The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is hosting a series of community meetings focused on service modifications proposed to begin on May 17, 2014. These open house sessions followed by public hearings are intended to gather customer feedback on proposed service modifications to rail service and several bus routes, many of which are on Atlanta’s Westside. Most of the modifications involve improving peak service, so many of the public comments have been supportive of the changes. The hearing that took place in the Old City Hall Chambers on Tuesday, January 21 offered an opportunity for members of the public to express their concerns or support for the proposed service modifications. A large constituency from the Dixie Hills community came out to express their strong support for proposed modifications to Route 67 (West End / Dixie Hills). They indicated that MARTA officials had effectively captured their recommendations in the proposed changes, which would have the 67 bus circulate around the Dixie Hills community, making stops closer to the homes of most members of that community. Residents of Dixie Hills asked that MARTA not wait until May to make these changes, especially given the recent cold weather. Currently Dixie Hills residents must walk up a hill to the only bus stop near their community, a trek which they feel is too long and dangerous to be reasonable.

All the information about the MARTA public hearing can be found at: http://www.itsmarta.com/public-hearing-and-meetings.aspx

Westside highlights include:

• Improving peak frequencies on the East-West Blue and Green rail lines
• Looping bus route 67 around the Dixie Hills community
• Improving peak service on bus roue 12 (Howell Mill / Cumberland) to every 15 minutes between Midtown and West Paces Ferry (service from West Paces Ferry to Cumberland would decrease to one bus every 30 minutes)
• Improving peak service on bus route 53 (Skipper Dr. / West Lake Ave.) from one bus every 40 minutes to every 35 minutes until 8pm on weekdays
• Improving peak service on bus route 165 (Fairburn Rd. / Barge Rd. Park & Ride) from one bus every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes on weekdays
• Improving midday service on bus route 50 (Donald L. Hollowell Pkwy) from one bus every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes on Saturdays

To summarize, these changes are mostly favorable for improving service throughout metro Atlanta. Public comments can be submitted online at http://www.itsmarta.com/webcomments.aspx or through a variety of other formats, as outlined on the public hearing web page at the link above. Another MARTA community meeting with be hosted on Saturday, January 25 at the Adamsville Recreation Center (3201 Martin Luther King Drive, SW) from 12-2pm.