A one-way flat-rate fare currently costing US$1.75 allows for free transfers between bus and rail services. In late 2006 MARTA switched from a token-based fare collection to a new smart card fare collection system called Breeze Card. Fare reciprocity agreements also allow for free transfer to and from other county and regional transit agencies outside of the MARTA service area.

MARTA is unique in that it is the largest United States transit agency not to receive state operational funding. The system is funded primarily by a 1% sales tax levied in its service area and passenger revenue. MARTA is a public authority operated by a board of directors appointed by the City of Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb counties, with additional seats appointed by Gwinnett and Clayton counties and the State of Georgia. There exist several plans for the expansion of heavy rail and light rail service in the MARTA system - however, the only current active project is the implementation of bus rapid transit along a single corridor.

In recent years MARTA has been criticized for being unreliable and difficult to use and for its perceived wasteful spending. Supporters of MARTA have been critical of the lack of state and regional financial support given to MARTA. Neighboring counties (Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton) have refused to support MARTA service in their counties, and each one of these counties now has its own independent transit system consisting of local and express bus routes, some of which connect to the MARTA system. Opposition to MARTA from neighboring counties has been primarily due to MARTA's poor service, consistent record of delays, and crimes occurring on MARTA buses and rail platforms.Fact: date=October 2008

History

Construction began on the MARTA system in 1975, with the first rail service commencing on June 30, 1979. The system has since built most of the proposed rail lines, as well as stations in Sandy Springs and North Springs which were not included in the original plan. The missing rail segments include a Tucker-North DeKalb line with service to Emory University and North Druid Hills, a Northwest line with service to Brookwood and Northside Drive, extension of the West line to Brownlee-Boulder Park near Fairburn Road, extension of the Proctor Creek line to Perry Homes, and a branch off of the south line to Hapeville.

MARTA system

MARTA is composed of both heavy rail transit and bus transit that operate primarily within the boundaries of Fulton and DeKalb counties. Exceptions to this service area include the Airport station and of rail located in Clayton County and one bus route to Cobb County's Cumberland Boulevard Transfer Center. For fiscal year 2006, the average weekday ridership was 451,064. Overall for the year, bus and paratransit ridership was 69,194,285, while rail ridership was 69,209,027.