Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority or GRTA (pronounced like the name "Greta") is a government agency in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was set up under former governor of Georgia Roy Barnes, in order to address mobility, air quality and land use and how they relate to the transportation needs of metro Atlanta, including both roads and public transit. It came about in large part because the numerous cities and counties in the region could not effectively (or would not at all) work with each other to achieve a comprehensive solution to the area's traffic woes, and increasing summertime smog problem.

"Xpress" Regional Commuter Coach Service

GRTA, in partnership with 12 metropolitan Atlanta counties, has started to operate "Xpress", metropolitan Atlanta's first truly regional commuter transit bus system Fact|date=February 2007. As of July1, 2008, 27 "Xpress" routes are operating. Unless noted, service is provided by a private operator under contract to GRTA. Service hours are from roughly 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m weekdays with most service being rush hours only.

Xpress routes

*400 Cumming to North Springs MARTA/Sandy Springs MARTA/Dunwoody MARTA/Downtown Atlanta
*408 Johns Creek to Doraville MARTA
*410 Discover Mills to Lindbergh MARTA*
*412 Discover Mills to Midtown Atlanta*
*418 Snellville to Downtown Atlanta*
*420 Conyers to Downtown Atlanta
*421 Conyers to Midtown Atlanta
*422 Panola Road to Downtown Atlanta
*423 East Conyers/Panola Road to Midtown Atlanta
*425 East Conyers to Downtown Atlanta
*428 Panola Road to Perimeter Center
*430 McDonough to Downtown/Midtown Atlanta
*431 Stockbridge to Midtown Atlanta
*432 Stockbridge to Downtown Atlanta
*440 Tara Boulevard (Atlanta Motor Speedway, Clayton County Justice Center) to Downtown Atlanta
*441 Clayton County Justice Center to Midtown Atlanta
*442 Riverdale to Downtown Atlanta
*450 Newnan to Downtown Atlanta
*455 Union City to Downtown Atlanta
*460 Douglasville to Downtown Atlanta
*461 Douglasville to Midtown Atlanta
*470 Hiram/Powder Springs to Downtown Atlanta**
*475 Austell/Six Flags to Downtown Atlanta**
*477 Hiram/Powder Springs to Midtown Atlanta**
*480 Acworth to Downtown Atlanta**
*481 Town Center to Midtown Atlanta**
*490 Canton to Downtown Atlanta

* Route is operated by, and as a part of, Gwinnett County Transit
** Route is operated by, and as a part of, Cobb Community Transit

Fares

As of 2006, GRTA Xpress fares are as follows:
*One-way: $3.00
*Round-trip: $5.00
*20-ride pass: $45.00
*40-ride pass: $85.00
*31-day pass: $80.00On off-peak runs and reverse commute runs (those heading in out of Atlanta in mornings, inbound evenings), the fare is halved to $1.50 one-way, $2.50 round-trip and $40 for a 31-day pass. Free transfers are available between GRTA and MARTA via a reciprocal fare agreement.

Future plans

Originally at full system implementation, "Xpress" had planned to operate 27 routes traversing 12 metro area counties. However due to the popularity of its bus service (overcrowding on routes has become commonplace) the agency has already reached this goal. A second expansion phase is now being implemented to have 47 routes in operation by the 2013 fiscal year. These routes will connect the outlying suburbs with each other and downtown Atlanta. Though most routes go to downtown Atlanta, some routes terminate or make stops at MARTA rail transit stations along the route.

External links

* [http://www.grta.org GRTA website]
* [http://www.xpressga.com "Xpress" website]
* [http://www.itsmarta.com MARTA website]
* [http://www.cobbdot.org/cct.htm CCT website]
* [http://www.gctransit.com GCT website]