GA Coronavirus: MARTA Loses Riders, Considering Credit Options

ATLANTA, GA — With non-essential businesses and schools temporarily closed in Atlanta, and events canceled, MARTA says it has seen a drastic reduction in ridership. As of Monday, there has been a 67 percent reduction on trains and a 55 percent reduction on buses compared to a standard weekday, said MARTA Spokeswoman Stephany Fisher.

Cities like Chicago have already announced plans to issue refunds on Chicago Transit Authority 7-Day and 30-Day passes, reports BlockClubChicago.

Fisher tells Patch that MARTA is looking into credit options for riders this week.

“MARTA offers several different kinds of monthly passes, some through employers at a reduced rate and some through Breeze machines or Breeze.com,” she said. “We are working through credit options this week and will communicate any fare adjustments soon.”

MARTA is also reviewing its service option and according to Fisher, “may implement reduced service in the near future.” It would reflect the lower demand and help reduce the risk of exposure to all frontline employees.

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MARTA announced Friday that it has joined national transit agencies and transit supporting organizations in urging U.S. Congressional leadership to provide at least $16 billion in immediate direct financial assistance to ensure the continuation of transit service through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

The costs incurred from additional cleaning supplies and the decrease in ridership is impacting MARTA’s bottom line, said the transit agency.

“With decreased farebox and sales tax revenue, we will be unable to sustain full bus, rail, and paratransit service for those customers who rely on us,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker in a public statement. “MARTA is strongly urging Congress to provide additional money for immediate operational and cleaning assistance to ensure we can keep providing this essential service, while anticipating the need for future financial support to ensure the long-term fiscal health of public transit.”

Less riders means more effective social distancing for transit customers who must ride, according to MARTA. The drastic reduction or elimination of service could, however, “cut off health care and other essential workers from jobs, causing further economic harm.”

During the most recent economic recession of 2008-2009, MARTA said it was forced to eliminate more than half of its bus service, and train arrivals grew to 30 minutes apart at certain times of the day.

MARTA said it’s prepared to “weather this storm” short term thanks to seven years of balanced budgets and a $230 million reserve fund.

“The length and depth of this crisis may necessitate more federal relief,” said the agency.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ordered a 14-day stay at home order for the city of Atlanta Monday night.

Globally, more than 392,000 people have been infected and more than 17,000 people have died from the COVID-19 virus, Johns Hopkins reported as of Tuesday. Of that total, more than 81,400 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 46,000 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. There have been 593 deaths in the U.S., including 32 in Georgia, that have been tied to the virus outbreak.

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