontinue operation along the S. Central Avenue and Tradeport Blvd. segments.  All trips will terminate at King Arnold Street and Sunset Avenue with the exception of the trips that provide direct service to Atlanta Technical and Atlanta Metropolitan Colleges.

Route 110– Peachtree Street “The Peach”: Realign services to provide alternating trips between Five Points and Lenox Stations and Arts Center and Lenox Stations during the hours of 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM on all service days.  Service between Arts Center and Five Points Stations will be discontinued before 9:00 AM and after 8:00 PM.

Route 172– Sylvan Road/Virginia Avenue: Realign services to assume the S. Central Avenue and Tradeport Blvd. segments discontinued by Route 95 – Metropolitan Parkway/Hapeville on selected trips on weekdays and Saturdays only. Service along this segment will not be provided on Sundays.

Route 186– Rainbow Drive/South DeKalb: Realign services with an extension along Wesley Chapel Road, Snapfinger Woods Drive, E. Wesley Chapel Road returning to Snapfinger Woods Drive, which will be the new terminus for Route 186.  Service along the Pleasant Wood Drive and Eastside Drive segments will be provided inbound from the Snapfinger Woods Drive terminus in the AM and outbound before terminating at Snapfinger Woods Drive in the PM until 9:00 PM on all service days.