Moving from NYC to ATL how is the public transportation in ATL? (Atlanta: apartments)

[Elmira]

I will be relocation from NY to ATL. In NY i take the subway everyday to work which is about a 45 minute ride i take two different trains normally, sometimes three when i have to make a stop before i get home. how is the public commute in ATL? which areas does it serve? do they have trains? do they run frequently during the rush hour? when i move i will prefer to take public transportation to work. Please give me some feedback. Thank you

[Check123]

Get some good sneakers. You're in for a rude awakening.

Originally Posted by Elmira

I will be relocation from NY to ATL. In NY i take the subway everyday to work which is about a 45 minute ride i take two different trains normally, sometimes three when i have to make a stop before i get home. how is the public commute in ATL? which areas does it serve? do they have trains? do they run frequently during the rush hour? when i move i will prefer to take public transportation to work. Please give me some feedback. Thank you

[jaxx]

um yeah... u need a car, the subway here sucks and the bus system sucks. atlanta is a great city but it is so huge, (everything inside 285) that even if you take the marta (our train) you still need a car to get where ever from there. a car is a must... if you are not going to get a car, you will suffer from an extreme lack of mobility.

[atl1221]

5 words: Los Angeles of the South.

[Elmira]

I do have a car but to me taking the subway to work is very convenient, I will most likely try to live near my job. Thanks for your input

[noname]

It depends where you work and where you live. If you work downtown or in Midtown, you could live some places inside the perimeter and take the train to work. The catch is that I personally would not want to be on Atlanta public transportation at night -- I don't feel that it is as safe as NY, Boston, or Chicago's public transportation. If you work routine hours and don't mind living in an older neighborhood, you could do it.

[merlin70]

It's nothing like NYC. Then again, no other city in America is.

However, for some reasons Atlantans bash MARTA mercilessly. It isn't that bad folks. Depending on where you live, it's possible to take the train and get somewhat close to your work.

Regarding safety, I have never had a problem on a MARTA train. I used to take it all the time from the airport to North Springs, many times late at night arriving from a flight. Never an issue. In Chicago for example I've been accosted by homeless and other agressive panhandlers riding the train from Midway to the loop.

[stvincent]

Only 450,000 people live in the city of Atlanta but the suburbs has 4.5 million people. But, because the suburbs did not want MARTA in their respective areas, the millions of people who really make up Atlanta don't have access to it for the most part. Many people live in a suburb and commute to a suburb. There is no transit to help out most Alantans in saving on gas and commute time. Those that do ride Marta have to drive into a marta station so they can take the train the rest of the way.

The city is very expensive, which is why most people buy in the suburbs, but compared to NYC I guess its pretty cheap. Hopefully you can afford to live in Midtown or Downtown. Atlantic Station in Midtown is the most pedestrian friendly area of the city and is very easily accessible by transit. In that area, one can walk to the grocery store, the movies, restaurants, stores, etc. Its one of the few places in ATlanta where something like that is possible and the apartments and lofts are reasonably priced compared to New York but rediculously priced for Atlanta.