MARTA is spending $646 million to replace its aging fleet of rail cars in coming years. Now the agency wants customer feedback on what they should look like.
Many of the agency’s 300-plus rail cars have been in service for more than 40 years. In 2019 MARTA’s board of directors agreed to buy 254 new cars from Stadler US. MARTA says the new cars will provide a safer, more reliable ride when they begin arriving in 2023.
Earlier this year MARTA sought public input on features like seating, luggage storage and bike areas. More than 1,300 riders shared their thoughts.
Now the agency is asking the public to vote on what the cars should look like on the outside. MARTA has rolled out eight options, divided into four groups.
First come the “minimalist” designs, which MARTA says “evoke speed”:
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Next are two “flowing ribbon” designs, “to denote movement”:
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Then there are the “neighborhoods” designs, with “rings of outwardly spreading colors to indicate neighborhoods”:
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Finally, there are the “tracks” designs, which MARTA says are “reminiscent of street grids”:
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You can learn more about the designs, see more illustrations and have your say at www.itsmarta.com/yourride.
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