MARTA announces plan to replace bus and paratransit fleet

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) plans to replace 25 percent of its bus and paratransit fleet over the next six years, MARTA announced in a press release.
Rolling out in March, the new fleet will introduce 387 buses, which will feature Wi-Fi, high definition security cameras, high capacity heating and air conditioning, including heated entry and exit floors to prevent icing, and mobile ticketing, the release said.
There will also be 211 new Mobility vans, featuring three wheelchair positions, non-slip flooring and ambulatory seats with three-point seatbelts.
“We are excited to introduce these state-of-the-art buses and vans to MARTA’s fleet,” MARTA Chief Operating Officer Rich Krisak said. “The vehicles are safer, more comfortable, and feature upgrades that make the ride more enjoyable for passengers and operators.”
Mr. Krisak, MARTA interim GM/CEO Elizabeth O’Neill, MARTA Board of Directors Fulton County representative Alicia Ivey and other MARTA representatives will host a ribbon-cutting event held at the Five Points Station, on the Alabama Street side, on Monday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. A bus and Mobility van will be on site for touring.
The new vehicles were paid for with the local sales tax collected in Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton Counties, as well as the City of Atlanta.