Page 25 - DeKalb Bicentennial Flipbook

Decatur is on the MARTA Blue Line,
below Decatur’s public square. Trains
run approximately every 20 minutes
during transit times.

LEADING THE SOUTHEAST

IN I NNOVATION

By the 1950s, people were relying more on the public bus system to commute to work and to move around Atlanta
and its suburbs. As MARTA describes it, they didn’t put up 48 miles of rail or 740 bus stops overnight. Years of
legislative work and a voter referendum made the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority a reality.

eKalb was the first suburban county to “MARTA has produced tremendous fruit in terms of
embrace MARTA, setting the stage for the quality of life in DeKalb County,” said DeKalb County
County’s growth and prosperity today. The CEO Michael Thurmond.
D first MARTA train left the Avondale station In 1996 the Olympics came to Atlanta. It was a thrilling time
for the Georgia State station in 1979. The turnstiles were to live in DeKalb. The Southwest DeKalb High School band was
circling and today, smart growth plans are being strategically the only high school band to perform in the opening ceremonies.
planned around mass transit. Some Olympic competitions were held at Stone Mountain Park.

Sp i rit o f D eK alb – B i centen n ial 1822-2022 23