Atlanta’s transit backbone is MARTA, which runs the rail system, most buses, and — as of 2026 — the region’s first bus rapid transit line. One fare works across nearly all of it, and the fare gates at rail stations mean it’s tap-in, not honor-system.
The basics
MARTA rail has four color-coded lines that meet downtown at Five Points:
- Red — from the airport north to North Springs, passing through Buckhead, Medical Center, Dunwoody, and Sandy Springs.
- Gold — also from the airport, running to Doraville.
- Blue — east–west, from Hamilton E. Holmes to Indian Creek.
- Green — shares track with the Blue Line through part of downtown, running from Bankhead to Edgewood/Candler Park.
Around rail, MARTA runs a large bus network — freshly redrawn in April 2026 as the “NextGen Bus Network” — plus the brand-new Rapid A-Line, a 5-mile bus rapid transit line connecting Downtown to the Beltline’s Southside Trail, and MARTA Reach, on-demand vans serving 12 zones around the region. The Atlanta Streetcar loops through the central city on its own separate ticket.
How to pay
MARTA switched to a modernized contactless system called Better Breeze in 2026, with new tamper-resistant faregates at every rail station. You’ve got a few ways to pay:
- Tap a contactless bank card or your phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) directly at the rail faregate or the validator on a bus, van, or streetcar.
- Use a Breeze card — physical (a one-time $2.00 fee) or virtual in your phone’s wallet — bought or reloaded at station vending machines, Ride Stores, breezecard.com, or the Breeze Mobile app.
- Note that the Breeze Mobile app only manages and reloads your card — it doesn’t take fare payment directly the way tapping a phone at the gate does.
Old silver Breeze cards and the previous Breeze Mobile app no longer work on the new system.
Fares
| Fare | |
|---|---|
| Adult single ride | $2.50 (includes up to 4 free transfers within 3 hours) |
| 1-Day Pass | $9.00 |
| 7-Day Pass | $23.75 |
| 30-Day Pass | $95 |
| Reduced (65+, Medicare, disability) | $1.00 |
| Student 30-Day Pass (university program) | $68.50 |
The Atlanta Streetcar has its own separate fare — $1.00 a ride or $3.00 for a day pass — with no free transfer to or from MARTA bus or rail. MARTA Reach on-demand rides cost $2.50 once Better Breeze equipment is installed in the vans.
Getting from the airport
Take MARTA rail — the Airport Station sits right inside the Domestic Terminal, tucked between the north and south baggage claim areas, so you never have to step outside.
- Lines: both the Red and Gold Lines start here, so whichever comes first will do — both reach Five Points downtown before splitting off further north.
- Cost: the standard $2.50 fare, transfers included.
- Hours: rail runs roughly 4:45am–1am on weekdays and 6am–1am on weekends.
Apps to download
- The MARTA App — the official app for trip planning, real-time next-train and next-bus tracking, service alerts, and anonymous safety reporting.
- Breeze Mobile — for managing your Breeze card: reloading value, adding passes, and checking your balance.
- Google Maps or Apple Maps — solid for general trip planning with live MARTA data.
When it runs
MARTA rail generally runs 4:45am–1am on weekdays and 6am–1am on weekends. The Atlanta Streetcar runs about every 15 minutes. MARTA Reach operates 6am–midnight daily across its zones. Bus frequency and span vary by route — check the MARTA App for your specific line, especially since the systemwide NextGen redesign in April 2026 changed many routes and numbers.
Accessibility
MARTA Mobility is MARTA’s ADA complementary paratransit service for riders unable to use regular bus or rail service, covering Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties within ¾ mile of fixed routes and stations. Eligibility requires a two-part application, including sign-off from a licensed healthcare provider, plus an in-person assessment. The standard fare is $4, and a personal care attendant can ride free with medical authorization.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Tap in at the faregate every ride — MARTA rail uses real fare gates, not an honor system, so you can’t board without tapping.
- If you’re riding the Atlanta Streetcar, remember it’s a separate fare from MARTA — your Breeze tap doesn’t carry over.
- Keep the same card or phone for a whole trip if you’re relying on the free-transfer window — switching payment methods mid-trip can mean paying twice.
Good to know
- NextGen Bus Network: MARTA overhauled its entire bus network in April 2026 — the largest redesign since the 1970s. If you’re using an old bus map or remember a route number from a previous visit, double-check it in the MARTA App, since routes, numbering, and frequency all changed.
- MARTA Reach is worth knowing about if you’re headed somewhere off the rail/bus grid — it’s an on-demand van service in 12 outer zones, bookable through its own app or by phone.