MARTA's upgraded tap-to-pay system goes live in days

A fundamental change that Atlanta’s MARTA faithful have long asked for is just days from going live. 

After several months of construction closures and other growing pains, MARTA is set to officially launch its better Breeze tap-to-pay fare collection system on March 28—a week from Saturday. 

Not all stations will feature the upgrades yet, however, and phased equipment installation is still requiring detours for riders entering and exiting some MARTA stations.

For many MARTA patrons, the most noticeable change will be upgraded faregates that agency officials call safer and more effective. They’ll allow for contactless payment, meaning that riders can tap a bank car or mobile wallet directly at the MARTA faregate or new orange bus validators to catch a ride. All major credit and debit cards will be accepted. 

(If you’re tried the open-payment system on New York City’s MTA or many other systems around the world, you probably know it’s refreshingly quick and easy. As such, MARTA officials say better Breeze will be “especially convenient for international visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”)

One-way fares will remain $2.50, with four free transfers allowed in a three-hour period, per MARTA. Other upgrades will include touchscreen ticket vending machines and a new Breeze card and app. 

Customers can expect a grace period to allow for a learning curve over the next few weeks. MARTA plans to deploy Transit Ambassadors across the system to help customers adjust. 

“There will still be old Breeze equipment on the system because it takes a while to remove all of it,” Stephany Fisher, MARTA’s senior director of communications, wrote to Urbanize Atlanta via email. “It will still be usable until May 2 but does not accept tap-to-pay.” 

MARTA stresses that each transit rider will be required to have their own form of payment—even kids. 

How’s that work? A MARTA media advisory reads: 

“Do not ‘pass back’ a Breeze card or bank card for others to use. If traveling with children or an individual without their own form of payment, you may purchase fare at any new touchscreen ticket vending machine. Note that multiple cards may now be purchased in one transaction at ticket vending machines. You may also pay for a companion using a different bank card than the one you used.” 

All customers on MARTA’s regional transit partners—ATL Xpress, CobbLinc, Connect Douglas, and Ride Gwinnett—must use the upgraded fare collection system, a new orange Breeze card, or cash beginning May 2. 

As for station faregate construction on the horizon, MARTA issued the following heads-up for customers this week:  

Starting Monday, March 23 – Decatur station:

East faregates closed for construction. Use emergency gate at east entrance or west faregates.

Starting Tuesday, March 24  – North Avenue station:

South faregates closed for construction. Use emergency gate at south entrance or north faregates.

Starting Wednesday, March 25 – College Park station:

All faregates closed for construction. Use emergency gates on either side.

Starting Thursday, March 26 – Arts Center station:

All faregates closed for construction. Use emergency gates on either side.

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