By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | November 26, 2025
MARTA riders will soon tap into a new era of transit travel. The agency has begun a major, systemwide installation of its updated fare collection system, called Better Breeze, with work continuing through spring 2026.
The upgrade will replace every Breeze card reader, faregate, ticket machine, validator, and mobile app, ensuring a more reliable and efficient payment experience for riders across metro Atlanta.
Phased Work, Station by Station
To keep stations open during the transition, MARTA is closing faregates in phases and posting clear signs inside the stations. Riders should expect detours but no service cuts.
The schedule moves across several stations from late November through early December:
West End Station – Nov. 24
Riders parking in the south lot at South faregates should follow the signs to reach the north entrance and allow extra time for their trip
.
North Springs Station – Nov. 25
West faregates near the bus loop closed. Riders should use east faregates on the opposite side of the station.
Kensington Station – Nov. 26
East and west faregates closed. Bus loop faregates remain open. Riders coming from the north lot should follow the signs to the bus loop. ADA riders should allow extra time.
Doraville Station – Dec. 1
South faregates are already closed. More closures begin Dec. 1. Riders must use emergency gates for entry. A valid fare is still needed to exit at the destination.
Indian Creek Station – Dec. 3
East faregates at the bus loop closed. Riders must use west faregates.
Additional ongoing work continues at Dunwoody, East Point, Lindbergh Center, Ashby, and Georgia State stations. Some stations will use emergency gates during construction, and riders must have a fare to exit at their destination.
What Riders Need to Know
MARTA says customers should continue using the current Breeze card, old Breeze vending machines, and the existing mobile app. New faregates will be visible but not yet active until the final launch next spring.
The Better Breeze system will bring several major changes:
New Fare Equipment
New contactless faregates, validators, and touchscreen vending machines. The new gates are harder to tamper with, helping reduce fare evasion and improving station security.
New Ways to Pay
Open payment technology will let riders tap a bank card or mobile wallet directly on the faregate or bus farebox.
New App
The current Breeze Mobile 2.0 app will be retired. Riders will download a new Breeze app and create a virtual Breeze card in their account.
New Breeze Cards
All riders will move to account-based Breeze cards. Fare will be stored in the account rather than on the card, making replacement easier and reducing lost value.
Reduced Fare, Mobility, and Partner Agencies
Riders who use Reduced Fare or Mobility services can choose a new physical card or download the new app. They can contact MARTA by email or phone for help getting set up.
MARTA’s regional partners—including CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett, and the ATL—will also shift to the new Better Breeze system. Transit customers will receive updates from their local providers in the coming months.
MARTA encourages riders to watch for signs inside stations, listen to announcements, and check online updates as the transition progresses, with detailed guidance on switching to new cards and apps coming closer to the April 2026 deadline.
For more information and to sign up for updates, visit MARTA
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