Memorial Drive Arterial Bus Rapid Transit
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Description
Traffic congestion on arterial roads has worsened as population and development has expanded throughout the metropolitan area. This congestion significantly impacts the efficient operation of local bus services. In an effort to improve bus service performance and overall quality along these congested arterial roadways, MARTA has identified several corridors that could benefit from the implementation of arterial bus rapid transit (BRT). Arterial BRT refers to bus operations on arterial roadways that incorporate advanced traffic signal and geometric treatments, resulting in bus travel time savings. Such treatments include operation of buses in exclusive lanes, provision of queue-jumper lanes to allow buses to move to the front of traffic lines, implementation of signal priority systems that allow buses to advance through intersections ahead of regular traffic, and aesthetically enhanced bus stations.
MARTA is working with DeKalb County and the Georgia Department of Transportation to implement the first form of arterial BRT in the Atlanta region along a portion of the Memorial Drive corridor in DeKalb County. The Memorial Drive BRT will feature two service operations:
- Express Service with stops at a few of the bus stations operating between the Kensington rail station and a proposed park-ride facility at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Goldsmith Road, and
- Limited Service with regular stops at all bus stations on the route operating between Kensington rail station and a terminus at the intersection of Mountain Industrial Boulevard and East Ponce De Leon Avenue.
The Memorial Drive BRT service will employ queue-jumper lanes at the most congested intersections, as well as a signal priority system to reduce wait times at all intersections. The service will feature specially branded buses serving enhanced bus stations along the corridor. The operation will feature off-bus fare payment with the MARTA Breeze Card, real time passenger information, and an aesthetically pleasing station design.
In fulfillment of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements,
the Federal Transit Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) for the project in December 2006. The FONSI determination was
made following the completion of an Environmental Assessment document by MARTA. The
project has now advanced to the engineering design and right-of-way acquisition
phases of the project development process. Construction of the BRT
stations will be done in conjunction with the streetscaping done by DeKalb
County. Revenue service expected to commence in fall 2010!
Key Facts
- Express Service Length: 5.0 Miles
- Limited Stop Service Length: 6.5 Miles
- Total Number of Stations: 9
Current Documents and Information
Alignment Map
- Click here for a map of the Memorial Drive Arterial Bus Rapid Transit Alignment.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment (EA)
The FONSI and EA Report provides detailed information on how the proposed transit project impacts the natural, physical, and socio-economic environment of the surrounding area. The FONSI determination by the Federal Transit Administration indicates that there are no adverse environmental impacts as outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The document is presented as a whole and by chapters for your convenience.
Click on the individual chapters to view them:
Click here for the entire FONSI and EA Document. (file size 11.9 MB)
To view the PDF files, Adobe Acrobat Reader required.
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