MARTA prepares for college championship crowd
As Georgia and Alabama go head-to-head in this year’s College Football National Championship, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will provide more transportation options for fans. In anticipation of large crowds, MARTA will offer additional rail service beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8 until 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, according to a MARTA press release.
The game begins at 8 p.m. on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a free halftime concert by Kendrick Lamar at Centennial Olympic Park. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-game show to follow at 7:30.
Several events will also take place downtown in the days leading up to the game, including Playoff Fan Central, the Championship Tailgate, and Playoff Playlist Live!, which features daily concerts at Centennial Olympic Park.
According to the press release, MARTA’s rail service will operate on a weekday schedule on Sunday, Jan. 7 with trains arriving more frequently. On gameday, Monday, Jan. 8, all rail lines will provide service with more frequency and additional trains will be added as needed.
MARTA recommends that fans purchase a round-trip ticket at the beginning of your trip to avoid long lines on the return. The last trains will depart at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, but MARTA will clear all stations before the last run to ensure no one is stranded.
In the release, MARTA reminds everyone to “remain vigilant, be aware of your surroundings, and if you see something suspicious, say something.”
Download MARTA’s See & Say app before heading out. Riders are encouraged to visit www.itsmarta.com for detailed rail and bus schedules and follow @MARTASERVICE on Twitter for service updates and announcements.