Georgia

No Picture
Transit

MARTA won’t raise fare in 2014

June 11, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA will not raise its fare under a Fiscal Year 2014 budget the MARTA Board of Directors approved on Monday. The budget, which takes effect July 1, includes $426.9 million for operations and $430.5 million for capital programs, including $141.1 million for debt service. The regional transit provider originally planned to increase its base fare from $2.50 to $2.75 during the upcoming fiscal year and would have included increases in 2015, 2016 and 2018 fiscal years. MARTA officials say the approved budget includes a five-year strategy to stabilize the agency’s finances, improve employee morale and the overall customer

No Picture
Transit

MARTA investigating May 23 bus, train wreck

May 24, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

MARTA is investigating a May 23 accident involving a bus on Route 123 that was struck by a freight train at a railroad crossing in the City of Decatur. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the accident which occurred about 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of South McDonough and East Howard Avenue. MARTA Operator Donna McMullen was travelling northbound with four passengers aboard when she reported the bus became “stuck” as it proceeded across the tracks. As a westbound train approached, McMullen followed MARTA emergency protocol and safely evacuated the bus. The ensuing impact caused serious damage to the bus

No Picture
Transit

MARTA Ridership Jumps 90 Percent for Final Four

April 10, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — During one of Atlanta’s biggest and most exciting weekends in recent memory, MARTA’s rail ridership spiked dramatically as large numbers of hometown customers and out-of-town visitors skipped the traffic jams and instead chose transit to attend the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and a host of other events. Beginning Friday April 5th when the Final Four events began until after the championship game on Monday, April 8th, MARTA saw an estimated 78 percent increase in rail ridership. During that period, there were about 1,140,000 total rail passenger boardings; about 500,000 more than on average days when no such events

No Picture
Miscellaneous

Hundreds turn out for Southern Museum’s inaugural Museum Night

March 25, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

KENNESAW, Ga. — The ominous threat of bad weather wasn’t enough to deter the more than 300 people who turned out to the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History to help celebrate its 10th birthday. During the inaugural Museum Night, guests had the rare chance to climb aboard The General locomotive made famous during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase. Visitors also partook in a multitude of family-friendly activities – including a railroad camp, slot cars and an operating model train layout – and could view a pair of antique vehicles on display – a 1940 Packard and

No Picture
Miscellaneous

Climb aboard the General during Southern Museum’s ‘Museum Night’

March 21, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History is celebrating its 10th birthday with an evening of family-friendly activities aimed at offering visitors a unique look at the museum and its exhibits. The inaugural Museum Night: Trains, Planes and Cars, scheduled for 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, will feature an evening of family- and history-centered activities in addition to providing visitors an up-close look at museum artifacts. The museum will be closing at 3 p.m. on March 23. During the event, guests will have the rare opportunity to climb aboard the General locomotive made famous during the Civil

No Picture
Transit

MARTA Pursues New Revenues with Website Advertising Pilot Program

March 19, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA’s website has made its debut in the advertising world. The Authority has launched a 12-month advertising pilot program on www.itsmarta.com to explore a new source of revenue for the transit system. The pilot is estimated to generate around $1,000 to $5,000 per month for MARTA at no cost to the Authority. “The website advertising pilot project provides a great opportunity for us to tap into a new revenue stream,” said MARTA General Manager/CEO Keith T. Parker. “This program is just one of the many ways we are working to develop a more sustainable business model for MARTA

Transit

Atlanta Streetcar Project Reaches Major Milestone with Track Delivery

March 9, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Atlanta Streetcar project reached a key milestone this week with the delivery of the first section of track on Edgewood Avenue. Crews lowered seven sections of rail into the track bed near the intersection of Bell Street and Edgewood Avenue and will continue the installation east along Edgewood Avenue towards Jackson Street. This is the first time in more than 60 years that Atlanta has had streetcar tracks. “Today’s construction activity signifies an important step forward for the Atlanta Streetcar project and underscores the city’s commitment to build a new, world-class transit system that will benefit residents, businesses and

No Picture
Miscellaneous

Huge Turnout for Southern Museum’s Trains, Trains, Trains

January 20, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

KENNESAW, Ga. — More than 2,200 people turned out Saturday for the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History’s third annual Trains, Trains, Trains event. Museum visitors explored model train layouts, vendors selling train-themed wares and various activities geared toward families. “This event is so much fun because kids have the opportunity to get up and close with trains,” said Dr. Richard Banz, the museum’s executive director. “We’re grateful to everyone who came out, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our future events, including next year’s Trains, Trains, Trains.” The museum’s next major event, “Museum Night,” is