Day: October 28, 2026

MARTA began construction on Monday, October 26, 2026, on arterial rapid transit lines along Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway in Atlanta and East Point. The project adds 53 new stops, buses every 15 to 20 minutes, and traffic-signal priority on corridors where most riders depend on transit.

Key Takeaways

• Construction started October 26 in both the City of Atlanta and the City of East Point, with crews working the corridors in phases.
• The two lines are the first arterial rapid transit (ART) service in the Atlanta region, with 53 new stop locations.
• ART buses run in regular traffic but get priority at signals, and arrive every 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stops on Route 78 at Cleveland Avenue and Bayard Street, and on Route 95 near Atlanta Technical College and at St. Johns Avenue, are closed for construction through January 31, 2027.
• MARTA’s latest target for finishing construction is the end of 2028.

Construction Starts In Atlanta And East Point After Three Years Of Delays

The Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway ART project has been ready to build for some time. Design was completed in August 2023, and MARTA sought construction bids the following month. The first round drew a single response, which was deemed non-responsive.

MARTA and the City of Atlanta then added sidewalk improvements to make the project more attractive to contractors, pushing the start back from fall 2023. A second bid went out in May 2025, and MARTA awarded the construction contract to BRTU Construction in December 2025. The site notice to proceed came this month.

Work began on Metropolitan Parkway at St. Johns Avenue SW and at the north entrance of Atlanta Technical College. In East Point, crews started on Cleveland Avenue at Bayard Street and will move east along the corridor.

Arterial Rapid Transit Speeds Up Buses Without Dedicated Lanes

Arterial rapid transit sits between a regular local bus and full bus rapid transit. Unlike MARTA’s Rapid A-Line through Summerhill, which uses dedicated bus lanes, ART buses share the road with cars and trucks. The time savings come from three changes.

The first is transit signal priority. Transponders on the buses communicate with traffic lights to extend a green or shorten a red as a bus approaches key intersections. Short queue-jump lanes also let buses slip past backups at major lights.

The second is limited-stop service. ART buses stop less often than a local route, which cuts dwell time across the full trip.

The third is better stops. New shelters are larger and include lighting, seating and real-time arrival screens, with bike racks and solar panels where they fit. The project also adds protected crosswalks with accessible ramps and flashing signals, including at Cleveland Avenue and Elsinore Street.

Cleveland Avenue And Metropolitan Parkway Routes Connect Two Rail Stations

The Cleveland Avenue ART follows most of today’s Route 78, running from East Point Station to Jonesboro Road. It drops the existing loop around Browns Mill Golf Course, giving riders a more direct path.

The Metropolitan Parkway ART upgrades the busiest stretch of Route 95, connecting West End Station to Cleveland Avenue and ending near Springdale Road. Together, the two lines link the Red and Gold rail lines at East Point Station in the south and West End Station in the north.

Along the way, the lines serve Atlanta Technical College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Citi Center Shopping Center, MET Atlanta, Wellstar East Point Health Center, the Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan libraries, and the Atlanta BeltLine.

Corridors Serve Riders Who Depend On Transit

MARTA’s project materials describe the Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway corridors as home to 70% of riders who are transit-dependent. For those riders, the difference between a bus every 15 minutes and an unpredictable wait shapes whether they reach a class, a shift or a medical appointment on time.

Drivers along these corridors are currently benefiting from Georgia’s state gas tax suspension through November 30. For households without a car, though, travel costs come down to how reliable and frequent the bus is. That is the problem ART is built to address.

Stop Closures And Sidewalk Work Affect Routes 78 And 95 Now

The first construction impacts are already in place. On Route 78, the eastbound stop at Cleveland Avenue and Bayard Street is closed. On Route 95, the northbound stops at Atlanta Technical College and at Metropolitan Parkway and St. Johns Avenue are closed. All three closures run through January 31, 2027, and riders should use the nearest open stop.

As work moves along the corridors, riders and residents can expect intermittent sidewalk closures, temporary stop relocations and short-term traffic impacts. MARTA says access to homes and businesses will be maintained, and it will give advance notice of upcoming impacts through its service alerts and project email updates.

More MARTA Funds The $45.8 Million Project

The Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway ART is a partnership between MARTA and the City of Atlanta under the More MARTA program, funded by the city’s half-penny transit sales tax. MARTA’s 2024 and early 2025 briefings to the Atlanta City Council listed a project budget of $45.8 million. That figure predates the December 2025 contract award, so the final cost may differ once MARTA publishes updated figures.

Service Targeted For Completion By The End Of 2028

MARTA’s most recent update to the Atlanta City Council, in February 2026, set a construction completion target of the end of 2028. Until then, Routes 78 and 95 continue running as local service, with temporary detours and stop changes posted as work progresses.

FAQs

What Is Arterial Rapid Transit?

Arterial rapid transit is a faster bus service that runs in regular traffic lanes. It uses traffic-signal priority, fewer stops and upgraded shelters to cut travel time and improve reliability.

How Is ART Different From MARTA’s Bus Rapid Transit?

Bus rapid transit, like MARTA’s Rapid A-Line in Summerhill, runs mostly in dedicated bus lanes. ART buses share lanes with other traffic and rely on signal priority and short queue-jump lanes to move faster.

Which MARTA Bus Routes Are Affected By ART Construction?

Route 78 on Cleveland Avenue and Route 95 on Metropolitan Parkway. Three stops on those routes are closed through January 31, 2027, and more temporary changes will follow as crews move along the corridors.

When Will The Cleveland Avenue And Metropolitan Parkway ART Be Finished?

MARTA’s current target is to finish construction by the end of 2028.