MARTA adds parking space, rolls out real-time parking tracker as ridership grows

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has added 1,200 new parking spots at five high-traffic rail stations.

The agency's Chamblee, King Memorial, Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, Kensington and East Point stations now include additional parking for morning commuters, MARTA officials said in a press release.

MARTA's police department also will have an increased presence around the expanded lots, while other reassigned agency staff will be placed at designated locations to assist first-time customers.

The agency's ridership has been on the upswing following the fire and bridge collapse on Interstate-85 late last month. MARTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Keith Parker last week said ridership jumped as much as 25 percent following the incident.

Meanwhile, the agency on Monday launched a web-based parking tracker tool as ridership continues to grow.

The webpage provides up-to-the-minute capacity updates for 10 parking facilities across MARTA's rail system. The site offers real-time updates for the morning rush hour Monday through Friday, with periodic updates made throughout the business day.

"The launch of this real-time parking platform enables riders to plan their morning commutes to our various stations that have been near or at capacity since the I-85 bridge collapse," Parker said. "With the increase in ridership, it is imperative that we look to enhance our communications to help make everyone's commute as worry-free as possible."

To help alleviate parking congestion, MARTA has encouraged riders to use ride-sharing services, carpool or bike. The agency also has partnered with Uber to provide a 50 percent discount off the ride-sharing company's pool fare trips to and from MARTA stations.