Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0
Xpress Service Changes Begin June 16, 2025
Based on the recent planning study called Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0, public input, and subsequent analyses, the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board adopted final service changes on April 3, 2025. These service changes will affect all Xpress routes and will take effect beginning Monday, June 16, 2025.
The purpose of Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0 was to align Xpress bus service with current demand and promote overall efficiency. Proposed service plans were developed in the summer of 2024 and refined in the spring of 2025, and a final service plan was adopted April 3, 2025. As part of the final 30-day public comment period, a virtual public meeting was held on January 15, 2025, an in-person public hearing was held on February 11, 2025, and public comments were accepted January 13 through February 12, 2025. ATL reviewed input and comments and completed final service plan changes, which are incorporated in the final service plan that will take effect June 16, 2025.
Xpress riders can learn more about the upcoming service changes below, including exact routing and schedules. The ATL is also planning to host a virtual public meeting on May 21 at 6PM to review the planned changes as well as provide additional notifications leading up to June 16.
To register for the virtual public meeting on May 21 at 6PM, please use the link below:
About the Xpress Service Changes
With ridership remaining at 30% of pre-pandemic levels, Xpress currently provides more service than is utilized. These changes are aimed at improving the efficiency of Xpress service and available funding.
The final service plan includes:
- Adjusting and eliminating underutilized routes and park-and-ride lots to align with current demand patterns
- Redesigning routes to more efficiently serve major corridors
- Adjusting routes to end at MARTA rail stations to improve productivity and reliability
The systemwide recommendations are summarized below. They include:
- 13 Xpress routes proposed to be discontinued
- 9 Xpress park-and-rides proposed for closure
- MARTA proposed as the termini for two corridors
Total number of trips proposed to be reduced by 50-75%, depending on the corridor.
The final service plan by each corridor, including the final route schedules, may also be viewed by clicking on the button below the system map.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Redefining the Ride - Xpress 2.0?
Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0 is a recently completed regional study that was launched by the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL) in 2023 to reimagine the Xpress system. The study evaluated commuter travel patterns and identified service change recommendations to better match commuter demand. The key goals of the service change recommendations include increasing the efficiency of Xpress service, minimizing customer impacts where possible, and ensuring efficient use of available funding. The study informed the new service plan that will begin June 16, 2025.
How were the final service changes selected? Has the public been consulted prior to the final service plan?
Redefining the Ride—Xpress 2.0 is a two-part study that started in 2023. The first portion included three stakeholder discussion workshops for the public in 2024. The study also utilized three online surveys that targeted the general public, major employers, and employees. The surveys were active between July and October 2024.
The second portion of the study proposed service changes that were developed using a combination of public input from the first portion of the study as well as an analysis of commuter travel patterns and overall passenger demand. Changes were suggested to achieve the key goals of the plan, which are to increase the efficiency of Xpress service, minimize customer impacts where possible, and ensure efficient use of available funding. The study primarily identified low-performing routes and underutilized park-and-ride lots for proposed discontinuation or closure. The public comment period was January 13 – February 12, 2025. A virtual public meeting was held on January 15, 2025, and an in-person public hearing was held on February 11, 2025. Public comments were reviewed and considered by ATL prior to finalizing the service plan.
How do I provide feedback on the Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0 final service plan? How will my feedback on the final service plan be used?
Public feedback on the final service plan was collected during a 30-day comment period from January 13 to February 12, 2025. The ATL reviewed all feedback to understand the concerns of riders and stakeholders. This helped us refine and adjust the proposed changes. For example, the ATL modified some proposed route schedules as public input indicated certain trip times are preferred by customers.
When will the Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0 service plan be finalized? What is the timeline for the implementation of these Xpress service changes? How much notice will be given to riders about the changes?
The updated service plan has been finalized and was adopted by the ATL Board on April 3, 2025. Feedback received from the public helped refine the final service plan that was presented to the ATL board for consideration. Service changes, including park-and-ride lot closures and route eliminations and modifications, will begin on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Riders will be notified via email, seat drop flyers on buses, ATL Xpress social media platforms, and postings at the park-and-ride lots in the weeks leading up to service changes. Stay informed by subscribing to the Xpress Transit Talk newsletter and visiting Xpressga.com.
Why is Xpress making changes to the service? Why has the state reduced the Xpress budget?
Current Xpress ridership is 30% of pre-pandemic ridership. As a result, the state has reduced the Xpress budget to reflect the decreased ridership demand. These service changes are intended to create a more efficient and effective service. Operating 27 bus routes, 27 park-and-ride lots, and 55 bus stops, Xpress is currently providing far more service than is being utilized. The updated Xpress bus system plan is intended to better match actual usage and improve overall efficiency.
How will the final service plan impact current Xpress routes?
Service plan changes include less frequent service on some routes, the closure of some park-and-ride lots, and transfers to MARTA on some routes. Current riders may need to find an alternate Xpress bus trip time, use an alternative park-and-ride lot, and/or transfer between Xpress and MARTA to reach their final destination.
How do I make a free transfer between Xpress and MARTA? How do I make a transfer if I store rides on my Breeze card, have a monthly pass, or have my employer pay my Xpress bus fare? How will Xpress handle transfers if onboard fareboxes are not working?
You must use a Breeze card with a stored cash value to earn the free transfer between Xpress and MARTA. Once you tap your Breeze card on an Xpress coach or MARTA, a free transfer will automatically be loaded, and you will have 3 hours to transfer to the other service for free.
ATL strives to maintain fareboxes and will notify the Operations team of any reported maintenance needs. If the farebox is not operating, passengers will not be charged while riding Xpress and only if they are using MARTA.
Will there be any changes to the park-and-ride lots?
Yes, some park-and-ride lots will close to better align Xpress service with current demand. Affected riders would need to use a different park-and-ride location.
Will fares increase? Will fares decrease for customers on truncated routes?
No. Based on the current service plan, there are no plans to increase or decrease fares for Xpress customers.
Why are you increasing the time between buses? Will the frequency of morning or afternoon trips also be impacted? Why is the morning or afternoon service starting or ending so soon?
The time between buses will increase due to low utilization of existing trips and to ensure efficient use of available funds. Some spans of service for routes have also shortened during the AM and PM service periods due to low ridership. Morning and afternoon service hours were selected to align with the service span preferences identified in prior public engagement efforts and by existing ridership surveys.
What stops in Midtown and Downtown will be preserved? What stops will afternoon routes service?
The changes to each corridor, including the Midtown and Downtown stops that will be preserved, can be found here. A more detailed map of all Midtown and Downtown stops is available near the bottom of the page. AM (inbound) and PM (outbound) services will follow a similar route using different roadways.
In Midtown, AM (inbound) service will drop-off along West Peachtree St from Civic Center to Arts Center Station MARTA stations. PM (outbound) service will pick-up along West Peachtree St from Civic Center to Arts Center MARTA stations and return to Civic Center in the opposite direction via Spring St.
In Downtown, AM (inbound) service will primarily drop-off along Mitchell St, Peachtree Center Ave., and Central Ave while PM (outbound) service will primarily pick-up along Courtland St and MLK Jr Dr.
It appears that several Downtown/Midtown Atlanta stops have been recommended for elimination in the proposed service plan. How will this impact my commute?
In response to rider feedback, the ATL has proposed to maintain service at a majority of stops in Downtown and Midtown Atlanta. A more detailed map of all Midtown and Downtown stops can be found here and is available near the bottom of the page. You can find the stops on your commute on our map here
Will service changes be reevaluated after they are implemented? Is there a chance that ATL would bring back any discontinued service or add additional service in the future? Can Xpress add additional service if buses are persistently overcrowded?
Following the implementation of the changes, ATL may further refine its service offerings. ATL prioritizes the safety of its passengers and will continually monitor buses for overcrowding and adjust service as necessary and as feasible. Should ridership demand increase, or additional funding sources become available, ATL will consider route and trip adjustments as feasible.
Was the reverse commute that was previously proposed taken out entirely? What happened to the multiple phases of the project that used to be on the website?
No, the ATL is currently implementing Phase 1 of the Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0. Phase 2, which includes reverse commute, may be implemented based on future funding availability and ridership demand.
How many people have to ride for my service not to change?
While there is no definitive answer for preventing a service change, the ATL utilizes its Xpress Service Standards to guide service planning and deployment. These Service Standards provide benchmarks to measure Xpress service, such as a minimum of 17 passengers per trip for routes that have operated at least four years. If routes or trips do not meet the adopted Service Standards, the ATL may modify service to better align service levels and adhere to its Service Standards.
Did ATL consider other alternatives to the proposed service changes to make up for the budget shortfall? Possible options include: increasing fares, fixing fareboxes, using smaller or more cost-effective vehicles (shuttle vans, electric buses), advertising more prominently with a focus on large employers, using a Monday/Friday and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday schedule)
ATL did not consider increasing riders’ fares or alternative vehicle types as part of the Redefining the Ride Phase 1 implementation. However, ATL will continue to evaluate other cost-saving options, such as using more cost-effective vehicles, for future phases. The ATL is implementing a Monday/Friday and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday schedule on some routes as part of the Phase 1 implementation.
Does Xpress fear it will lose riders with these proposed changes?
ATL acknowledges that any significant service changes may lead to some short-term loss of ridership. However, ATL is committed to making these adjustments as thoughtfully as possible, balancing our resources with the needs of our community. Our goal is to maintain a system that is as convenient and customer-friendly as possible within the constraints in which we operate.
Does Xpress have plans on how to increase ridership?
ATL is currently implementing Phase 1 of Redefining the Ride – Xpress 2.0 based on existing ridership. Phase 2, which may be implemented based on future funding and resources, will be aimed at providing new service options for Xpress riders.
Why do some corridors have more route and park-and-ride reductions than others?
ATL maintained a minimum of three morning and three afternoon trips per corridor on Tuesdays-Thursdays, with additional trips added to corridors based on passenger demand and available funding. The 75-North and 85-North corridors also received additional service due to an agreement between ATL and CobbLinc and Ride Gwinnett to operate all commuter services under Xpress. The ATL is open to other jurisdictional partnerships and agreements to provide additional Xpress service along other corridors.
Gwinnett commuter bus routes currently run more frequently than Xpress. How will Xpress successfully consolidate with Gwinnett Commuter routes with lower frequencies? Will Xpress provide a similar “sweeper” service later at night?
ATL has coordinated with Ride Gwinnett staff throughout the Redefining the Ride implementation process to determine the appropriate level of service for the 85-North corridor. Additional sweeper service is not currently planned for the corridor; however, ATL will continue to monitor ridership and passenger demand.
Will these changes improve bus punctuality and consistency?
ATL evaluated current bus travel times as part of the service adjustment in an effort to improve on-time performance.
Where did travel time estimates come from?
Travel time estimates are primarily based on observed bus travel times during the Fall 2024 service period. For new route segments that do not currently have service today, travel times were estimated based on observed bus speeds for similar roadway segments and modified based on general traffic and speed condition data obtained through publicly available sources. Generally, ATL utilized conservative run time estimates to ensure the proposed routes can achieve a high level of reliability.
Additional Support for Impacted Customers
Georgia Commute Options (GCO)
Georgia Commute Options (GCO) is a program managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission and funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation. They work with employers, commuters, and schools to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles on Metro Atlanta’s roads. GCO also provides customized worksite assistance, ridematching services, and incentive programs to help commuters, employers, and schools with solutions for a better commute. Learn more at https://gacommuteoptions.com/.
Vanpool
In addition to Xpress service, the ATL offers a vanpool program operated by Commute with Enterprise, which provides a low-cost and convenient alternative for commuters. The ATL currently provides a regional vanpool subsidy to cover 40% of vanpool expenses. Find more information about vanpool programs at https://xpressga.com/vanpool/.
MARTA
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority operates transit services within City of Atlanta as well as Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties, including heavy rail, streetcar, and bus services. Starting June 16, Xpress Routes 401 and 453 will terminate at MARTA rail stations, allowing customers to continue their trip via MARTA rail to Downtown and Midtown Atlanta while also expanding access to other regional transit services. For more information on MARTA’s rail and bus services, visit https://itsmarta.com/.
Who to Contact for Additional Help
If this information is needed in another language, please contact the ATL at (404) 893-2100 or [email protected]
Si la información que se necesita en otro idioma, comuníquese con (404) 893-2100.
如果需要一种语言的信息，请联系 (404) 893-2100.
정보가다른언어로필요한경우 (404) 893-2100 로문의바랍니다.
Nếu thông tin là cần thiết trongmột ngôn ngữkhác, sau đó liên lạc (404) 893-2100.