Customers must order a Breeze card before July 1st to get one for free. Free cards will only be available through June 30th, and MARTA is encouraging all customers, whether they use the system every day or every so often, to get a Breeze card.

Getting one is easy! Customers can pick up an order form at any MARTA rail station, call 404-848-5000 or visit breezecard.com. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

The card lasts approximately 4 years and offers numerous convenient features. Customers can pay with cash, credit or debit cards to load the Breeze card with cash value, trips and discount passes. The card can also be registered for balance protection so that the value on the card can be restored if it is ever lost or stolen.

Beginning July 1st, customers need to be prepared for several changes.

Additional features will be rolled out in the near future to enhance customer convenience. Breeze cards and tickets will be used to pay at all MARTA parking lots. A website feature will also be added so that customers can view their accounts online and add value to the card.

Escape rising gas prices this summer by taking MARTA. For only a $1.75 each way, MARTA is by far the most affordable option for commuting to work and traveling to enjoy all the great activities in Atlanta. Weekly and monthly passes provide customers an even better discount with unlimited rides for one set price.

Need proof? See the savings by checking out the Commute Calculator on MARTA's website at www.itsmarta.com to compare the cost of driving to taking MARTA.

For more information on taking MARTA, please contact customer service at 404/848-5000 or visit the website.

MARTA makes it easy to enjoy July 4th events in Atlanta with extra service running throughout the day to help customers get to the Peachtree Road Race, area parades, and fireworks displays.

Trains will run every 10 minutes on all lines from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Customers are encouraged to purchase roundtrip fare at the start of their trip to avoid long lines on the return. Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA parking facilities. Some bus routes will be re-routed for both the Peachtree Road Race and the WSB Salute2America Parade. Please visit www.itsmarta.com or call Customer Information at 404-848-5000 for more information on MARTA's July 4th service.

Listed below are the stations most convenient to various July 4th events:

• Peachtree Road Race - 7:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
  Start of Race: Buckhead or Lenox Station
  End of Race: Midtown Station
• USA Boy's Junior Olympic Volleyball Championship - 9 a.m. — 9:00 p.m.
  Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station
• WSB Salute2America Parade - 12:30 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.
  Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center, Five Points or Peachtree Center Station
• 4th of July at Lenox Square - 6:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
  Lenox or Buckhead Station
  Streets around Lenox Square will be closed starting at 6:00 p.m.
• 4th of July at Centennial Park - 6:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
  Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Peachtree Center Station
  Customers should expect delays on routes 1 and 11.

Take MARTA's Peach (Bus Route 110), and you are only minutes away from enjoying all the great restaurants, shops and attractions along Peachtree Street. This summer, the Peach is the best way to experience some of Atlanta's most popular and historic locations on this famous thoroughfare.

Specially designed Peach buses provide service from Downtown to Buckhead, running every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m., seven days a week. Fare is $1.75, including transfers, and customers can also use unlimited weekly and monthly passes.

For more information about The Peach, contact customer service at 404-848-5000 or visit www.itsmarta.com.

In the near future, customers can expect to see new mixed-use development around the Brookhaven rail station thanks to a zoning overlay district created by the DeKalb County Commission last month. This zoning district provides MARTA with an important tool to begin developing the 11 acres it owns around the station into a live, work and play community.

For the newest installment in its award winning Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program, MARTA plans to offer its property for development, which could include office, retail, residential and community space. Additionally, funds were recently approved by the Atlanta Regional Commission's Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) to assist in the redevelopment of parking at the station to maintain spaces for customers. LCI funds support community developments that coordinate transit and land use plans to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

Since the start of the TOD program in 1983, MARTA has focused on creating mixed use developments around rail stations to increase transit ridership, improve the quality of life in the community and generate operating revenue for the Authority through sales and leases. MARTA has a number of TOD projects underway, and its nationally recognized flagship TOD, Lindbergh City Center continues to experience significant growth and serve as a model for the Atlanta region.

MARTA will hold a Community Exchange meeting on Thursday, June 28, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at the DeKalb County Chamblee Library (4115 Clairmont Road) to discuss opportunities to improve service in the North DeKalb area, which runs south of the top of I-285, east of Georgia 400, west of Chamblee Tucker Road and north of Briarcliff Road.

The meeting will give customers an opportunity to provide feedback about Bus Routes 25, 33, 39, 41, 47, 70, 91, 103, 104, 124, 125, 126, 132, 139, and 329, which serve this area, and MARTA service as a whole. No changes are planned for these routes at this time. Maps of the North DeKalb area will be on display so that customers can offer suggestions for future service.

Community exchanges are part of MARTA's regular effort to receive public feedback and ensure that service continues to meet the needs of customers. All members of the public are invited to attend and offer comments about service in this community. Staff will be available to gather input, provide information and answer questions.

• Directions using MARTA:
  Take Bus Route 70 Chamblee, which runs between Brookhaven (N8) and Chamblee (N9) Stations. The bus passes by the Library on Clairmont Road about a 1/2 mile from the Chamblee Station.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department recently held their annual Awards Luncheon to recognize police personnel, MARTA staff and civilians who contributed to protecting the safety and security of transit customers and the community in the past year.

The following awards were presented:

Micah Brown Officer of the Year Award - Officer Peter M. LaFleur, a 4 year member of the Department, was recognized for his professionalism and integrity, commitment to exceeding expectations and participation in youth mentoring programs in the community.

MARTA Police Department Civilian of the Year Award -Gregory Horton, a CJIT\Dispatcher, provided comprehensive training for new Police Communications employees and recommended and implemented initiatives to improve unit morale and increase employee retention rates.

Supervisor of the Year Award - Lieutenant Efren C. Glover, a 14 year veteran with the Department, has served as a motivational leader for his division, coordinating support for the Department's mission and principles and improving overall employee morale.

Darren Tilmon/Detective of the Year Award - Detective Miguel Albarron, a 15 year veteran of the Department, performed various duties in multiple departments, successfully led a variety of investigations throughout the year and completed advanced training in the field of criminal investigation.

Top Shooter Award for 2007 - Officer Michael D. Cain received the highest score during the spring firearms qualifications class and demonstrated excellent marksmanship skills using basic shooting fundamentals.

Citation for Bravery - Sergeant Bobby Arnold, Officer Jeri Davenport, Officer Mary Hockaday for performing an act of bravery in the line of duty.

Lifesaving Medal - Officer Jacob Moore, Officer Wayne Chisolm, and Officer Brian Warr for performing a lifesaving act under extraordinary circumstances.

Civilian Award - Presented to individuals other than MARTA Police Officers who perform a courageous act or offer special assistance to the Department.

• Lynette Banks — MARTA Breeze customer service representative
• Frank Hubert — MARTA Bus Operator
• Fredrick Scott Smith, Rhonda Briggins and Scott Haggard — MARTA Government Relations
• Sabrina Avery — MARTA staff
• State Representative Jill Chambers
• Malia Daniels — Grady EMS
• Andrew Jackson — Customer
• Assistant Principal Willie Shelby and Coach Victor Carter — Washington High School

Chief's Award - Presented to personnel for outstanding police work.

• Individual Citation — Farouk Baksh, Luis Matta, Officer Jedidia Hazlewood, Officer Isaiah Lee, Vickie Stewart, Officer Paris Swinson
• Unit Citation — Motor Unit successfully conducted a variety of diverse tasks as a cohesive unit and acted as consummate professionals when representing MARTA at numerous community events. Members include Officer Michael Thurmond, Officer Brian Harper, Officer Jacob Moore, Officer Matthew Carrier, Officer Vaughn Samuel and Officer Jessie Tarplin.