Using MARTA in Atlanta (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)

http://www.itsmarta.com/

MARTA is an easy system to use as there are only four main rail lines: Red and Gold (North/South) and Blue and Green (East/West) and the fare is the same no matter how far you travel. The nearest station to the Westin Peachtree is the Peachtree Station, directly across the street from the Westin Peachtree Street entrance. • Once you get to a rail station, look for a Breeze Card vending machine. You can use cash or

credit card to purchase a train fare. Choose from one-way trips or day passes. Riders should always purchase a roundtrip fare unless only a one-way trip is needed. Children under 46" ride free (limit two children per paying adult).

• Tap your card on the blue circle to the right of a fare gate to enter. It will beep and open.

There is one extra wide gate available at every station, which can be used by families with children under 46" and people with wheelchairs, bikes, strollers or luggage.

• Signs in all stations provide direction to the train platforms. There are Northbound,

Southbound, Eastbound and Westbound platforms based on the direction of train travel. Trains are also marked with the last station they travel to. Look at a MARTA map ahead of time to know your direction of travel, or look for a rail map in the station. Common directions are:

Airport – South North Springs/Doraville – North Decatur, Indian Creek – East Georgia Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN – West • Board the train when it arrives, paying attention to the destination marked on the train and

announcements made by the train operator. Keep in mind that two different trains may share the same tracks.

• Trains stop at every station on the line. If you need to transfer to a different line, you can

transfer between all rail lines at the Five Points Station or between the Red and Gold lines at the Lindbergh Center station.

• After exiting the train at your destination, you will need to tap your Breeze Card again for the

fare gate to open. Tapping your card when you exit also puts a free transfer to a bus on your card.

FARES: All fare products must be loaded on a Breeze card. Breeze card is $1.00) Single trip $ 1.00 Round trip $ 2.50 10 round trips $25.00 Day pass* (1-4 days) $9.00-$19.00 (unlimited rides for 1-4 consecutive days) 7 day pass* $23.75 (unlimited rides for 7 consecutive days) MARTA does not run 24-hours a day. A day starts whenever service begins in the morning and ends whenever service ends that night.

Apps That Make Riding MARTA Easier Riding transit for the first time, especially in a new city, can be a little overwhelming. You have to figure out where the stations are, where and how to buy fare and how to look up schedules. A regular rider can also easily get frustrated when not having information close at hand for trip planning and getting information on service delays. http://www.itsmarta.com/developers/app-station.aspx That’s where all the new technology comes into play. Here are several helpful apps to have on your Smartphone to make your travel easier on MARTA: MARTA on the Go App Available on iPhone and Android devices, MARTA On The Go is the official MARTA app. In addition to maps and schedules, you can view the next arriving trains in real time. Use the favorite option to save the routes you use most, or press the “nearby” button to see the nearest bus stops and rail stations to your current location. There is an alerts section as well, though you can also check the@MARTASERVICE Twitter feed for information on delays, single tracking and elevator outages.

Itsmarta.com On the Go Developed by: MARTA This is a mobile version of the Itsmarta.com website allows patrons to view bus/rail schedules, real-time bus arrivals, trip planning, service alerts, fare information and contact information. This site is accessible on any mobile device. Platform: All mobile devices Available at: http://www.itsmarta.com/marta-mobile/mobile-default.aspx

Google Maps App For the best trip planner on the go, Google Maps is at the top of the list. You can use the transit feature in any city where the transit agency has submitted scheduling data to Google. In the app, search for your end destination then click on the train or person icon to get transit or walking directions. Choose “options” to set your preferred mode of travel: bus only, train only, shortest walk, fewest transfers or best route. Click on the departure time to adjust desired arrival or departure date and time to see the appropriate schedules. As a bonus, with the GPS feature, you can also see where you are at on the map as you walk, which is helpful if you aren’t sure you’re on the right path.