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Today, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will unveil the final two rail cars rehabilitated under a five-year program with Alstom Transportation. The event also kicks off MARTA's 30th anniversary celebration.

Alstom overhauled 218 of MARTA's oldest cars under a $246 million contract, of which $166.9 million was funded through a Federal Transit Administration grant. The rehabbed cars have helped increase MARTA's reliability 22 percent during the past year and improved on-time performance "substantially," according to the agency.

Meanwhile, the agency also is hosting a three-day rail-car symposium beginning today. MARTA and other local transportation officials will outline the region's transit expansion plans with rail-car manufacturers and begin review the types of vehicles, technologies and systems that will best complement future transit plans.

The first in a series of symposiums, this one focuses on light-rail systems and streetcars. Car manufacturers expected to attend include Alstom, United Streetcar, Stadler, Siemens, Kinkisharyo, Breda, Bombardier and CAF.