Green Line (MARTA)

{{Short description|Rapid transit line in Metro Atlanta, Georgia}} {{Use American English|date=April 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox rail line | name = Green Line | color = {{rcr|MARTA|Green}} | image = Bankhead MARTA station, Atlanta.JPG | image_width = 300px | caption = Bankhead station, the western terminus | type = Rapid transit | system = MARTA rail | status = Operational | locale = Atlanta, Georgia | start = Bankhead | end = Vine City (nights) King Memorial (weekends) Edgewood/Candler Park (weekdays) | stations = 9 | routes = | daily_ridership = | open = December 29, 1992<ref name=NYCSubway/> | owner = | operator = MARTA | character = at grade, elevated, underground | stock = See MARTA rail#Rolling stock | linelength = | tracklength = | tracks = | gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}} | minradius = | electrification = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}} | speed = | elevation = | map = {{Switcher | {{maplink-road|from=Green Line (MARTA).map}} Green Line highlighted in green | Show interactive map | {{Blue+Green Line (MARTA)|line=Green|inline=yes}} | Show route diagram }} }}

The '''Green Line''' is a rapid transit line in the MARTA rail system. It operates between {{stl|MARTA|Bankhead}} and {{stl|MARTA|Edgewood/Candler Park}} stations, running exclusively inside the Atlanta city limits. Weekend service operates only as far as {{stl|MARTA|King Memorial}} station, while nighttime service operates as a shuttle to {{stl|MARTA|Vine City}} station.

==History==

The Green Line is a stub of the originally planned North Line, which would have served points north beyond Bankhead such as Northside Drive in Brookwood Hills, serving the Perry Homes projects along the way. But the line was only ever built as far as Bankhead.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AI2un7Z177YC&q=bankhead+marta+line+perry+homes&pg=PA140| title=Atlanta: Race, Class, and Urban Expansion| first=Larry| last=Keating| via=Google Books| page=140| publisher=Temple University Press| year=2001| isbn=1566398215}}</ref>

Portions of what is now the Blue and Green Lines were opened between June 30 ({{stl|MARTA|Avondale}}-{{stl|MARTA|Georgia State}}) and December 22, 1979 (Five Points-{{stl|MARTA|Ashby}}), and are the first sections of the MARTA rail system to open.<ref name=NYCSubway>{{cite web |title=nycsubway.org: Atlanta, Georgia |url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Atlanta,_Georgia |website=www.nycsubway.org |access-date=15 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=Sams>{{cite web |last1=Sams |first1=Douglas |title=Jacoby eyes MARTA rail to Ford site |url=http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/06/09/story4.html?b=1212984000^1646264 |website=www.bizjournals.com |access-date=15 May 2024}}</ref> However, it wasn't until December 29, 1992<ref name=NYCSubway/> that the branch to {{stl|MARTA|Bankhead}}, then known as the '''Proctor Creek Line''',<ref name=EW>{{cite web |title=East-West Rail Line (and Proctor Creek) |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/EW.htm |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810114009/http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/EW.htm |archive-date=10 August 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref> opened. The Proctor Creek Line was originally grouped together with the rest of the East-West Rail Line,<ref>{{cite web |title=Getting There on MARTA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/index.htm |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801075651/http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/index.htm |archive-date=1 August 2003}}</ref> with both lines being labeled blue on maps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rail Schedules - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810115631/http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm |archive-date=10 August 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MARTA - Getting There - Rail Schedules & Maps |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060308102416/http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm |archive-date=8 March 2006}}</ref> After December 2006, however, the Proctor Creek Line began to be colored green on maps, distinguishing it from the rest of the East-West Rail Line.<ref>{{cite web |title=MARTA - Getting There - Rail Schedules & Maps |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm |publisher=Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229010003/http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm |archive-date=29 December 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, in 2009, MARTA introduced a color-coded system of naming for its rail lines,<ref>{{cite web |title=MARTA launches color-coded rail system |url=https://www.metro-magazine.com/10027012/marta-launches-color-coded-rail-system |website=www.metro-magazine.com |publisher=Metro Magazine |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126050754/https://www.metro-magazine.com/10027012/marta-launches-color-coded-rail-system |archive-date=26 January 2021 |date=2 October 2009}}</ref> leading to the Proctor Creek Line being officially renamed to the Green Line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rail Stations & Schedules |url=http://www.itsmarta.com/rail-schedules-or-route.aspx |website=www.itsmarta.com |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819122829/http://www.itsmarta.com/rail-schedules-or-route.aspx |archive-date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Future ==

On March 25, 2024, Andre Dickens, the mayor of Atlanta, announced plans for four new infill stations on the MARTA rail network.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansen |first1=Zachary |title=Atlanta mayor announces 4 new MARTA rail stations, including near Beltline |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-mayor-announces-4-new-marta-stations-including-near-beltline/4IFBOQEV2JGYZH2UGVY73X6GCI/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |date=March 25, 2024}}</ref> On April 11, Dickens announced that two of those stations will be on the Green Line: namely, Joseph E. Boone (located between Bankhead and Ashby) and Krog Street/Hulsey Yard, located on the Blue/Green Line's shared section.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bunch |first1=Riley |title=Mayor Dickens announces locations of new Atlanta MARTA stations |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-mayor-dickens-announces-locations-of-new-marta-stations/CLO3WW3IZRFYZJ26J56G3YJJ7I/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |date=April 11, 2024}}</ref>

Additionally, as of 2021, there are plans to extend the platforms at Bankhead station, the line's western terminus, to accommodate eight-car trains. When that happens, Green Line service will be extended eastward to {{stl|MARTA|Avondale}}, with stops at {{stl|MARTA|East Lake}} and {{stl|MARTA|Decatur}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atltransit.ga.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Combined-PowerPoint.pdf|title=ATL Board of Directors Meeting|date=February 4, 2021|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> A limited number of weekday Green Line trains do serve Avondale, though East Lake and Decatur are currently exclusively served by Blue Line trains.

==Operations==

The Green Line shares trackage with its counterpart, the Blue Line, between just west of Ashby and Edgewood/Candler Park. Green Line rush-hour trains start at Avondale and pass Decatur and East Lake without stopping before pulling onto a pocket track just east of Edgewood/Candler Park.

The Green Line service operates between Bankhead and Edgewood/Candler Park stations all day until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays only. On Saturday, Sunday & holidays, the Green Line operates between Bankhead and King Memorial stations all day until 9:00 p.m.

After 9:00 p.m., the Green Line service operates between Bankhead and Vine City stations only until the end of the service.<ref>{{cite web |title=MARTA |url=https://www.itsmarta.com/Green-Line.aspx |website=www.itsmarta.com |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref>

==Route== The Green Line runs above ground, at-grade and below ground in various portions of its route. It begins at the western terminus of Bankhead station, paralleling Proctor Creek through West Atlanta. (This is the only portion of the Green Line not to share trackage with any other route, albeit a short distance.) It is joined by the Blue Line before Ashby station. The Green Line enters downtown Atlanta, where it meets the Red and Gold Lines at Five Points station. It continues into East Atlanta, where the Green Line reaches its eastern terminus at Edgewood/Candler Park station, while the Blue Line continues on to Indian Creek station.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

=== Stations === ''listed from west to east'' {{small|● all trains stop}} {{small|▲ trains stop weekdays only}} {|class=wikitable !rowspan=2| Station !rowspan=2| Code !rowspan=2| Opened !rowspan=2| Rail Line Transfer !colspan=2| Service pattern |- !Main Line {{small|Regular service}} !Shuttle {{small|9:00 pm – 1:00 am}} |- |Bankhead || P4 || December 29, 1992<ref name=NYCSubway/>|| ||align=center| ● ||align=center| ● |- |Ashby || W3 || rowspan="4" | December 22, 1979<ref name=NYCSubway/>|| {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ● ||align=center| ● |- |Vine City || W2 || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ● ||align=center| ● |- |GWCC/CNN Center || W1 || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ● || |- |Five Points{{refn|group=note|name=FivePoints|The platforms for what is now the Red and Gold Lines opened in 1981, two years after the East-West Line platforms.}} || || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} {{RouteBox|Red|Red Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Red}}|white}} {{RouteBox|Gold|Gold Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Gold}}|white}}||align=center| ● || |- |Georgia State || E1 || rowspan="4" | June 30, 1979<ref name=NYCSubway/> || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ● || |- |King Memorial || E2 || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ● || |- |Inman Park/Reynoldstown || E3 || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ▲ || |- |Edgewood/Candler Park || E4 || {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (MARTA)|#{{rcr|MARTA|Blue}}|white}} ||align=center| ▲ || |} {{reflist|group=note}}

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} * [http://itsmarta.com/pc-overview.aspx Green Line overview] * [https://itsmarta.com/Green-Line.aspx Green Line schedule]

Category:Green Line (MARTA) Category:Railway lines opened in 1992