Atlanta Daily Local Headlines: MARTA Station Shooting, New On-Demand Rides, and East Lake Detours
Atlanta, GA – March 3, 2026 – A MARTA station shooting disrupted service, new on-demand rides debut soon, and East Lake detours start this week.
1) MARTA rail disrupted after shooting at Arts Center Station
MARTA rail service was disrupted Tuesday morning (March 3) at the Arts Center Station after a shooting was reported around 7:15 a.m. A person was taken to a hospital, and one person was detained as the investigation continued.
The station reopened and normal operations resumed around 9 a.m., but the incident created a tough start to the commute through Midtown. MARTA also offered rideshare credits for travel between nearby stations to help riders get around the disruption.
2) MARTA Reach on-demand rides begin March 7 (free through March 28)
MARTA is launching a new on-demand van service, MARTA Reach, starting Saturday, March 7. The idea is to make getting to and from rail and bus service easier, especially for trips that are awkward to walk or don’t line up with a nearby stop.
The service is set to run in 12 zones and will be free to ride through March 28. After that, fares are expected to match the standard MARTA fare.
3) East Lake Station work brings closures and shifting access
Over on the east side, MARTA moved into a new phase of rehabilitation work at East Lake Station. The south parking lot closed Monday, March 2, and the south entrance and pedestrian bridge are scheduled to fully close Monday, March 9, as bridge replacement work begins. The closure is expected to last about two months.
In the near term, riders should plan for entrance changes, bus stop shifts to the north side, and occasional traffic impacts during bridge removal and installation.
Also worth a quick note
MARTA says systemwide installation of its updated fare payment system is continuing, with some station entrance detours at several stops as construction is phased in.
On the events calendar, Atlanta is also set to host the Black Effect Podcast Festival at Pullman Yards on April 25, with tickets slated to go on sale March 12.
Sources
- https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/shooting-marta-arts-center-station-disrupts-train-service
- https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/marta-launching-new-on-demand-transit-service-march-7
- https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/marta-reach-launch-on-demand-transit-12-specific-zones-saturday
- https://metroatlantaceo.com/news/2026/03/east-lake-station-pedestrian-bridge-replacement-moves-forward-south-parking-lot-closes-monday-march-2/
- https://itsmarta.com/marta-continues-installation.aspx
- https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/03/02/black-effect-podcast-festival-atlanta-pullman-yards
