Taking the "mass" out of transit in Atlanta

[marmar]

from the ATL Journal-Constitution:




With service cuts going into effect Saturday, MARTA riders -- and their employers -- must come to terms with significant changes in routes and schedules.

-- Many MARTA bus stops -- 2,700 of 11,500 -- are plastered with notices that they will soon serve no buses.

-- Passengers who ride the train before 6 a.m. on weekends have done that for the last time, according to MARTA.

-- Customer service offices, bathrooms, information booths, lost and found and a host of other services on Friday are seeing their last day of longer hours.

Across the metro area, people who depend on MARTA are bracing, as the agency lifts the knife on 10 percent of bus service and 14 percent of rail service. Pass fare increases and the final phase-out of tokens happen at the beginning of October. Of MARTA's 142,000 daily passengers, the agency estimates 14 percent won't be in easy walking distance anymore.

Bethlehem Mekonnen, Joel Gerber and Rodney Poitier don’t know one another, but their lives are changing because of what starts Saturday. Thinking of that day, they and other MARTA patrons hold their heads in their hands, or frown and shrug, or snap. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/marta-cuts-roll-out-620232.html