Trying to get ITP, from OTP? If you live too far for MARTA, there’s still ways to get to Atlantic Station via transit. By hopping on the free ASAP shuttle over to the Arts Center Station, you can get to Cumming, West Conyers, McDonough, and Hiram—plus many places in between—by riding the Xpress bus system. Read on to find out how this simple, regional transit link could help with your commute.
What is the Xpress bus system?
Run by the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL), Xpress buses carry passengers across the 13-county region of Atlanta.
Buses run Monday through Friday, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where can I get to?
To see which routes stop at Arts Center Station, visit our Getting Around page.
Xpress connects 22 Park and Rides out of the perimeter to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta, plus destinations like Emory and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. That means, even if you don’t live near an Xpress stop, you can drive to the nearest Park and Ride and leave your car before you head into the city.
Xpress routes also run outward from MARTA stops along each line, extending transit service as far as the Newnan and Cumming Park and Rides. See the map below for all the routes.
How much is it?
Xpress fares are divided into two zones: the Blue Zone, including locations further from Atlanta, and the Green Zone, which covers destinations closer to Atlanta. One trip to a Green Zone destination is $3, while a trip to the Blue Zone costs $4. To see pricing for round-trips, monthly passes and more, see the Xpress fare page.
Riders can pay with cash, but Xpress drivers can’t offer change. On a one-way ride only, you can also tap your bank card or mobile wallet to pay with the Better Breeze fare system.
Xpress also accepts Breeze card fares, which allow the rider a free transfer to a MARTA bus or train from the Xpress bus.
bring this, not that
- You can store your bike on the bus, either on the attached bike rack or (if the rack is full) in the undercarriage storage compartment.
- Xpress buses include a wheelchair lift and two wheelchair spots. Wheelchairs over 30 inches in width, 48 inches in length, or 600 pounds weight when occupied cannot be accommodated.
- No food is allowed on Xpress buses, but drinks with a resealable lid are permitted.
- No animals are allowed on the bus, except service animals for riders with disabilities.
Tips for riding
As always when riding transit, a Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) can help you out. Join ASAP on the MyGCO app and log 1 clean commute, and you’ll earn your first Guaranteed Ride Home from Georgia Commute Options (GCO)—in case of emergency, GCO will provide an Uber ride back to your house or parking location. To gain another GRH once you’ve used it, log 8 more clean commutes.
Download the myXpress 2.0 app to track real-time locations for each bus, plan trips, manage your fare, and see Service Alerts as they come up.