MARTA launches NextGen bus redesign and new Breeze card; seniors advised to request replacements

Rod Frierson, DeKalb County’s MARTA board representative, briefed District 4 residents on a major service overhaul that began the morning of the meeting and on a contactless fare‑payment change.

Frierson said the systemwide NextGen bus network redesign condenses and reroutes lines to increase frequency on major corridors, with some routes moving to roughly 15‑minute headways and improved weekend service. He cautioned that some routes were discontinued and urged riders to scan posted QR codes or check MARTA’s website to locate their new route.

To address areas that lose fixed routes, MARTA is rolling out MARTA Reach, a demand‑response service organized into 12 zones that will pick riders up and deliver them to a nearby transit stop or station. Frierson also said MARTA plans to bring paratransit (Mobility) back in‑house at the start of the next fiscal year to improve performance after quality issues with contracted providers.

Fare payment is changing: MARTA introduced a contactless Breeze card with an embedded chip and will allow tap‑to‑pay options via debit cards, Apple Pay and other contactless wallets. Frierson said old Breeze cards will be discontinued and advised seniors and reduced‑fare cardholders to contact MARTA Mobility to request the new Breeze card so any funds can be transferred; he emphasized that riders must take action to get a mailed replacement if they do not use digital payment options.

Why it matters: The NextGen redesign aims to improve frequency and reliability for many riders, while MARTA Reach is meant to maintain access where fixed routes change. The Breeze card and tap‑to‑pay options modernize fare payment but require an outreach effort to ensure seniors and reduced‑fare users keep access and benefit from transferred balances.

Practical details: Residents were directed to MARTA signage, QR codes at stops and MARTA customer service lines for route maps and Breeze card replacement; Frierson said that reduced‑fare eligibility must be applied for through MARTA’s established process.