The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has announced the launch date of its new NextGen Bus Network.
On 18 April 2026; the Atlanta bus system will be redrawn from scratch – for the first time since the early 1970s.
Designed to meet the need of modern customers, the new bus network will introduce higher service frequency, tripling the number of corridors where a bus arrives every 15 minutes or less – an increase from 5 corridors to 17.
Additionally; 11 routes will feature service every 20 minutes or better, ensuring that one-third of the entire network provides high-frequency reliability.
Elsewhere, the NextGen Network will aim to introduce greater service consistency during both off-peak hours and the weekends, with all 81 fixed routes set to operate at the same frequency during most of the day, seven days a week.
As well as 81 fixed bus routes optimised for speed and frequency, there will also be 12 new MARTA Reach on-demand zones, which will seek to offer flexible, curb-to-curb connectivity in lower-density areas underserved by fixed-route buses.
The redesign will expand opportunities for riders within a 60-minute travel window, with the average user able to reach 31% more hospitals, 27% more grocery stores, 22% more jobs and 21% more colleges/univeristies.
Interim MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt said:The NextGen Bus Network represents a generational transformation in how we deliver bus service for our customers.
Atlanta has changed significantly over the last 40 years, and our bus network must reflect that reality. We want to provide a modern transit experience that prioritizes frequency, consistency, and significantly expanded access to the places that matter most to our riders. On balance, this network is a massive improvement for most of our customers and for the region. Our goal is to deliver more access to more places in less time.
