anne marie

Hey,
Has anyone used MARTA to go
from the Atlanta airport to
Alpharetta?
If so, is it okay , ie. clean
and safe?
Thanks

CM in Biloxi

That is a very easy, safe and comfortable way to go. Some stops north of the airport are a little hairy, but I've never ever felt unsafe. Just stay on the northbound train and you'll get right to Alpharetta.

Have fun!

Brian in Atlanta

MARTA is safe and good transportation, but it won't get you to Alpharetta. The furthest north it goes is to Sandy Springs which is about 10 miles south of Alpharetta. You're best off in a cab unless you're arriving between 3:30 and 6:00 PM on a weekday in which case I'd take the train as far north as it goes and then cab the rest.

anne marie

Can I board the train on
the airport, ie. lower levels
or something?

And does Sandy Springs have
rental car pickups nearby?

Thanks

realist

never rode marta but shouldn't it should send up a red flag if even the locals say that there are a few dodgy stops on the way to wherever your going? life is too precious, call a car service or have someone pick you up. don't risk your life to save a few bucks.

Don

You take a risk when you take a cab, too. I took MARTA to the airport from Peachtree Center about this time last year and it was fine. Just be aware of your surroundings and don't look like easy prey--same with any large city in the world. MARTA is very cheap--$1.75 one-way from anywhere/to anywhere they go.

Don

And yes, you can board MARTA at the airport. Just follow the signs to ground transport and look for the MARTA station.

Jill

I believe there is a Enterprise rental near the Sandy Springs station. They will come and pick you up at the station if you call them.
I really wouldn't worry about Marta. I lived downtown on Ga Tech campus for 4 years and used MARTA quite a bit. Too me, it seems safer than other mass transit systems like NYC and London, but at the same time I wouldn't travel alone at night on it. If you are by yourself during the day or with someone in the evening, you will be fine.

T.M.

While I don't ride it every day, I have taken MARTA several times since it first opened. Nobody has ever bothered me and that includes coming back from some late-ending Braves games.

Of course if you're riding alone at midnight on any form of public transportation, you want to be more observant of your surroundings. But it is in no way a dangerous form of transportation.

Since Alpharetta is in Fulton County, the buses do go all the way up there. I'm sure it is possible you might catch a bus from the Sandy Springs train station. I know the buses go to North Point Mall.

RB

You can ride the MARTA North Line train to its terminus, North Springs. From there, you can either cab it or ride the Rt. 85 Roswell/Alpharetta bus, which stops at several points. Call MARTA customer service at 404-848-4711 and ask them the best way to get to your location if you want to do the train/bus combo. The Sandy Springs station is one stop below North Springs; you could check out Pirate Jill's advice about Enterprise rental service. Check out the MARTA web site at www.itsmarta.com.- it has excellent directions on how to locate the station at the airport:
http://www.itsmarta.com/around/airport.htm

dlo

I take MARTA 3x a week to and from work.

Noone pays any attention to anyone, and people are coming and going to the airport all the time.

Not to worry!

anne marie

Thanks for all the feedback!
Would you say that it's safe
to wander around Sandy Springs
to catch a bus? This would
be around 4-5 PM.
(Sorry, I'm from a rural town
in Florida)

I guess my other option would
be to get a shuttle from the hotel
in Alpharetta. Has anyone done this?

Thanks

Kay

Perhaps if you would tell us what hotel you are headed to in Alpharetta we could give you the very specific advice you want.

As for general info, yes, it's fine to ride MARTA at 4-5 pm--you'll be packed in with all the commuters from downtown northward. City bus for the final leg not very practical if you have luggage.

The MARTA website given before is your first stop once you know your hotel location. To get to the MARTA train in the airport, you will come into a gate on a concourse, go down the escalator and then ride the train or walk to baggage claim in the main terminal. From there you go toward ground transportation and there is a MARTA station between the two baggage claim areas. You can buy your tokens at the window, go through the turnstiles, up the escalator, and catch the train. You will want the North Springs train--all northbound trains start from the airport, but at the Lindbergh station the routes split and every other one goes up your way, the others to Doraville in the northeast.

Yes, there are also shuttle bus services to various hotels around town.