The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL) and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and in partnership with counties and municipalities along the I-285 corridor, will hold public meetings on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and Thursday, Dec. 5, to gather feedback on the preliminary plans for the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study. These meetings offer commuters and residents the chance to learn and share their opinions about proposed transit services along the northern arc of I-285, one of the busiest corridors in Georgia.

The I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study explores the potential to expand transit access using GDOT’s planned Express Lanes along the northern portion of I-285 between the H.E. Holmes and Indian Creek MARTA stations. Public input is needed to refine these plans, which seek to offer reliable and flexible transit options. Meeting details are as follows:

• Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024
  5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

  Smyrna Community Center

  1250 Powder Springs St., Smyrna, Ga. 30080

  Accessible via CobbLinc Route 25

• Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024
  11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

  Hampton Inn Perimeter Center

  769 Hammond Dr. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30328

  Accessible via MARTA Red Line, Route 150, and Xpress Route 401

• Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024
  5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

  Clarkston Community Center

  3701 College Ave., Clarkston, Ga. 30021

  Accessible via MARTA Routes 120, 125

For those unable to attend in person, meeting materials can be viewed virtually at www.i285expresslanestransit.com.

Projections within the study area indicate a 42 percent population increase and a 33 percent growth in jobs by 2050, underscoring the need for enhanced transit solutions.

“The I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study is a pivotal step in shaping how we address the region's growing need for expanded and reliable public transportation,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “By tapping into the funded Express Lanes infrastructure investments already planned for I-285, we have an opportunity to provide efficient transit solutions that benefit residents and commuters alike.”

GDOT’s I-285 Top End Express Lanes project will add two new, barrier-separated express lanes in each direction along I-285, running parallel to the existing general-purpose lanes. Georgia’s Express Lanes provide drivers with the option to bypass traffic congestion for a fee, offering more reliable travel times. Transit services can use all Georgia Express Lanes without charge.

In addition to GDOT’s ongoing work with the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project, the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study explores ways to best utilize the GDOT-funded Top End Express Lanes project to enhance transit access. This study will identify needed improvements, such as optimal ramp and station locations, along with strategies for future funding and project implementation.

To date, the study has evaluated critical performance metrics to develop initial plans, and public input will play a vital role in refining these design concepts. Feedback gathered from the public meetings will help advance the I-285 Express Lanes Transit Study, ensuring that the final plans are tailored to meet the region’s future transit needs.

Participants are encouraged to submit their comments by Dec. 18, 2024, either in-person at the scheduled public meetings or online at www.i285expresslanestransit.com. To leave comments online, scroll to the bottom of the page for the submission form.

To learn more, visit www.i285expresslanestransit.com.