ATLANTA — Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) trains will temporarily bypass its stop at Brookhaven Station in the coming months due to construction.
According to a release, this will be happening from Oct. 7 to Nov. 15 so that construction crews can replace the 40-year-old pavers on the rail station platform. Rail service on the Gold Line will operate as scheduled but the trains will not stop at Brookhaven Station.
MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said that the pavers have been repaired over the years but that it's time to replace them before it becomes a safety hazard and creates accessibility challenges.
"The pavers on the platform at Brookhaven are in poor condition," Greenwood said.
Since it's just platform work, trains are able to travel through the station but will not stop. MARTA will be providing a bus shuttle service between Brookhaven and Lenox Station to the south and Brookhaven and Chamblee Station to the north. The local bus service (Routes 8, 25, 47, 110) will run as scheduled.
If you typically park at Brookhaven and take the train, MARTA suggests parking at a nearby rail station and catching the train from there. There is free daily parking at Lenox, Chamblee and Doraville stations. If you usually walk to Brookhaven or transfer from the bus system, the bus shuttles will take you to nearby Lenox or Chamblee to connect you to the rail system.
This six-week skip stop at the station reduces the construction timeline by almost two years and decreases project costs by $9 million, MARTA said. During this time, crews will be demolishing the existing flooring, installing new tile flooring, installing new tactile warning strips on platform edges and installing new expansion joint benches and trash cans. Concrete will also be pressure washed and sealed, with a graffiti-resistant coating applied.
There's more work planned for the station, including the rehabilitation of the concourse, canopy and wall repairs, sign upgrades and installing new SMART restrooms that use technology to ensure spaces are clean and safe. Previous work done includes parking lot repaving, Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) access improvements and roof replacement on the traction power substation, MARTA said.
The full station project will cost $13 million through the 2027 fiscal year, according to a release. This is part of MARTA's multi-year, $1 billion Station Rehabilitation Program to improve and enhance all 38 rail stations.