Over 610,000 MARTA customers caught the Breeze and ordered a card by the July 1st deadline to get a free one — far surpassing MARTA's goal to distribute half a million cards. With conversion complete, all customers are now enjoying the significant benefits that are available with the new system. The card can be conveniently loaded with cash value, trips and discount passes, and customers can pay using cash, credit or debit cards.

In addition, the Breeze "tap to exit" function is a new feature that further streamlines travel and enhances service planning and security efforts for MARTA. Customers are now required to tap their Breeze card or ticket to the gate in order to exit a rail station. Previously, gates were set to open when customers approached the gates to exit.

A transfer from rail to bus is automatically loaded when customers tap their Breeze card or ticket to exit a rail station - eliminating the need for paper transfers and simplifying the process for customers.

Additionally, this feature enables MARTA to record more accurate ridership data to identify the busiest locations and peak travel times. This information helps MARTA to improve service planning and scheduling. Tapping to exit also enhances security by ensuring that only MARTA customers are entering and exiting the system.

Shirley Henderson of Atlanta recently learned that it pays to use your Breeze card! Henderson was the grand prize winner of free rides for one year as part of MARTA's Breeze card sweepstakes.

The sweepstakes, which was held from April 3rd to June 1st, was designed to reward customers for using the new Breeze card. By simply tapping the card to pay a fare, customers became eligible to win 7-day and 30-day passes as well as the grand prize. Prizes were given out through the special promotion.

Last month MARTA was awarded with Bentley System's "BE Award of Excellence" for best return on innovation during their annual international conference.

Bentley selected MARTA for the successful implementation of the Optram software and EAM interface, which was purchased and implemented as part of MARTA's Business Transformation Program (BTP). The software displays a schematic of MARTA's tracks and rail yards along with inspection, maintenance data, costs, asset attributes, as-built drawings, etc, in one window. This gives the Track & Structures department powerful planning tools for identifying problem areas or the possible need for design changes.

In October of last year, MARTA began relying on Bentley's Optram solution for rail condition analysis and planning. The system interoperates directly with MARTA's enterprise asset management system to automatically generate work orders and capture progress, history, and cost information for reuse in future decision making.

As a result of this implementation, MARTA has already shown a 71 percent reduction in the time it takes to analyze rail condition data and verify problem areas. With the ability to practice proactive maintenance, MARTA Track and Structures foresees dramatic reductions in maintenance and renewal costs, as well as track defects.

Bentley Systems, Incorporated provides software for the lifecycle of infrastructure, including rail systems. The company's comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial verticals spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations.

Don't spend your last days of summer caught in traffic. MARTA is the best way to get to great destinations around Atlanta or take a trip out of town by catching the train to the Airport.

MARTA gets you quickly and conveniently to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a rail station that drops off right inside the terminal. Luggage areas are available on all trains to store bags.

Planning to enjoy the rest of the summer in Atlanta? MARTA's shuttle services get you to all the great attractions — the Atlanta Braves Games, Six Flags and the Hi Fi Buys Amphitheatre.

The Braves Shuttle begins 90 minutes before each home game and runs every 15 minutes until one hour after the final out. It originates from the Underground and returns to that location until the seventh inning. After the seventh inning, fans are taken to MARTA's Five Points Rail Station.

The Six Flags shuttle service runs from the H.E. Holmes rail station on the East/West rail line directly to Six Flags. The service operates every 40 minutes on the days the park is open from approximately one hour before the park opens until approximately one hour after closing.

Shuttle service to the Hi Fi Buys Amphitheater is provided from the Lakewood rail station on the North/South line. The shuttle runs from 90 minutes before the scheduled concert start time until the last music fan leaves.

Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA parking facilities.

For more information about taking MARTA, call customer service at 404/848-5000 or visit www.itsmarta.com.