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Commuters face 2 choices: Continue with MARTA or back to I-85

By Steve Gehlbach, WSB-TV
By Steve Gehlbach, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — Traffic is moving again in both directions on Interstate 85 over the newly finished section of interstate.

But now some commuters have to choose between continue using MARTA or going back to old habits on I-85.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach learned that some of the alternatives that drivers used during the closures were not as popular on Monday as they've been in the last six weeks.

MARTA added thousands of additional parking spaces at its stations across metro Atlanta while I-85 was closed. They were mostly filled every day.

But on the first morning rush hour since I-85 reopened, MARTA had available parking spaces all morning.

Some converted commuters who turned to the trains after the fiery collapse say they'll stick with MARTA.

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"I definitely find it's convenient for me, definitely going to keep doing it," commuter Mike Riley told Gehlbach

MARTA is hoping new customers don't go back to their old ways. While they don't have numbers compiled yet, there were fewer riders Monday.

That wasn't the case over the past six weeks, when parking decks at the North Springs MARTA station would fill up most mornings before 7:30.

Overall, numbers increased about 11 percent system-wide and not just from north Fulton County. But also in DeKalb County where the Brookhaven station saw the biggest increase, with a spike of 66 percent since the collapse.

Many once road warriors found peace sitting on a train, instead of behind the wheel and will keep riding.

“This way I don't have to park down in Atlanta. It's cheaper this way," Riley said

"There's definitely been more people on here. I think it's good that people discover MARTA's a great option," commuter Sandra Love told Gehlbach.

Until they go back to discovering their cars again and Atlanta traffic.

Cox Media Group

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