ATTENTION
A Letter From Our GM/CEO, Jeffrey A. Parker
View PDF Here
COVID-19 Personnel & Ridership Impacts
 (1).jpg "March 13, 2020
In these difficult times, MARTA understands the importance of maintaining
public transportation for the thousands of people who rely on us every day.
Our commitment is to operate a safe, efficient and clean transit system.
MARTA will continue to monitor COVID 19 developments while providing
bus, rail, and paratransit service at our current levels unless a roll back of
service is necessary, whether directed by health, transportation, or
government agencies, significantly diminished ridership, or a necessary
decrease in staffing levels.
MARTA is coordinating our response with the local Emergency Management
Agencies and Governor Kemp’s Coronavirus Task Force. MARTA supports
social distancing efforts and encourages tele-working when feasible.
Reducing crowding on trains and buses is an important element in
“flattening the curve” and slowing the spread of the virus.
Our bottom line: MARTA will continue to be there for our customers
who depend on us.
Bus, Rail, Station and Paratransit Van Cleaning
MARTA is taking proactive measures to help customers stay healthy on our trains, buses, vans and in
our stations including daily cleaning of all vehicles. MARTA will continue to thoroughly clean all buses,
trains, rail stations, and facilities, with a focus on high touch areas such as handrails, elevator
buttons, Breeze machines, and restrooms. We have also started mid-day end of line cleaning of
buses while parked in bus bays at targeted rail stations. All MARTA employees have been instructed
how to best protect themselves and others against the potential transmission of the virus.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself While Riding Transit
We have communicated with passengers consistently regarding the personal hygiene measures that
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends for individuals to protect themselves while in
public and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Specifically, wash your hands often, stay home when
you’re sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Additional Steps to Protect Our Employees and, by Extension, the Riding Public.
Effective immediately, we are implementing the following changes for MARTA employees:
• Employees and consultants who can work remotely should begin teleworking beginning Tuesday
March 17 through March 31. Teleworking decisions will be made on a department by department
basis.
• Meetings should be conducted by conference call, chat, or other virtual means. Meetings of more
than 40 people in person are not permitted.
• New employees will be brought on board on Monday March 16. The Department of Human
Resources will structure the NETO training to ensure no more than 40 people are in a room at any one
time.
• In person trainings are suspended unless classes are mission essential and smaller than 40 people.
• A hiring freeze is implemented effective immediately. Exceptions to the freeze can only be
authorized by the General Manager/CEO.
Discussions about how COVID-19 has and may impact MARTA and our region are frequent and
ongoing, and any changes in service will be communicated through our website, app, and social and
traditional media.
Visit www.itsmarta.com for service updates and links to useful information about coronavirus. Follow
@MARTASERVICE on Twitter or download MARTA’s On The Go app for real-time service updates. Call
our Customer Care Center at 404-848-5000 if you have any concerns.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Parker
General Manager/CEO")
Tips To Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus
MARTA will continue to thoroughly clean its facilities, rail stations, buses and trains with a focus on high touch areas such as handrails, elevator buttons, and Breeze machines. Antibacterial and antiviral cleaners are used in the clean-up of bodily fluids.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. MARTA recommends all customers and employees to adhere to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) when it comes to protecting against
Coronavirus.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- If you are sick, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces A
We urge everyone to follow the CDC’s recommended personal precautions.
For additional information please visit
www.cdc.gov/COVID19
Interview with CEO/GM Jeffrey A. Parker
Jeffrey A. Parker, general manager and chief executive officer at MARTA, joins “Closer Look” by phone to discuss the steps MARTA is taking to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Listen to the interview here:
https://www.wabe.org/episode/closer-look-the-coronavirus-pandemics-impact-on-georgias-labor-market-transit-elections/
Letter to Congress
Letter to Congress requesting federal relief for public transportation signed by MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker and the heads of this country’s top public transit agencies. (
View PDF)
COVID-19 Service Modifications
Due to impacts related to COVID-19, MARTA has reduced service levels system-wide. View more information
here.