This week was the State of MARTA 2022. The virtual event celebrates MARTA’s essential workers, announces new federal funding and EV charging stations, and previews new EV bus routes in the year ahead.
MARTA CEO Jeffrey Parker also unveiled the long-awaited new rolling stock, which are set to replace the 40-year old rail cars and launch MARTA into the 21st century at last. The Stadler deal, inked in 2018, will run $646 million and should see the first trains in 2023.
Reasons for replacing the aging rolling stock were delay times and expensive repairs. The modern, gangway-style Stadler rail cars are wrapped in a minimalist MARTA-brand ribbon chosen by riders and feature ADA spaces, digital signage, charging outlets, and luggage racks. Things a modern transit system has! The exterior lighting can change color to show the line the rider is taking.
You can watch the full State of MARTA here:
The hardware is ready. It’s time to build Terminal Station to give Atlanta #MoreMARTA
We learned that Jeffrey Parker passed away on Friday evening. Our hearts and our prayers go out to his family and friends.