Those who plan to use Atlanta's primary public transportation system on the day of a planned demolition may need to plan ahead, officials announced on Monday.
MARTA confirmed that it will be suspending all rail service west of Five Points Station in Atlanta after normal operations at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 20. The move will be in preparation for the implosion of the Georgia Dome around 7:30 a.m. that day.
"A portion of MARTA's train tunnels lay almost directly under the implosion site, situated just west of downtown Atlanta, and two rail stations - Dome and Vine City - wit within the blast safety zone," a statement from MARTA read. "Both stations will close to all rail, bus and parking services during the event."
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MARTA plans to begin offering three bus shuttles to connect passengers to Five Points Station beginning at 4:30 a.m.
The Blue Line will run east and west from Five Points Station to Hamilton E. Holmes with stops parallel to or at MARTA rail stations.
The Green Line will run east and west along the Proctor Creek Line to Bankhead Highway.
An express bus line - the purple line - will provide a nonstop ride between Five Points and Hamilton E. Holmes. Buses on the Blue and Green lines will run about 10 minutes apart. The Purple Line express bus line will run every 5 to 7 minutes.
Authorities also said that Mobility vehicles will be stations at the Walmart in the Historic Westside Village at 835 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Those vehicles will serve to help transition riders between the Blue and Green bus lines.
"Riders can expect normal Red/Gold weekday rail service and rail service east of Five Points," MARTA's statement read. "Bus services will also continue without suspension with one exception - Route 94 Northside Drive - which will follow a special events route around the implosion safety zone."
Temporary bus service is free and riders will get complimentary round-trip tickets from MARTA to be used for a future fare.
Blue and Green lines will remain closed with express bus services filling in until the westerly rail lines and stations pass safety checks.
Both MARTA staff and MARTA Army volunteers will be on-hand to help commuters during this unusual transition.
