Dive Brief:
- The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority expects new trains, a new bus rapid transit line and station and other improvements to be ready in time for the city to host eight matches of the FIFA World Cup this summer, between June 15 and July 15.
- MARTA said in a Jan. 1 news release that it has planned for “safe, clean, reliable, and sustained operations” during the month-long period of World Cup matches and events.
- For the safety of soccer fans and everyday riders, MARTA said it will increase the presence of police officers, transit ambassadors and safety teams during the event.
Dive Insight:
Atlanta is one of 11 U.S. cities to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with three cities in Mexico and two in Canada.
“This year is one of the most consequential and exciting in our history,” MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt said in a statement. “We are advancing an unprecedented number of high-impact projects that respond directly to customer feedback.”
These are among the projects expected to be ready by this summer:
- New, open-gangway trains are undergoing testing. Multiple train sets are expected to be in service in time for the World Cup.
- The region’s first bus rapid transit line will connect downtown Atlanta to the Capitol Gateway and the Atlanta BeltLine.
- An overhaul of MARTA’s bus network is set to go into effect on April 18, providing service at 15-minute intervals to three times as many metro Atlanta residents. The new network features simpler routes with fewer transfers.
- The Five Points Station in downtown Atlanta will get safer, cleaner platforms, including new lighting, flooring and ceilings.
- A contactless payment system will allow customers to tap a bank card or mobile wallet at the faregate or farebox.
“Whether you are a daily commuter, special events rider, or a visitor arriving for the World Cup, you will experience a safer, cleaner, and more reliable MARTA beginning in 2026,” Hunt said.
The tournament begins June 11 in Mexico, with the first match in the U.S. on June 13 in Santa Clara, California. The tournament concludes in Miami on July 18.
