MARTA's conversion to the new Breeze smart card system is reaching an important milestone. By mid-July, all of MARTA's rail stations will have the new fare gates and vending machines - a map highlighting completed stations is available at www.breezecard.com. Bus installation is also well underway and expected to be complete by the end of July.

Until the new system is completely installed on rail and bus, customers can continue to use either cash, tokens, TransCards or one-way "limited use" Breeze tickets to ride MARTA — however — as of September 30, 2006, tokens will no longer be accepted in Breeze Vending Machines and bus fare boxes. Customers still possessing tokens at that time will have until March 30, 2007, to exchange them for an equivalent value on Breeze cards. Today's 10 and 20 token rolls will be replaced with 10-trip and 20-trip Breeze cards at the same prices of $17.50 and $30, respectively.

For more information and updates on Breeze, visit www.breezecard.com or call 404-848-5000. Representatives are also available to speak to community organizations about the Breeze program — contact 404-848-5528 or speaker@itsmarta.com.

MARTA has partnered with two of Atlanta's most popular attractions, the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta, to make it easier for residents and visitors alike to visit both in one day. The new "A to Z" runs seven days a week, provides a convenient transportation alternative and is part of MARTA's continuing effort to design service to meet the needs of our community.

The "A to Z" bus runs from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The bus fare is $1.75 and customers can also use MARTA's unlimited weekend, weekly and monthly passes on the route. Patrons can easily access Bus 97 from the Five Points Station to travel to the Aquarium and Zoo.

For a limited time, Zoo Atlanta is offering a $3 discount off the regular ticket price to patrons who ride MARTA to the Zoo and present a TransCard, limited use Breeze ticket, or transfer. Two specially wrapped buses featuring scenes from the Aquarium and Zoo are currently traveling throughout MARTA's service area to promote the new route.

MARTA recently hosted Scotland's Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Tavish Scott during a visit to Atlanta to research transportation planning and regional growth. Scott and his staff joined Her Majesty's Consul-General for the Southeast Martin Rickerd, and First Secretary at the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., Michael Keller, for a special presentation at MARTA Headquarters.

The group received briefings on the Breeze Fare Collection System, scheduling and trip planning technology and the overall history and development of MARTA. The group also shared information about recent efforts to establish a more regional transportation system.

Scott hopes to use MARTA programs as a model to implement a smart card based system similar to Breeze and coordinate a more regional approach to transit planning in Scotland.

MARTA is the best way to get to all Atlanta area July 4th events, with extra service throughout the day to accommodate customers heading to the Peachtree Road Race, Salute2America parade, the Braves game and fireworks displays all over town.

Trains will run every 10 minutes on all lines from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m., with both Doraville and North Springs trains continuing service to the Airport Station. Peachtree Road Race participants can take the North/South line to Buckhead or Lenox Station for convenient access to the start line, and can catch the train at Midtown Station for the return trip.

For the Braves vs. Cardinals game at Turner Field, MARTA's Braves shuttle will depart from Five Points Station's Underground/World of Coca-Cola location beginning two hours before the game and ending after the fireworks display.

Customers are also encouraged to purchase two one-way fares at the start of their trip. Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA parking facilities. Some bus routes will be rerouted for both the Peachtree Road Race and the WSB Salute2America Parade. Please visit www.itsmarta.com for more information on MARTA's July 4th service.

MARTA's operations and maintenance teams were winners in the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) 14th Annual International Rail Rodeo in New York. Out of 18 public transit agencies that competed, MARTA was awarded second place in both the overall Rail Transit Team Achievement Award competition and in the Rail Operator competition.

The Rail Transit Team Achievement Award recognizes teams who excel in maintaining the safety and efficiency of their transit system. This award is presented to the operator and maintenance team that achieves the highest score overall during the competition. The Rail Maintenance Teams are scored on maintenance skills including their knowledge of defective component identification, mechanical measuring devices, doors and circuit building. MARTA's winning team included rail operator Donald Woolfork, rail maintenance team members Jagmohan Chopra, Goyi Odume, Jason Stanley, and coaches Joe Erves, Sherby Philpot and Warren Taylor.

Donald Woolfork also placed second in the Rail Operators competition, which evaluates customer service delivery and operating skills in safety regulations, train equipment, wayside rules, regulation and procedures.

MARTA also competed in the Community Transportation Association of America's 2006 International Roadeo in Orlando, where Paratransit operator David Ward won 3rd place and operator Sylvia Primrose placed out of 59 contestants from transit agencies throughout the country. Contestants were judged on van maneuvers, a written test, pre-trip test, and wheelchair tie down test.

MARTA is pleased to congratulate these dedicated professionals on their outstanding accomplishments.

MARTA's Lindbergh City Center Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is expanding significantly this summer with the addition of new restaurants, retailers and a condominium construction project. The Authority has signed retail leases with Taco Mac, Lotus Tapas, Five Guys Burgers, Murphy's Market and First Alterations and recently sold land on the property for the development of a 352-unit mid-rise condominium complex. Construction is scheduled to begin this month.

Lindbergh City Center is a nationally-recognized, award-winning TOD project that already includes the Lindbergh MARTA station, MARTA headquarters, BellSouth offices, restaurants and an apartment complex. This is one of several MARTA TOD projects designed to help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by making transit a more convenient option to residents.