New improvements coming for Atlanta's MARTA line

ATLANTA — Atlantans say no to all the traffic and yes to other ways of getting around.

Tired of all the congestion, voters passed two measures designed to get more people out of their cars.

The buckle on Atlanta’s Beltline will soon be latched after voters approved a new sales tax to help pay for the trail’s completion.

The sales tax will help the city buy the land needed to complete the 22-mile walking, running, and biking trail, but some wonder if it goes far enough.

Ron Smith tells Channel 2's Justin Wilfon more lighting could improve the trail's security, with some spots left in the dark at night.

“I was accosted just last week and the neighbors had to call 911,” Smith said.

Voters also approved upgrades to the city’s MARTA system.

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That new sales tax will pay for four new rail stops along the Beltline giving riders several new options on where to hop on and off.

“They want to invest (in) MARTA and they want to see more mass transit because of all the positive results it can bring back to the community," MARTA GM and CEO Keith Parker said.

Like getting more people out of their cars and off the congested roads.

Still some won’t be satisfied until MARTA lines reach more of the suburbs.

“Obviously it would be great to have more options in more parts of the city, to kind of expand it a bit," MARTA rider Max Koval said.

Now the MARTA measure also includes expanded bus routes and improvements to some of the stations as well.

Cox Media Group