MARTA Five Points Station Transformation Community

MARTA Five Points Station Transformation

people on the train platform waiting to get on — A Station Transformation for
MARTA Five Points

Project location

Atlanta, GA

Project phase

Approved

image of Five Points Station interior. People are waiting for the train — Transforming Transit continues with a redesign of MARTA’s Five Points station

MARTA continues to move forward with creating a better, more connected Atlanta. At the center of it all, the Five Points Station has served us well. For over 25 years, MARTA has moved over 3.5 billion people throughout the region, with Five Points being the busiest station. We are giving the station the much needed love that it deserves, by redesigning and constructing a state-of-the-art station that we know will make the experience better for our riders and attract others to the station.

Reimagine Five Points

As we re-envision the Five Points Station, we imagine a space in which we can create community and make connections. The redesign and renovation includes a newly designed plaza level, improved wayfinding and transfers for our customers, and public spaces that allow for more retail and activities. The interior platform levels will also be renovated to improve the experience for customers. We invite you to be a part of this process!

What's in the Works

The platform level of the Five Points Station is in progress of rehabilitation with the following upgrades:

New tile on floors and walls
New wall cladding
New public art installations
New benches, trash receptacles, and decorative railings
Restoration of the Eisenman Façade
New LED lighting and ceiling systems
Installation of new high-volume fans for improved air flow

MARTA’s project team on the Five Points Transformation has presented a preferred design concept reached with its partners at the City of Atlanta that would create a compelling new civic space and transit hub in Downtown Atlanta.

MARTA and the City began working on plans for the Five Points Transformation project in 2019 and the project team has since held hundreds of meetings with the general public, MARTA customers, surrounding property owners, and other community leaders. The challenge was establishing a site plan that would support MARTA long-term transit operations while balancing the many needs, activities, and future investment coming to the surrounding community.

graphic showing the context of neighborhood developments

The following principles were established to guide the design process.

The design concept anticipates the upcoming deconstruction of the existing concrete canopy structure, to be replaced with a new canopy that allows ample light and ventilation above. The plaza level will incorporate community activities, public art, agriculture, and gathering places. The concourse level will feature retail, public art, and customer amenities.

A critical factor in determining the layout of the site plan was accommodating the needs of MARTA customers who travel to and through Five Points every day by both train and bus. Five Points is the hub of the MARTA system, which requires a range of considerations:

Five Points currently serves 10 bus routes (seven terminate there and three pass by). When compared to the rest of MARTA’s service area, these routes provide direct access to our heavy rail system with fewer transfers and shorter travel times, which means greater access to opportunity. The demographics of these routes are shown below.

While the design concept offers much more detail on the structural and operational layout, there is still extensive public input needed as the project moves ahead into full design. The concept creates potential spaces for activities, but the exact placement and programming of these activities requires more engagement in the near future.

map graphic of active programming including community garden, flexible play field, grove, and cafe with terraced seating.

MARTA is proud to be working with teams at SOM, a globally recognized transportation design firm, and Skanska, a proven leader in the construction of extremely complex major infrastructure projects around the world.

Infographic showcasing the achievements of SOM and SKANSKA

We are also proud to work with the Atlanta-based Hummingbird Firm to conduct and document public engagement through the delivery of the project. Thank you to the hundreds of customers and interested citizens who have engaged with the project so far, either through in-person events or on this website. Please stay tuned to the website and sign up for email updates to stay informed.

Please take some time to review the presentation, as well as a video with fly-through renderings that allow you to experience the possibility of what’s to come. We hope this further inspires our customers and neighbors to offer their ideas for bringing this concept to life.

We have much more to come and we look forward to delivering a project worthy of our customers and the City of Atlanta.

- MARTA’s Five Points Transformation project team

Resources:

What's Happening Next

Check the Timeline for upcoming events and estimated dates for design and construction. We invite you to subscribe to email updates and share your thoughts with us in our Feedback section.

Ways to Get Involved

Learn More

Learn more about the project - from design to construction.

Share Ideas

What comes to mind when you think about a transformed Five Points station? Share your thoughts and read what others are saying.

Tune In

block 3 — A Team of Global Leaders

This transformation project is led by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM), a global leader in city design, transportation planning, and structural design. SOM is supported by several core subconsultants (Axis Infrastructure, EXP, and Tate and Hansen) and a number of specialty subconsultants.

Public Benefits

Pedestrian Streetscape

Creating a welcoming and safe destination that prioritizes streets and sidewalks and incorporates elements like landscaping, lighting, wayfinding

Public Art

Honoring the legacy of the Five Points Station by incorporating public art throughout and creating designs that reflect the culture of the neighborhood

Retail

Envisioning the site to allow for the flexibility of future development and integrating retail spaces into the station design

Transportation

Improving mobility and access for buses, cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists to bring different modes together in a safe and efficient way

Community Space

Reimagining how we use the station's open space to transform the station into a destination where people come to gather together

Sustainability

Incorporating sustainable design and construction practices and creating green spaces in an urban environment that captures the spirit of Atlanta’s moniker as a “City in a Forest”