Breeze Cards are designed to fit the needs of all MARTA customers and MARTA offers a number of ways to get a free card. Customers can order a free Breeze Card at www.breezecard.com or by picking up a form from a customer service representative or MARTA RideStore. Free Breeze Cards will be available until Spring 2007. Customers can also purchase a card at any rail station vending machine for $5.

Breeze Cards can be loaded with up to $100 in stored value, multiple trips or monthly, weekly and weekend passes. The cards are designed to last for four years and are eligible for balance protection — a program through which registered customers can recover the value programmed on to their card if it is lost or stolen.

Before the end of the year, MARTA will offer customers the convenient option to use a credit or debit card to purchase fare at any Breeze vending machine.

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

The MARTA Board of Directors has approved a $13.8 million mid-year budget adjustment (annualized) that will improve cleanliness, customer service, safety, reliability and overall service delivery through:

System cleanliness & customer service improvements ($2.95 million)

• Additional phone representatives in call center to reduce hold time
• Improved maps and area information in rail stations
• Additional track and rail car cleaning staff
• Additional rail station maintenance staff
• Replacement of worn carpet in oldest rail cars

Reliability and safety initiatives ($3.01 million)

• Improved lighting in stations
• Additional staff to answer station emergency and information phones
• Adding rail maintenance staff at South Yard to get trains back into service faster
• More resources dedicated to the repair of rail car and rail station public address systems
• Additional programs to increase proactive maintenance of rail cars and tracks

Service Delivery Improvements ($7.86 million)

• Additional paratransit operators
• Expansion of evening service on Proctor Creek Line to run to Candler Park until 9 p.m.
• Bus service improvements that will address overcrowding, schedule adherence and customer convenience

MARTA has received the Advocacy Award from the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) program, which offers work opportunities to small businesses owned and controlled by minorities and women.

The Alliance presents the "Diversity Awards" to institutions, corporations, small business owners, agencies and advocacy groups that support diversity programs. MARTA's Department of Diversity and Equal Opportunity was recognized for its innovative work with socio-economically disadvantaged businesses.

Serving as a one-stop shop for educational resources, training opportunities, and a widely-recognized certification program, MARTA offers DBE's invaluable exposure to bid opportunities. The Authority also participates in one-on-one advisement sessions, small business contracting expositions and the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance's "How to Develop a Bid" series.

Small, socio-economically disadvantaged businesses that are 51 percent owned and controlled are eligible for DBE certification based on U.S. Department of Transportation requirements.

For more information about MARTA's DBE program, please visit the Department of Diversity and Equal Opportunity's website at www.itsmarta.com/about/deo or call 404-848-5000.

Customers on MARTA Route 12 and Cobb Community Transit (CCT) Route 10, are now enjoying an easier, more convenient ride between the two counties with the launch of a pilot program fostered by the Transit Planning Board (TPB).

While CCT has been able to bring customers to MARTA's Arts Center Station, current policies did not allow the system to pick anyone up within MARTA's service area. MARTA has been required to stop service at the county line, inconveniencing customers who needed to transfer to CCT to complete their trip.

MARTA's Bus Route 12 will now provide extended service to the Cumberland Mall area. The service operates between MARTA's Midtown Station and the Cumberland Boulevard Transfer Center seven days a week with selected trips serving the North Creek Office Park and the IBM Complex.

The new service started on Monday, November 20, 2006. Customers should check the providers' websites at www.cobbdot.org or www.itsmarta.com for schedule information. Customers pay at the point of boarding and transfers between the two systems are free.

MARTA has partnered with the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon to serve as the official transportation provider for the inaugural race on March 25, 2007. Race participants will have the opportunity to pre-purchase a one-way Breeze ticket when registering or during race weekend at the ING Georgia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo. MARTA fare can also be purchased at any rail station vending machine throughout the weekend.

Leading up to race weekend, MARTA will actively promote the marathon by displaying event information throughout the bus and rail system.

The race is expected to draw 15,000 participants and have an estimated $21 million economic impact on the city. The marathon course travels through 26.2 miles of metro Atlanta's most interesting and historical areas including the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park, Decatur, Midtown and Downtown.

Event organizers will also host the ING Georgia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo on March 23 & 24, 2007, at the AmericasMart, which is accessible by MARTA's Peachtree Center Station. The Expo is free to the public and is expected to draw over 30,000 attendees.

MARTA recently hosted the 2006 Model Atlanta Regional Commission (MARC), a youth leadership program sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to help inform and engage young people in planning for the region's future.

Atlanta-area students spent the day touring MARTA's Armour Yard Rail Maintenance facility and discussing transportation issues through a mock-simulation exercise.

Now in its ninth year, MARC teaches 10th and 11th grade students how to work together to develop solutions to regional challenges including transportation, air quality, human services, land use, water supply and quality as well as arts and culture. MARTA has partnered with ARC for the last 3 years on this initiative.