The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors today adopted the Authority’s Fiscal Year 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets. The $1.55 billion budget includes $652 million in net operating funds and $901.8 million for capital programming. 

MARTA continues to show fiscal responsibility, balancing the budget for a fourteenth straight year without a fare increase, and reconfirming AAA and AA+ bond ratings. The budget reduces costs while prioritizing projects that enhance safety, improve cleanliness, and increase service reliability, including new trains, a redesigned bus network, station rehabilitation, and a new fare collection system. 

“The next fiscal year will be one of incredible improvement, with systemwide once-in-a-generation investments that ensure a safer, cleaner, more reliable MARTA,” said General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “Customers will see new state-of-the-art railcars, a better, more flexible Breeze system, and an entirely redesigned bus network that increases service frequency.” 

MARTA derives a significant part of its operating budget from sales tax revenue which is forecasted to be over $400 million in FY 26, with passenger revenue and federal assistance being the next largest sources of operating revenue at a combined $155 million. The operating budget assumes a three percent salary increase for non-represented employees, and fully funds the collective bargaining agreement obligations. Additionally, it accounts for an increase in healthcare and pension costs and includes a net reduction of 191 positions, many of which are vacant. 

MARTA’s Capital Improvement Program continues to advance, with projects in the More MARTA Atlanta Program under construction such as the Rapid A-Line in Summerhill and the Five Points Station Transformation, and those in various stages of planning and development such as the Bankhead Station platform extension and Cleveland/Metropolitan Avenue Arterial Rapid Transit (ART). The More MARTA Clayton budget prioritizes Rapid lines in Southlake and along SR54, and advancement of the Clayton County Operations and Multipurpose Facility and Justice Center transit hub projects. 

The Capital budget includes $115 million for the new trains, the first of which will enter service in FY 26, $104 million for the implementation of the new fare system, and close to $50 million for the ongoing Station Rehabilitation Program, a multi-year project that will enhance safety, cleanliness, and reliability, and the overall customer experience at all 38 rail stations. 

 “We had to tighten our belt this year, but we remain committed to growing ridership and making good on commitments to our jurisdictional partners,” said MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide. “By keeping safe, clean, and reliable as our north star, we were able to focus on necessary system improvements while remaining good stewards of public money.”

To view MARTA’s FY 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets in detail visit MARTA.