Every week, thousands of travelers go in and out of the three MARTA rail stations in Sandy Springs or board the MARTA bus routes that connect with the rail. Some of these many passengers are among the 100,000-plus local residents. Others come to shop in Sandy Springs’ bountiful retail stores, eat in its numerous restaurants, access highly ranked healthcare, attend various entertainment offerings, work, or just visit friends and family.
While it’s not unusual to hear complaints about vehicular traffic and clogged intersections, especially around major streets like Roswell Road, public transportation alternatives for getting to and from and around the city’s 38.52 square miles are often overlooked.
North Springs
Many Sandy Springs residents who fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, of course, know that the northernmost MARTA rail station on the Red Line is the North Springs Station. Boarding it for the ride to the airport is a breeze. Since the route begins at the station, there are always seats available. And riders can sit back and read or listen to music or podcasts on their earphones without needing to pay attention to the numerous stops until the final destination at the airport.
Located at 7010 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, the station sits east of GA 400 and west of Peachtree Dunwoody Road. Local customers use the station entrance off Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, while customers who live north of the station take GA 400 and use the flyover ramp to the station. According to MARTA, there are 2,378 parking spaces available, most in covered deck parking. Under 24 hours of parking is free; over 24 hours is $8 per day, including the first day. A cashier’s office is located at the station.
Those who aren’t traveling by car can access the North Springs Station via various bus routes, including 85 Roswell, 87 Roswell Road/Sandy Springs, 140 North Point Parkway, 14 Haynes Bridge Road/Milton, 143 Windward Park & Ride and 185 Alpharetta.
Sandy Springs
The Sandy Springs Station is located at 1101 Mount Vernon Highway, at the intersection of Abernathy Road/Perimeter Center West and Mount Vernon Highway. The parking deck has 1,050 spaces, and is free for less than 24 hours. Unlike the North Springs Station, the cost per day is only $5. Again, a cashier’s office is located at the station.
The Sandy Springs Station also has bus connections, including MARTA’s route 148 Mount Vernon Highway. This weekday peak-only route operates East/West from Sandy Springs Station to RiverEdge Office Park along Mt. Vernon Hwy., Johnson Ferry Rd., Powers Ferry Rd., New Northside Dr., Interstate N. Pkwy., to Riveredge Pkwy. Notably, the route provides access to Sandy Springs City Hall and Fulton County School Administrative Center.
Both the North Springs Station and the Sandy Springs Station opened in 2000, while the Medical Center Station opened in 1996.
Medical Center
MARTA’s Medical Center Station is located at 5711 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road at Lake Hearn Drive. There are only 200 parking spaces at this station, and no overnight parking is available. However, it has local (MARTA 825 John Ferry Rd), regional and shuttle bus connections allowing people from afar to travel to the important three hospitals: Northside, Emory St. Joseph’s and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite – not to mention the numerous medical offices nearby.
MARTA alternatives
In addition to the MARTA bus routes, the Sandy Springs and Medical Center MARTA Stations partner with Xpress, operated by the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority, which gives commuters throughout the metro region another option for getting around town. Xpress has 27 routes in 12 metro Atlanta counties and carries more than 1.8 million passenger trips annually.
Separately from the MARTA bus routes that connect with its rail service, the company also provides Route 5 to Sandy Springs. This route operates North/South between Dunwoody and Lindbergh Stations along Hammond Drive, Glenridge Drive, Roswell Road and Piedmont Road, allowing access to Sandy Springs City Hall, Perimeter Mall, The Prado Shopping Center, Chastain Square and Lindbergh Plaza.
Getting onboard
To facilitate travel between MARTA’s bus routes and its rail, the transportation service uses a long-term use card that allows the loading of various and multiple fare products. They can be registered for balance protection and can be retained for future use and reloading. The cost of the Breeze Card is $2 in addition to the cost of a fare or pass. Each Breeze card and ticket comes with four transfers. That means you can change bus routes or switch from bus to train, and vice versa, without costing extra. The cards can be purchased at a MARTA Ride Store, from one of MARTA’s Breeze vending machines or can be ordered online by going to breezecard.com
Notably, Xpress accepts Breeze cards, cash and payment on smart phones using the Breeze Mobile 2.0 app.
So, if you want to ditch the car and save on the expensive gas, buy a Breeze card and hop a ride on a bus or train. It can take you far.
