ATLANTA — MARTA travelers trying to leave the airport were met with delays on the first day of the MARTA Airport Station closure.
The Airport Station is temporarily closed for six weeks, from April 8 until May 19, as MARTA renovates the concourse and platform levels. Currently, MARTA riders will go to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by taking a bus shuttle between College Park Station and the North Terminal Lower Level, downstairs from North Baggage Claim.
“It was very well organized, so it was not difficult,” said one passenger after she stepped off the shuttle bus and was walking into the airport. “Luckily there was not that much of a line.”
However, for passengers leaving the airport, they did have to deal with a line.
“The bus here broke down,” said one passenger as he pointed to the bus behind him while boarding another bus. “It went well this morning but not so well this afternoon.”
Passengers that planned to take MARTA to leave the airport were audibly and visibly frustrated on the first day of the new temporary change.
“Well I’m not pleased with it, but it’s what we’re going to have to deal with for the next month and a half,” said the passenger, adding that he was tired and ready to be home.
11Alive spoke with more people toward the back of the line.
“I’ve been standing here almost 30 minutes,” said one man who was only about a third of the way through the line.
He added he takes MARTA every day and was in a rush today to get back.
“Because my wife was in an accident. I’m trying to get home. She had a seizure and hit a guard rail. I’m trying to get home,” he said. “And look what’s going on here.”
He called the line and delay "a tragedy."
“It really is, you know? Why do we have to stand and wait in line? All of these buses lined up here. Nobody is on this bus here. They have the line going all the way around the corner here. It is out of control. They need to do better, much better,” the passenger said as he waited for the line to move.
11Alive asked MARTA about the delays people had to deal with on Monday.
MARTA issued a statement sayin the following:
"One of our shuttle buses had a mechanical issue and another bus that belonged to a different shuttle company was occupying one of our two allotted spots at the airport, causing the delay.
Customers traveling TO the airport should still allow an extra 30 minutes when taking MARTA. Customers traveling FROM the airport, we ask that you be patient as we remove the disabled bus and locate the other bus company to move their vehicle so we can get back to efficiently moving people between the airport and College Park Station.
Additionally, we are preparing more signage and working out any other kinks that surfaced during the first day of shuttle service."