MARTA's I-85 plan as spring break comes to an end

ATLANTA — It's spring break for many school districts and MARTA parking decks are already maxed out, so what's the plan?

MARTA has been sending out tweets the past few days about its parking decks.

At certain stations, tweets will go out at 7:30 a.m., saying their decks are full and informing people where spots are still available.

Channel 2's Craig Lucie asked MARTA CEO Keith Parker what their plans are. Parker said they are finalizing deals now and since it's spring break, it's actually helped.

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"Having spring break gave more chance to get prepared for what will be (an) onslaught of customers next week,” Parker said.

Lucie walked around the Lindbergh station with Parker, who told him they have a good problem on their hands.

“One of the refreshing things has been sheer number of people who recognize MARTA now not heard from before,” Parker said.

But what hasn't been refreshing for customers along the Red and Gold lines, which serve the northeast and north-central Atlanta suburbs, are the parking decks. They are filling up fast.

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“Just Monday there was a lot more people. I normally park on the top deck and it's completely full so I had or park out here,” passenger Angel Grace Moore said.

Lucie met Moore at the Sandy Springs station where she was taking a chance.

To avoid getting towed, MARTA says it's a great idea to follow its social media accounts.

If you're on Twitter, set up notifications so when they send out early-morning tweets you will know parking decks like the one in Sandy Springs is maxed out.

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Parker suggests downloading the MARTA app.

Parker also told Lucie they are working with malls, churches and other locations near their busiest stations -- like North Springs and Doraville -- so people can park, then take a bus to a nearby station.

“The number of people using park and ride in North Springs has greatly shot up as a result (of people) looking for alternatives,” Parker said.

Cox Media Group