The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Board of Directors has adopted its fiscal 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets.
The more than $1.5 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. Officials said 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,” General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said. “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 portion of its operating budget from sales tax revenue, which is forecasted to exceed $400 million in fiscal year 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 3% 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. It 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 Rapidlines in Southlake and along State Route 54 and the 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 fiscal 2026, $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,” MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide said. “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.”
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