By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | May 1, 2026
MARTA and its regional transit partners are entering a major transition this weekend as the new Better Breeze fare payment system becomes the standard across the network.
Riders on MARTA, ATL Xpress, CobbLinc, Connect Douglas, and Ride Gwinnett must switch to the updated system by Saturday, May 2, when new fare gates begin closing and fare payment becomes mandatory.
The rollout marks MARTA’s largest fare technology upgrade in more than a decade.
Installation is still underway at many stations, prompting MARTA to leave older fare gates open temporarily to maintain access. However, the agency stresses that open gates do not mean free rides. Beginning May 2, all riders must pay using one of the newly approved methods.
Old Breeze cards, paper tickets, and the Breeze Mobile 2.0 app will no longer be accepted.
At stations where construction is ongoing, older fare gates may remain open, but riders should not interpret this as free entry. Fare payment is still required.
New Ways to Pay
The Better Breeze system introduces several payment options designed to speed up boarding and reduce wait times:
- Tap-enabled bank cards – Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover can be tapped directly at faregates and validators
- Mobile wallets Riders can tap smartphones or smartwatches linked to a bank card
- New orange Breeze cards – available at ticket vending machines, Ride Stores, the new Breeze Mobile app, and breezecard.com
- Virtual Breeze cards – available in Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet, with Apple Wallet support expected soon
Cash remains an option with limitations. Riders may use cash at ticket vending machines and Ride Stores to purchase cards or tickets. On buses, cash is accepted for one-way fares only and does not include transfers.
Where to Get the New Breeze Cards
Beginning May 2, new ticket vending machines will be active at major stations including Airport, Buckhead, Civic Center, Doraville, East Point, Georgia State, H.E. Holmes, Kensington, Lenox, Lindbergh, Midtown, North Springs, Sandy Springs, Vine City, and West End. Additional machines are being installed daily.
Cards may also be purchased online at breezecard.com or at MARTA Ride Stores located at Airport and Sandy Springs stations.
Specialty cards including Reduced Fare and Mobility cards are being mailed to certified customers. Riders who have not received theirs may visit the Reduced Fare office at MARTA headquarters during extended hours from May 2 through May 7.
What Riders Need to Know About Fare Gates
New fare gates across the system will begin closing on May 2.
At stations still under construction, older gates may remain open. MARTA emphasizes that riders must still pay using one of the new payment methods, regardless of gate status.
Transit ambassadors and signage will be available systemwide to assist riders during the transition.
Transferring Old Breeze Balances
Riders with unused balances on old Breeze cards will be able to transfer funds to a new, registered account beginning May 5.
The transfer window will remain open through October 30. MARTA says detailed instructions will be released in the coming days.
Staying Connected
MARTA encourages riders to stay informed through:
- Official website and Better Breeze information hub
- breezecard.com
- Social media: @MARTAservice and @MARTAtransit
- Customer service: 404-848-5000
Instructional “how-to” videos available in English and Spanish
Support open, independent journalism—your contribution helps us tell the stories that matter most.