After the I-85 bridge collapse, Atlanta reached for its MARTA Breeze Card.
Most rail stations saw increases in weekly ridership, with one DeKalb County station seeing the biggest uptick, according to an Atlanta Regional Commission report.
The Brookhaven station’s numbers have ballooned by nearly 67 percent, far above the overall 11.5 percent increase at all stations, the ARC found.
Second was the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center station, with almost 57 percent. Next was Sandy Springs at 43 percent.
The analysis compares ridership rates from March 24-31, the day after the collapse, to March 31-April 29.
All but six stations saw an increase in ridership in that time, though some saw only small increases, the ARC found.
As officials prepare to reopen the bridge Monday, MARTA is waiting to see how much the growth can hold.
Here’s the ARC’s full ranking of the change in rail station traffic after the collapse:
- Brookhaven: 67 percent
- Dome: 57 percent
- Sandy Springs: 43 percent
- Chamblee: 33 percent
- Buckhead: 30 percent
- Medical Center: 30 percent
- Dunwoody: 26 percent
- Lenox: 24 percent
- Doraville: 20 percent
- Midtown: 19 percent
- King Memorial: 18 percent
- North Springs: 18 percent
- Airport: 17 percent
- Lakewood/Ft. McPherson: 17 percent
- Peachtree Center: 17 percent
- Arts Center: 16 percent
- East Lake: 15 percent
- Civic Center: 15 percent
- North Avenue: 13 percent
- Inman Park: 9 percent
- Vine City: 6 percent
- Lindbergh Center: 6 percent
- Decatur: 5 percent
- Indian Creek: 4 percent
- College Park: 4 percent
- Garnett: 3 percent
- East Point: 3 percent
- Oakland City: 2 percent
- Edgewood/Candler Park: 2 percent
- Five Points: 2 percent
- Kensington: 1 percent
- West End: 1 percent
- Avondale: -1 percent
- H.E. Holmes: -1 percent
- Bankhead: -2 percent
- Georgia State: -3 percent
- West Lake: -4 percent
- Ashby: -8 percent
RELATED: Cops: Fight over woman led to deadly Burger King shooting in DeKalb
RELATED: MARTA announces cheaper unlimited weekend and monthly passes
RELATED: Popular artist fighting DeKalb over 'illegal' yard art
Like DeKalb County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter and Instagram
About the Author
