Be one of the first to get your new Breeze Card! You can pre-order a free Breeze Card online at www.breezecard.com or pickup a form at MARTA RideStores through September 1st. Cards will be mailed in September.

The Breeze Card, which can be used for up to four years, is designed for all MARTA customers and provides a variety of new features including balance protection, loading and reloading of value, and convenient fare programs. The Breeze Card will also act as a transfer eliminating the need for cumbersome tokens and paper transfers.

For more information about Breeze, please visit www.breezecard.com or call 404-848-5000.

For the first time in nine years, MARTA has ended the fiscal year without an operating deficit. While the year end financial results will not be finalized until an audit is complete, ending the year $19 million better than expected is a significant milestone for the Authority.

Eliminating the operating deficit required a strong financial "tone from the top" as well as many difficult decisions over the past few years including cuts to service and reductions in MARTA's workforce. The Authority continues to look for ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency while providing safe, reliable public transportation. Management is currently developing mid-year budget adjustments in order to ensure continued financial stability.

MARTA relies in large part on sales tax and passenger revenue to operate - funding sources which fluctuate from month to month and year to year based on constantly changing economic conditions. While MARTA works with the state's top economic forecasters to develop budgets that take all of this into account, it is important that the Authority maintains strong reserves.

While MARTA's current financial situation makes it possible to consider making changes that will positively impact our customers' experience, decisions will be made carefully — making sure that whatever decisions are made can be sustained and that MARTA's financial stability remains secure.

MARTA provides the best way to get to all the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech games this 2006 football season.

The Falcons host their last preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, August 31st at 7:30 p.m. and will kick off the regular season at home on Sunday, September 17th at 1:00 p.m. against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For only $1.75 each way, Falcons fans can take MARTA's East/West line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Vine City stations for convenient and affordable access to the Georgia Dome. Visit www.atlantafalcons.com for the complete 2006 schedule.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets kick off their 2006 season on Saturday, September 2nd against Notre Dame at 8:00 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Midtown. The stadium is easily accessible from MARTA's North Avenue station. Tech fans can take the North-South line to North Avenue and walk just three blocks west to the game. The Yellow Jackets 2006 schedule is available at www.ramblinwreck.com.

For more information on taking MARTA to cheer on your team this season, call 404-848-5000 or visit the website at www.itsmarta.com.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) Police Chief Wanda Y. Dunham has been recognized with the 2006 Chief Willie Smoot Community Service Award presented by the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NABLEO). The award is presented to individuals or organizations that contribute to enhancing the law enforcement profession and foster positive relationships between police and the community. The award was established in honor of former New Jersey Housing Authority Police Chief Willie Smoot and his brother Lieutenant Sidney Smoot who worked to bring together black police officers and strengthen the relationship between police and the community.

Chief Dunham is the first African American and first female Chief in the Authority's history. Dunham has served with the Department since 1987 and was appointed Interim Police Chief after former Chief Gene Wilson resigned in 2005. She was also the first female member of the Department to achieve the ranks of Captain, Major, and Assistant Chief.

The award was presented at a luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel during NABLEO's Summer Education and Training Conference, which brings together law enforcement representatives from across the country.

Come join the MARTA Police Department's Citizen Police Academy to learn what it takes to protect the safety and security of a transit system. Classes begin on September 5th and are held every Tuesday for eleven weeks from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Citizen Police Academy is strictly an informational course, and does not certify participants to become Georgia Certified Police Officers.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and undergo a criminal history and driving record check. The application deadline is Friday, August 25, 2006. Applications are available at www.itsmarta.com or by contacting the MARTA Police Department at 404-848-4900.

MARTA will be performing major track renovation work on Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27. MARTA customers are advised to allow extra travel time throughout the weekend as construction related delays are possible.

On the North/South line, trains will run every 25 minutes throughout the weekend. Only Doraville trains will travel south of Lakewood Station. Customers traveling to stations on the North Springs line will need to change trains at Lakewood.

On the East/West line, trains will run using the normal weekend schedule (every 15 minutes).

This work is part of an $80 million capital program to renovate all 48 miles of MARTA rail by early 2007. This, combined with a separate program to rehabilitate existing rail cars, will provide MARTA customers with a virtually new rail system when complete.

Customers needing more information should call 404-848-5000 or visit www.itsmarta.com.