Downtown Atlanta President Asks MARTA to Stop Construction

Mayor Dickens rightly asked MARTA to suspend its planned renovation and 4-year closure of the Five Points MARTA station. CAP/ADID welcomes the Mayor’s call to step back from the current project and existing plans for the “transformation” of Five Points Station, on which MARTA has spent millions of dollars, plans that are deeply flawed. Unfortunately, despite this directive from the elected leader of the City of Atlanta, MARTA refuses to suspend the station’s closure.

For $230 million, MARTA’s plans would replicate the existing state: the concrete canopy would be replaced with a transparent roof, the on-street bus platforms that currently surround the station would be retained, and the plaza’s unplanned space would come back. The current plan would raise the same issues the resort faces today.

Although riders won’t see any substantial improvements to the station once the “transformation” is complete, they will certainly feel the impact of construction: MARTA’s plan to close the Five Points station, the busiest rail station in the system , for most of the next four years will cut off access to thousands of passengers. MARTA plans to reopen Five Points during the 2026 World Cup, which begs the question: Why would MARTA open pedestrian access to the world but not to Atlantans? The toll for the 17,000 working parents, residents, commuters and students who access the station by bus or on foot would be incalculable. Worse still, this closure would significantly increase travel times for disabled people and families with strollers transiting between lines.

The current design, which would not be completed in time for the 2026 World Cup, is not the right solution. However, investing in Five Points and the surrounding Downtown resorts remains imperative. Since 2016, MARTA ridership has been decimated – it ranks last among cities in post-pandemic ridership returns.

Downtown’s renaissance offers MARTA an opportunity to rebuild. Two Peachtree, Underground Atlanta, South Downtown and Centennial Yards all converge on Five Points. Beyond these developments, downtown density, access to employment and a transit-rich environment are key to achieving the Mayor’s affordable housing goals. And the region’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) service, connecting Summerhill and downtown, will terminate on Broad Street SW between Five Points and Garnett. The future growth of our transit system depends on the success of this BRT, MARTA’s de facto mode of choice, so transferring between modes should be pleasant and seamless. Downtown deserves world-class transit stations, and significant investments are needed to make them clean, safe and welcoming.

When MARTA and the City of Atlanta review the More MARTA List after the audit is finalized, they should:

1. Invest in an above-the-fare barrier “refresh” of Five Points Station before 2026. A refresh could include artistic lighting, murals, landscaping, safe crosswalks on adjacent streets, and active programming in existing public spaces.
2. Update other downtown stations before 2026. Specifically, Garnett, DOME/CNN Center/Philips/GWCC and Vine City all need investment in new signage, station refreshes and ongoing maintenance.
3. Completely reconsider the station transformation plan. A modified plan should include the voices of commuters, the downtown community and other key stakeholders, including the disability community. The five-point transformation is expected to create a more accessible station and a better experience for users while providing an exceptional public realm. This does not mean banning buses; that means getting creative about moving them off-street and prioritizing the pedestrian environment that defines major city centers and resembles what has been done in other cities. MARTA could prioritize the urban design of the station and examine parcels below the viaduct or lands within the station (as seen throughout the MARTA system, including at North Avenue Station) to locate buses.
4. Once the new plan is developed, construction is expected to be postponed until after the 2026 World Cup. While the station is under construction, proper access to the station must be maintained. During construction of the 42nd Street Connection station improvements in New York City, MTA maintained access to the station. Chicago also maintained access during the reconstruction of the Wilson Street station.

With $1 billion in real estate projects planned by Five Points, MARTA could attract the new riders the system desperately needs. The City’s gateway – a symbol of access and opportunity – must be welcoming and attractive to today’s users and the next generation of users. To fuel the return of ridership, Five Points and surrounding downtown stations should be prioritized when considering the More MARTA list.

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