MARTA Reports Drop in Crime and Plans Big Safety Upgrades

MARTA, Atlanta's public transit system, says crime on its trains and buses has gone down and that it is spending more money than ever on safety. The agency recently sent a letter to a federal government office called the Federal Transit Administration, or FTA. The letter explained what MARTA is doing to protect its workers and riders. The FTA had asked transit agencies across the country to share how they are keeping employees safe from attacks on the job.

MARTA's letter included some promising numbers. The agency said that serious crimes have dropped 45% since 2020. It also reported that in 2025, aggravated assaults fell 27%, robberies dropped 35%, and overall crime went down 25%. So far in 2026, crime has fallen another 8%, even though there was a short spike in incidents during late May and early June.

One of the biggest changes is a boost in police staffing. MARTA now has 268 sworn police officers, up from 230 in 2025, and the agency plans to keep hiring. It also runs a Real Time Crime Center that watches more than 12,000 cameras placed on trains, buses, and at stations. These tools help officers spot trouble quickly and respond faster.

MARTA is also rolling out new railcars called the CQ400. These cars have open walkways between train sections, more cameras, emergency call buttons, and tools that let staff monitor what is happening in real time. The agency is also replacing its old Breeze fare card system with newer, stronger fare gates. Officials say the upgraded gates will make it harder for people to sneak onto trains without paying.

Fare evasion — when people ride without paying — has become a serious problem. A 2023 study found that fare evasion on MARTA's rail system jumped from 2.2% in 2017 to 17.8%, mostly because the old fare gates were worn out. Later this summer, MARTA plans to launch a program called "Pay Your Fare Share." Officers will use handheld devices to check whether riders have paid their fare while on board.

MARTA also runs a program called MARTA HOPE, which helps people who are homeless. The program works with an organization called Hope Atlanta to connect unhoused people with shelters, housing, and other services. Since it started in 2020, the HOPE program has helped nearly 5,900 people and connected more than 1,600 of them with shelter. MARTA says this work helps keep the transit system safer for everyone.

The cost of all these safety efforts is enormous. MARTA's safety and security budget for the current fiscal year is about $113.8 million, and that number is expected to grow to $147.2 million next year. The new fare gate system alone is expected to cost more than $336 million in total. The FTA has not yet released its findings, but MARTA officials say they welcome the review and believe it will show how hard the agency is working to improve safety.