Posted on: Jun 27, 2016
Contact: Jim Jaquish
Phone: 404.463.3194
E-mail: jjaquish@atlantaregional.com
(ATLANTA – Jun 27, 2016)
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) will receive $3.8 million in state funding to support the installation of improved bus stop signs throughout Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties, providing a more consistent customer experience to help riders better navigate the region’s transit systems.
Bus shelters, benches and sidewalk upgrades will also be provided at select stop locations to enhance riders’ experience and improve access for the elderly and disabled.
Currently, bus stop signage in areas served by more than one transit agency have a small sign with the logos of each transit provider operating in the area. But there is no information about specific routes or destinations. This leads to confusion and questions for customers. These signs will be replaced with a single sign that displays key information about all the routes and transit agencies serving any given location.
ARC’s Regional Transit Committee (RTC) applied for state Go! Transit bond funds on behalf of the region’s transit providers. Gov. Nathan Deal announced this week that $75 million in transit projects around the state will be funded by the Go! Transit bond program, including the bus stop improvements in metro Atlanta.
“This new signage is another example of a successful regional partnership at work,” said Tim Lee, RTC Chairman and Chairman of the Cobb County Commission. “This is local jurisdictions working together to help make things better for residents of and visitors to the region.”
Federal funding is already in place to install new signage at stops in Downtown and Midtown Atlanta that serve MARTA, GRTA, CobbLinc and Gwinnett County Transit. The state bonds will enable the installation of signs in other parts of Atlanta, as well as all stops in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties. Installation is likely to begin in 2018.
The new signs will be mounted on existing poles, such as street lamps, or on custom poles, depending on the needs of the community. Near the top of the pole, they feature a disc with a bus icon and a rectangular board that lists each provider and route that serves the location. At about eye level (five feet high), another board will indicate the bus stop number in numeric form as well as braille, along with important phone numbers, websites, and the logos of each transit provider that provides service to the location.
One task already underway is to create a unified bus stop numbering system that eliminates any duplication among the region’s transit providers. This will make it easier for riders to obtain information about bus stops at atltransit.org, the region’s unified trip-planning website.
“This project will go a long way toward solving one of the biggest problems transit customers face – a lack of clear signage. The new signs make it easy for riders to make sure they are in the right place,” said Kerry Armstrong, ARC Chair. “Without the help of the state, we would not be able to accomplish this on a region-wide basis.”
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 70 other cities. ARC serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues.
The Regional Transit Committee is a committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Voting members include ARC, the City of Atlanta, Cherokee County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, Douglas County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Paulding County, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
###