ATLANTA — Work to give MARTA’s airport station a major facelift is ahead of schedule, but the station will likely remain closed for six weeks.
The station at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport closed April 8 for a six-week renovation project. Passengers are getting used to taking vans and buses to the airport instead of trains.
Kenya Taylor actually prefers a ride in a roomy charter bus.
“It was much quicker than I thought,” said Taylor. “Originally they said 12 minutes between shuttles. It was fast, it was comfortable, it was clean and quiet.”
11Alive got a behind-the-scenes look at the work progressing behind walls that are temporarily off limits to the public. The rails that typically carry trains are covered by scaffolding.
Crews are removing and replacing the tile where passengers typically walk. There’s been significant progress in the downstairs area around the turnstiles. Work is moving a little slower in the upstairs area around the train platform.
“The tile is a little bit heavier so it’s a bit slower,” said Project Manager Jermaine White.
White says work is ahead of schedule, but MARTA will stick to their plan to keep the airport station closed for six weeks.
“Instead of opening early we’ll extend the amount of work that we can do to get things done,” said White. “So whatever we can do in that six-week window.”
There will still be major work between now and the end of next year to complete the facelift. Most of it will take place while the trains are running.
For now, while scaffolding sits on the tracks, there are vans and buses instead of trains. And people like Kenya Taylor who don’t mind one bit.