MARTA's Image Problem

Atlanta’s public transit system, MARTA, was initially designed to promote economic growth, establish greater transportation equity among Atlanta’s citizens, and reduce the environmental impact associated with a car-dependent society (MARTA). These lofty goals gave MARTA a progressive image, representing Atlanta’s transition from a racist backwater of the Deep South into a world class city.

MARTA no longer has this positive image. Many in Atlanta believe “that MARTA is beyond redemption and should dismantled and be replaced by a less ‘tainted’ and ‘broken’ system.” (Konrad 57) Discussion on the future of MARTA typically focuses on preventing bankruptcy; the initial lofty goals are all but forgotten.

One of the primary reasons MARTA has proven so inept at fulfilling the region’s transportation needs is that Atlanta’s predominantly white, affluent northern suburbs have continually resisted MARTA’s development. Understanding why these suburbs so staunchly oppose MARTA and mitigating these concerns would help MARTA to more fully fulfill its economic, social, and environmental goals.

When MARTA was founded in the 1970s, race was the dominant issue dividing the city of Atlanta. Most suburban whites wanted to keep African Americans from entering their communities and their school systems. They therefore opposed MARTA and the increased mobility it would give urban African Americans.

Since the 1970s, racial prejudices in Atlanta’s suburbs have declined dramatically. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the public school system. In the 1970s, white flight was used to resist school desegregation. Today, even in the suburbs, there are large minority populations in the schools. For example, in the Cobb County School System, white students account for only 45% of the student body, while African American students compromise 31%. (Cobb County)

Despite these declining racial prejudices, suburban support for MARTA has remained low. MARTA’s suburban image problem therefore can no longer be traced to racial prejudices. MARTA’s image problem in the suburbs results primarily from real problems that frequently arise on MARTA’s buses and trains.

Riding MARTA is almost always slower than driving. Although the buses and trains travel at about the same speed as cars, the additional time spent waiting and transferring between routes wastes the time of MARTA’s passengers. This problem is compounded by the failure of MARTA’s bus and train operators to follow consistent schedules. If the bus is late or if the trains are single tracking, the travel time can be greatly extended. Taking MARTA is both slower and less consistent than driving through traffic.

MARTA’s bus stops and train stations feel unsafe. This assessment is partially accurate: MARTA had 418 crimes committed on its premises during 2010. Most of these involved theft. One homicide occurred. Approximately 3 crimes occur for every million rides on MARTA. (MARTA)

MARTA appears less safe than it is because of the design and location of the bus stops and train stations. Many bus stops are at busy intersections with little available sidewalk to wait on. Both bus stops and train stations are poorly lit and have rough, unfinished surfaces. Many train stations are also underground. This creates an eerie atmosphere, discouraging people from taking MARTA. The empty stations then further the eerie atmosphere and further discourage ridership.

Panhandling is common on MARTA. Although panhandling is forbidden on all MARTA facilities, there are not enough MARTA police to effectively enforce this rule. This common blatant violation of MARTA policy increases the feeling of lawlessness created by the atmosphere of the stations.

Many of MARTA’s riders lack the common courtesy appropriate on public transit. Instead of quietly reading, listening to music, or talking in small groups, many MARTA riders are loud and obnoxious. Although this is a relatively minor concern and is difficult to prevent, it detracts from the experience one has riding MARTA and contributes to MARTA’s overall negative connotation.

MARTA’s suburban image problem is not primarily due to racist tendencies in the suburbs. Suburbanites have multiple, more complicated reasons, most based on personal experience, for disliking MARTA.

These problems are primarily due to poor management and could be resolved without substantial outside intervention. Fixing these problems by making buses and trains more consistently scheduled, increasing lighting around stations and bus stops, and improving police services would help remove MARTA’s negative stigma in the suburbs. Increased suburban support would provide MARTA with some much needed funding and allow it to expand to more fully serve the Greater Atlanta Area. MARTA could then begin to live up to some of its original high expectations.


Works Cited:

"About MARTA." MARTA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. < http://www.itsmarta.com/marta-vision-mission.aspx>, .

"About The Cobb County School District." Cobb County School District. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. .

Konrad, Miriam. Transporting Atlanta: The Mode of Mobility Under Construction. New
York: SUNY UP, 2010.