GRTA Xpress
Regional commuter coach service in Georgia, U.S. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xpress is a regional commuter coach system serving the Atlanta Metropolitan area in Georgia. The system has 27 routes and 30 active park-and-ride lots. In 2024, the Xpress system had a ridership of 942,700, or about 3,700 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.
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| Parent | Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority |
|---|---|
| Commenced operation | June 7, 2004 |
| Headquarters | 316 Cash Memorial Blvd Forest Park, Georgia |
| Service area | Metro Atlanta, Georgia |
| Service type | express bus service |
| Routes | 27 |
| Daily ridership | 3,700 (weekdays, Q4 2024)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 942,700 (2024)[2] |
| Operator | Professional Transit Management, American Coach, Cobb Community Transit, Gwinnett County Transit |
| Website | www |
Xpress began service on June 7, 2004 under the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, but is operated by Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority as of 2025. Service operates from roughly 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 pm weekdays, with most service being rush-hour only.
History
Summarize
Perspective
Creation of regional bus service in Atlanta began in 1999, when the Atlanta Regional Commission created a new transportation network plan to bring metro Atlanta back into compliance with the U.S. Clean Air Act and regain federal road construction funding.[3] The bus system began serious development in 2001 after then-Governor Roy Barnes announced that the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) would issue $8.5 billion in bonds, of which 55% was for mass transit.[4]
In January 2002, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) offered 13 metro-Atlanta counties funding for road projects if they agreed to pay to operate the regional bus system for five years.[5] Only Fayette and Cherokee counties refused the deal.[6] Funding for the system faced issues in September after a 20-year SRTA bond was challenged in court by a group opposing the construction of the Northern Arc, which argued that the bond program violated the state constitution by bypassing the General Assembly.[7][8] The bond program ended up being cancelled by the following governor, Sonny Perdue, who opted to rely on loans from the state legislature.[8]
In June 2003, the GRTA authorized the purchase of 58 buses for the system.[9] In months leading up to service, GRTA faced pushback from Central Atlanta Progress and Midtown Alliance, who argued that the presence of large coach buses would undermine efforts to improve pedestrian experience on Peachtree Street and that buses should be routed along adjacent one-way streets.[10] Service began on June 7, 2004 and was met with protests from pedestrian activists.[11] A month after service started, activists and GRTA agreed on a plan to move buses from Peachtree Street onto West Peachtree Street.[12]
Xpress saw severe overcrowding on some routes during a period of record high gas prices in 2008.[13] But in 2010, the system saw its first budget crisis, raising pass prices and fares for routes over 25 miles to try to make up the difference.[14] In 2015, GRTA approved the first major redesign of the system, adjusting departure times and stops on all routes, cutting one route, and adding three cross-suburb routes terminating at Perimeter Center.[15]
On July 1, 2020, Xpress operations were transferred from GRTA to the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL), as legally mandated by the legislation creating ATL.[16]
Routes
Summarize
Perspective
As of April 2025, the Xpress network includes 27 routes.[17]
- 400 Cumming to Downtown Atlanta
- 401 Cumming to Perimeter Center
- 410 Sugarloaf Mills to Lindbergh MARTA[a]
- 411 Hamilton Mill/Mall of Georgia to Midtown Atlanta[b]
- 412 Sugarloaf Mills to Midtown Atlanta[a]
- 413 Hamilton Mill to Downtown Atlanta[b]
- 416 Dacula to Downtown Atlanta[b]
- 417 Sugarloaf Mills to Perimeter Center
- 419 Snellville/Stone Mountain to Downtown Atlanta*
- 423 East Conyers/Panola Road to Midtown Atlanta
- 426 East Conyers to Downtown Atlanta
- 428 Panola Road to Perimeter Center
- 430 McDonough to Downtown
- 431 Stockbridge to Midtown Atlanta
- 432 Stockbridge to Downtown Atlanta
- 440 Hampton/Jonesboro to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta
- 441 Jonesboro to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta
- 442 Riverdale to Downtown Atlanta
- 453 Newnan/Union City to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta
- 463 Douglasville/West Douglasville to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta
- 476 Hiram/Powder Springs to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta[c]
- 480 Acworth to Downtown Atlanta[c]
- 483 Woodstock/Town Center to Midtown Atlanta
- 484 Hickory Grove to Midtown Atlanta
- 485 Hickory Grove to Downtown Atlanta
- 490 Woodstock to Downtown Atlanta[d]
- Route is operated by, and as a part of, Gwinnett County Transit [citation needed]
- Route is operated by American Coach
Operations
Prior to transfer of operations to Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority, Xpress was operated as a partnership between the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and Clayton, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties.[citation needed] Operators of Xpress were contracted through Professional Transit Management and American Coach.[citation needed] In Cobb and Gwinnett Counties Cobb Community Transit or Gwinnett County Transit provided Xpress service in addition to their own express services.[citation needed]
Fares
Xpress charges fares based on distance travelled. As of April 2025, adult one-way fares from Green Zone park and rides to Atlanta are $3.00 and fares from Blue Zone park-and-rides to Atlanta are $4.00. Round-trip, 10-trip, and 31-day passes are available using a Breeze card or the Breeze 2.0 app.[19]
Future plans
In June 2025, Xpress will Implement its Redefining the Ride plan, which will cut 12 lines and service to seven park and rides.[20]
External links
References
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