FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February
23, 2023
STREETCAR RETURNS TO
DOWNTOWN ATLANTA FOR TESTING FEB. 28TH, ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN SERVICE
MARCH 2ND
ATLANTA
– The first of Atlanta’s Streetcar vehicles has been repaired and will be back
on the streets of downtown Atlanta for testing on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and
anticipated to be used for service on Thursday, March 2. Additional streetcar
vehicles will return to service as they are repaired.
MARTA
removed the four streetcar vehicles from service on Nov. 29, 2022, after
engineers discovered wheel degradation that could pose a safety risk. The
wheels on the first streetcar have been replaced and wheels on the other three
vehicles will be replaced in the coming weeks.
“I
want to commend our engineers for immediately making the decision to pull these
vehicles so repairs could be made,” said MARTA Chief Operating Officer George
Wright. “We are going to test out the new wheels so you will see the streetcar
along its route for a few days before it returns to service. We ask that
everyone who works, lives, or visits downtown to be mindful that the streetcar
is back and to stay clear of its tracks and route.”
MARTA
shuttle vans, wrapped to look like the streetcar, will continue servicing the
route as the streetcar vehicles return to service.
The
cost of the replacement wheels is approximately $400,000 and being paid through
MARTA’s capital budget.
###