1980
FEBRUARY
MARTA adopted an implementation plan for the completion of the North/South Line from Doraville to the airport by 1985.
APRIL
MARTA offered seven final alternative relocations for the Tucker/ North DeKalb Branch at a public hearing.
Shuttle service to Six Flags from the Hightower rail station went into effect April 26.
MAY
West Peachtree Street, between Baker and North Avenue, reopened to through traffic after being closed for more than tow years for rail construction.
JUNE
Buses in the West Line corridor were diverted to feed into rail stations instead of continuing to downtown as they used to do.
MARTA adopted a $104 million budget which included proposals to raise the fare to 50 cents in July 1980 and to 60 cents in January 1981.
AUGUST
In order to balance the FY 1981 budget, the Authority had to eliminate or modify 12 bus routes.
MARTA won Fleet Owner Magazine's Maintenance Award for the best-maintained fleet in the United States.
OCTOBER
The Authority won the 1979 National society of Professional Engineers engineering achievement award for the design and construction of the rapid rail system.
MARTA also won the 1980 award for design from the south Atlantic Regional council of the American Institute of Architects.
MARTA installed a TTY (tele-communicator) for the benefit of the deaf and those with speech impediments.
Service began on route #190 South Fulton/Park Ride between the new park/ride lot at the end of Flat Shoals Road and I-85 and downtown Atlanta.
NOVEMBER
MARTA provided housing for the police Task force on missing children.
MARTA received a $40 million UMTA grant for North/South Line construction.
1981
JANUARY
MARTA Board hired McKinsey & Company to conduct an organizational review of the Authority.
FEBRUARY
Under a $2.7 million federal grant, MARTA began refurbishing 45 buses.
APRIL
Buses began using electronic destination signs.
MARTA changed terminals of 10 routes from Five Points to South Broad Mall.
MAY
MARTA declared the safest system in the United States by APTA among cities with a population of one million and over.
MARTA staff proposed a 60 cents fare, a $5 weekly and a $21 monthly TransCard beginning July 1.
JUNE
The RideStore moved from 62A Peachtree Street to the new Five Points Station.
Under a $500,000 UMTA grant MARTA provided transportation for the Safe Summer '81 Program.
Sams Crossing plaque unveiled at the Avondale Station.
Labor contract expired.
JULY
Appearing before a Congressional Subcommittee, Board Chairman Dan Pattillo said that MARTA could increase its share of construction cost from the present 20% to between 30% and 40% and front-end fund major projects for the next two years.
SEPTEMBER
West Peachtree Street between 16th Street and Pershing Point closed for busway construction.
The first three Neoplan buses arrived in Atlanta. The buses were part of a $7.2 million 50-bus contract.
Ann Freeman became the first female manager to oversee an operating garage in the history of Atlanta transit.
MARTA broke ground for the Laredo Drive bus maintenance facility.
OCTOBER
For the second year in a row, MARTA operator James L. Boring won the American Public Transit Association (APTA) International Bus Rodeo.
NOVEMBER
Governor George Busbee signed a proclamation commending MARTA for "…the improvements it had brought to the lives of its users, and for the renowned dependability of its service."
DECEMBER
MARTA won the first ETZIE award of the Association of Retired Employees of America "for publicly acknowledging the value of the service rendered by their (MARTA's) retirees."
Revenue service began on the North/South Line from North Avenue in the north to Garnett in the south.
1982
JANUARY
MARTA Operator Majorie Melley was killed while operating Route #23.
MARTA issued $150 million Series C sales tax revenue bonds.
MARCH
Bids opened on 30 additional rail cars with an option for up to 20 more vehicles. Hitachi American, Ltd. and C. Itoh & Co, were the apparent low bidders at $49,266,907.
MAY
MARTA was recognized by the Atlanta business League "for its outstanding program by the utilization of minority businesses."
AUGUST
Testing began on the south Line up to West End Station.
SEPTEMBER
Peachtree Center and West End stations began revenue service.
Buses serving the southwestern part of the city began feeding into the West End Station.
MARTA rejected bids for rail cars and negotiated a contract with Hitachi America Ltd. and C. Itoh & Co. for $39.2 million, some $10 million less than the lowest bid for the contract.
OCTOBER
James L. Boring won the APTA International Bus Roadeo for the third time.
NOVEMBER
To provide more security to MARTA patrons, employees and property, the Authority closed all rest rooms in rail stations except the two at the Five Points Station.
Pre-revenue service, at 6-minute headways, began on the North/South Line from West End to Arts Center.
DECEMBER
MARTA sold the tax benefits on 16 rail cars to the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) for $2,142,072.
Free ride day (December 19)-MARTA offered a free ride day on all buses and trains to attract new riders.
Arts Center and Midtown stations began revenue service.
Artifacts from the Johnsontown community were given t the Atlanta University Center.
1983
JANUARY
Feeder service began in the North Line Corridor.
MARCH
Sales tax extended by 15 years until 2012.
MARTA sold $140 million in sales tax revenue bonds to finance Phases B and C1.
The $9 million Laredo Drive bus facility opened, replacing Pine Street garage.
APRIL
MARTA embarked on "Doraville to Airport by 1988 Campaign" with a request for $457 million in Federal commitment over the next four years.
MAY
Design of Chamblee Station unveiled.
MARTA's Art Council recognized by the Urban Design Commission for its "commitment to provide art in public places."
JUNE
MARTA won the New York Association of Consulting Engineers' Certificate of Engineering Excellence.
MARTA won the 1982 APTA safety award, for the seventh time in the last nine years.
Restrooms re-opened at Avondale and Hightower stations.
The Duet Holdings Lenox Station, Ltd. was awarded a contract for the air rights over the Lenox Station.
JULY
Falcon Flyer fares raised from $2.25 to $2.50 one way and from $4.50 to $5 for round trip.
A $2.5 million Data Center opened.
AUGUST
First rail emergency training provided to management.
Issued $175 million in sales tax revenue bonds.
The Murphee Company signed a 50-year lease to develop MARTA property adjacent to the Arts Center Station.
SEPTEMBER
MARTA exercised option for 20 additional rail cars.
To date, Minority Business Enterprises have received $189 million in contracts with MARTA.
OCTOBER
Fourth entrance to the Peachtree Center Station opened.
Information bus went into service.
Unveiled the design for the East Point Station.
NOVEMBER
MARTA won the American Public Transit Association's Management Innovation Award.
1984
JANUARY
MARTA published a multilingual guide to the system in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
FEBRUARY
According to the EEO annual report, minority and female-owned firms have earned $193.6 million in MARTA contracts since the authority began operation in 1972.
Using a $74,000 grant for UMTA, the Transit Operations Institute held a five-day seminar for women in the transit industry.
MARTA awarded a $14.6 million construction contract to Moseman Construction Company for work along the South Line.
MARCH
Introduced a shuttle bus service between the Arts Center Station and Piedmont Park for major events at the park.
APRIL
Bus service to the Lindbergh Center Station parking lot began although the station will not be in revenue service until December.
A series of community meetings were held on future feeder bus service to stations along the North/ South Line.
MAY
MARTA ordered 20 lift-equipped vans for special services. The vans will be manufactured by Braun Corporation of Winamac, Indiana. Total cost was $350,100.
MARTA sought heirs of persons buried at Nancy Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Some of the graves had to be moved to another part of the cemetery to make way for MARTA's North Line.
JUNE
Received federal grant of $115.8 million, including $7 million for operating assistance and $2.4 million for refurbishing 100 buses.
Opened bid on East Point Station. J.A. Construction/Herman Russell Construction, local joint venture was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $10,498,000.
MARTA declared the safest bus system in the United States by the American Public Transit Association (APTA).
Transrail, a local minority firm, was selected to assemble 40 rapid rail cars manufactured by a Japanese joint venture.
The Board appointed an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged construction deficiencies.
AUGUST
New shuttle bus service between Avondale Station and the Memorial Drive Park/Ride Lot began in September.
Public hearings held for North Line feeder bus conversion.
MARTA installed token vending machines in rail stations beginning in October.
SEPTEMBER
Unveiled design of the Chamblee Station.
OCTOBER
Ridership up 13 percent from 126.3 million in 1983 to 124.1 in 1984.
MARTA settled three and a half- year dispute with the ATU Local #732.
DECEMBER
Unveiled the design of College Park Station.
Opened five stations: Lindbergh Center, Lenox, Brookhaven, Oakland City and Lakewood/F. McPherson, and implemented a shuttle bus service from Lakewood/Ft. McPherson to the airport.
1985
JANUARY
Started North Line feeder bus service.
Route #74 Flat Shoals Ltd. Began service to park/ride lot on Brannen Road in DeKalb County.
FEBRUARY
Awarded a contract for $24.4 million for North Line extension.
Released a 436-page registry of minority and female-owned businesses.
APRIL
Sales tax revenue up 1.4% from March 1984.
Opened bids on a contract for South Line trackway construction.
MAY
The Authority conducted a ridership survey over a three-week period beginning in mid-May.
Received $30.7 million in federal grants for operating assistance, procurement of buses and rail equipment and for facility improvements.
Four months after opening five stations and nine miles of track, rail ridership went up 29%.
Held public hearing on fare options to make up for a $1.6 million shortfall.
In conjunction with the Atlanta Public Safety Department, MARTA conducted a major emergency exercise at the Lindbergh Center station.
JUNE
Began random check on TransCards at rail stations to reduce opportunity for abuse of the cards.
JULY
TransCard prices increased from $21-$25 for monthly cars and from $5 to $6 for weekly passes and began selling discounted tokens at 10 for $5.
AUGUST
Ridership increased 15% during the fourth quarter of 1985 compared to the same period in 1984. Revenue for July also increased by 23% compared to July 1984.
SEPTEMBER
The Authority began charging for parking at rail station parking lots.
OCTOBER
Vandalism cost MARTA about $500,000 a year and the Authority began an anti-vandalism campaign offering rewards of up to $500.
NOVEMBER
Bids opened up for the purchase of 67 new buses and parts. The lowest bid $9,293,668 was from Flexible Corporation of Delaware, Ohio.
MARTA was co-sponsor of a national symposium entitled "Public Transit and Minorities: A New Awareness.
DECEMBER
MARTA refinanced previously issued bonds and in the process will save $30.5 million over the next 26 years.
1986
JANUARY
Board approved contracts for the construction of the Chamblee Station.
MARTA earned $1.2 million from a "safe harbor" lease.
Increased security in rail stations.
Board approved construction contract for the Airport Station.
Contract for the construction of the College Park Station approved.
FEBRUARY
Broke ground for the Chamblee Station.
MARCH
Committee of 50 was created to chart the future of the Authority.
Public hearings were held for bus route changes along the South Line.
MAY
Board approved retaining the 60 cents fare for another year.
Begins final phase on Airport Station construction.
JUNE
Opened new Virginia Avenue underpass in College Park.
MARTA adopted a $151 million budget.
JULY
250,000 MARTA patrons rode free on Fourth of July. The free ride day was underwritten by the Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
AUGUST
Opened a branch of the DeKalb Library at the Avondale Station.
The Division of Police Services was created and a new chief appointed.
East Point Station opened-South Line extended by about two miles.
Committee of 50 held first meeting.
SEPTEMBER
Broke ground for new headquarters building next to Lindbergh Center Station.
OCTOBER
Police launched special patrol to increase visibility in high volume stations.
MARTA received $65.7 million in federal grants for North/South extension of the rail line.
Expanded parking lot at Avondale Station.
Created the division of Facilities Maintenance within the Department of Transit Operations.
1987
FEBRUARY
Reorganized the police department.
MARCH
MARTA held public hearing to consider alternate transit plans for the elderly and handicapped.
APRIL
Board survey revealed that the overwhelming majority of MARTA customers feel secure and comfortable on buses, trains and in rail stations.
MAY
MARTA adopted a new policy which required that 50 percent of the bus fleet becomes fully accessible by 1992 and the entire bus system by the year 2000.
JUNE
Regular fare increased to 75 cents, introduced discount tokens, weekly and monthly TransCards raised to $7 and $28, respectively.
AUGUST
MARTA unveiled the design of the Bankhead Station on the Proctor Creek Line.
SEPTEMBER
In accordance with the new policy to make the system fully accessible to the handicapped and elderly by the year 2000, MARTA purchased 49 lift-equipped buses.
DECEMBER
Chamblee Station began revenue service; Chamblee is to serve as the temporary end of the Northeast Line until the construction of the Doraville Station in 1992.
1988
FEBRUARY
Began assigning lift-equipped buses to specific routes.
JUNE
MARTA Board adopted policy on overnight parking at rail station lots.
Opened College Park and Airport Stations. System now had 32 miles of track and 29 stations.
AUGUST
Began bus service to the Northlake area of DeKalb County.
SEPTEMBER
Airport Station dedicated to Rep. John W. Greer. Chamblee Station dedicated to Prof. M.E. Smith and Mr. Harold L. Smith.
OCTOBER
Held community meeting to discuss rail station locations along the North Line extension.
NOVEMBER
Broke ground for Bankhead Station.
DECEMBER
MARTA unveiled Doraville Station design - station scheduled to begin revenue service in 1992.
MARTA engineers modified the circuitry on the Authority's rail cars to allow more coasting as recommended by the Carneigie Mellon study several years ago. The result was $400,000 a year savings for MARTA.
1989
MARCH
Began the "Flowers Express" to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in conjunction with the opening of the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory.
MARTA Police Sergeant Martha Jenkins received the Intown Extra community service award for 1989.
APRIL
A community meeting was held in the North Springs High School to discuss alternatives studied under the North Atlanta Corridor Alternatives Analysis/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
MAY
The Board of Directors decided to retain the 85 cents regular fare for another year.
MARTA won the American Public Transit Association's award for 1988 as the safest bus system in America.
JUNE
Georgia Power agreed to co-sponsor MARTA's Free Ride Day on the Fourth of July.
Construction contract for the Bankhead Station awarded to Ruby Collins.
Underground opening boosted MARTA ridership. One million people flocked to the new facility during the first week of operation and a significant number of those customers used MARTA.
UMTA/MARTA co-sponsored a one-day Atlanta Development Symposium.
JULY
MARTA, Georgia Power and WSB-TV co-sponsored the second Fourth of July Free Ride Day on all regular routes of the system.
Cobb Community Transit began service to Arts Center Station.
1989 Bus Roadeo held at the east parking lot of the Lakewood/Fort McPherson Station.
Bids opened on the design and construction of Kensington Station and Stolte Industrial Division was the apparent low bidder.
Dr. Clarence Coleman, a noted education and social worker, died July 7th. Dr. Coleman, 70, represented the City of Atlanta on the MARTA Board of Directors.
AUGUST
A panel of federal officials held hearings on urban/suburban issues.
Bids opened on the Doraville Station. Underground Construction Company was the apparent low bidder on the contract.
SEPTEMBER
MARTA received a $69 million federal grant for the construction of extensions to the East and Northeast lines.
OCTOBER
Doraville Station contract awarded to Underground Construction Company.
MARTA breaks ground for Kensington Station.
NOVEMBER
Groundbreaking ceremony was held for Doraville Station.
Trolley bus service began in the Peachtree corridor from Arts Center Station to the State Capitol.
DECEMBER
Design of the Buckhead Station unveiled during a regular meeting of the Board Development Committee.
