MARTA Five Points Station Renovation Plan | Reaction

ATLANTA — Atlanta’s Five Points MARTA station may soon have limited access to complete a four-year renovation project, despite protection and even a request from the mayor.

According to the transit system, travelers will be closed to the hub exiting the street starting July 29. Although trains will continue to run through the station, allowing passengers to change, access to elevators will be limited.

This would inconvenience passengers with disabilities, who would then have to use MARTA Mobility shuttles to change directions, making their journey more cumbersome.

“Not only is it really unfair, but it could potentially add up to an hour to my extra transfer process,” said Cardin Wyckoff, who uses a wheelchair and gets around downtown by leaning on Five Points station. “They don’t take into account the time it takes to board the shuttle.”

MARTA plans to briefly reopen the station to outdoor access during the World Cup in 2026.

“Other cities have completed major station reconstruction projects and maintained access for pedestrians, bus riders and ADA,” said Rebecca Serna of Propel ATL, who asked MARTA to reconsider its plan. “We think MARTA can do it too.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed concern. In a letter to MARTA General Manager Collie Greenwood, the mayor asked the transit agency to temporarily suspend the Five Points project until an audit is completed and to “consider the impact on the community during the construction “.

MARTA’s CEO responded with his own letter, stating that the project had been approved by the City of Atlanta and the MARTA Board of Directors. Managing director Collie Greenwood writes that the current plan is “an appropriate solution”, adding: “We will continue to review possible improvements.”

Some think the disruptions will embitter MARTA commuters.

“I worry that in four years people will get a car or some other means, and they’ll stick with that,” said MARTA driver Dejon Tebought.

MARTA said it plans to allow limited access to the station before completing renovations in 2028.