How Are New Xpress Routes Determined?

From the summer of 2004 to the end of 2008, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) launched 27 Xpress routes* from 12 metro Atlanta counties and added service to several along the way.

How does GRTA determine when and where to begin new Xpress routes?

GRTA, a state authority created by the Georgia Legislature in 1999, began planning for a regional express commuter bus system in 2002. The Xpress service plan was adopted as part of the Regional Transit Action Plan in 2003. The service plan, developed by a team of veteran transit consultants and GRTA staff, envisioned an initial phase of almost 40 routes by the end of the decade.

GRTA has generally followed the service plan introducing a few routes every few months as funding, coaches and trained operators become available. In some cases, GRTA veered from the plan because of unexpected factors. Direct Midtown Atlanta routes were initiated in late 2005 and early 2006, for example, based on the growing employment base in Midtown and customer interest. By creating those Midtown routes, GRTA also helped relieve overcrowding on three downtown routes.

Operational funding that helps subsidize fares for Xpress routes is provided by the State of Georgia and the 12 counties participating in Xpress – Clayton, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale. New routes in this initial phase are based mostly on GRTA’s commitments to these local government partners.

The decision as to when to begin a new route is based on several factors. Xpress is a public transportation service. State and local funding, available coaches not already obligated for other routes, trained operators and a suitable park & ride location all are necessary before a route can begin.

Xpress will continue to evaluate decisions to begin new routes based on the level of customer interest as well as these other factors mentioned above to provide an attractive alternative transportation service for metro Atlanta commuters whenever possible.

(*Route 467 was discontinued in 2006.)