ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Travelers who regularly park at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are getting new options, and airport officials say it should be faster and easier to find a spot.

Airport leaders on Thursday unveiled the new South Parking Deck, which adds 6,429 spaces in the deck itself and 1,197 additional spaces in the South Economy Lot.

Officials say the deck is designed to cut down on the time drivers spend circling for parking. The facility includes a space guidance system that uses red and green lights to show where spots are open.

The deck also connects to the South Terminal area via a pedestrian bridge. Travelers should be able to park and walk to the ticket counters in under 10 minutes.

Security upgrades were also part of the project. Officials say the facility includes expanded camera coverage across all seven floors, with the system overlaid with artificial intelligence technology to help monitor the deck.

“With the red light green light system, the parking guidance system where you don’t have to drive around looking for a vehicle, it should take you a fraction of the time that it would take you if that wasn’t in place,” said Ricky Smith, general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The opening comes as airport parking remains more expensive following last year’s rate hike. Daily parking for the decks is $30. Hourly parking costs $10 an hour, up from $3 before last spring.

City and airport officials touted the new deck as another step toward keeping the world’s busiest airport moving efficiently, saying Atlanta should lead in innovation all the way down to how efficient parking is.

The FIFA 2026 World Cup is just weeks away, and as teams begin to set up camp across North America ahead of the first matches, host cities are putting the final touches on their preparations.

Eight tournament matches will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, referred to as “Atlanta Stadium” for the duration of the tournament. The venue sits in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, and fans will be able to watch the world’s best soccer players from the group stage all the way to the semifinal.

In a recent study from Action Network, Atlanta was ranked fifth overall for World Cup fan experience during this year’s tournament, citing the city’s walkability around the stadium and time from the airport to the venue. It ranked second among United States host cities, just behind Seattle.

But from road infrastructure to public transportation to hotels, it looks like Atlanta may not quite be ready for the soccer rush to begin in June. Here’s how parts of the city have prepared for the World Cup.

FBI will back up Atlanta Police, partner agencies during tournament

During a press conference on May 28, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlanta Office outlined their preparations for the tournament, and where their expertise could be needed.

Special Agents said the FBI SWAT teams would “maintain a high level of visibility” throughout the tournament, and fans should not be alarmed to see them around the stadium and at fan events as a precautionary measure.

Agents said there are “no known threats” to the tournament in Atlanta, but fans are encouraged to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. The FBI also noted that human trafficking can take place during large events, like the World Cup, and the agency will have task forces working during the tournament period and throughout the summer.

FBI agents from across the state have been pulled into Atlanta to support the World Cup operations, and other agents could be requested throughout the southeast if an attack or threat were to occur, the Special Agents said.

Drones will also be prohibited from the area around the stadium and fan events, agents said. The “no drone zone” means unauthorized drones could be brought down.

MARTA prices will remain low, but safety benchmarks not yet met

The MARTA train and bus system, Atlanta’s public transportation, will not raise prices for their normal passes during the World Cup. The decision was made as public transportation officials in other states faced backlash for their exorbitant train fees during the period of the tournament.

A Breeze pass, which can be purchased online ahead of match day, will cost $2.50 one way to Mercedes-Benz, no different than any other day in Atlanta.

There are multiple MARTA stations near the stadium, including the newly-named Sports, Entertainment, and Convention District Station just steps away from Mercedes-Benz, the Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, Centennial Yards, the College Football Hall of Fame, the CNN Center, Centennial Park, the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.

Spectators hoping to use MARTA for a match day can use a physical bank card, a mobile wallet, a virtual Breeze card, a physical Breeze card or cash to pay for their ride at any MARTA station. Many fans, both local and from out-of-town, are expected to rely on the MARTA system for their primary transportation in and around the stadium.

However, some MARTA upgrades that were intended to be complete by the World Cup may come up short, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported earlier this week.

As of May 26, the new trains developed by a Swiss manufacturer had not met the full suite of safety checks to be operational within 30 days, after the World Cup begins in Atlanta, the outlet reported. Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt said in an interview that he believes MARTA will still be able to meet the June 4 safety deadline, but he was willing to delay signing off on the new trains if they were not deemed 100% safe for passengers. More safety screenings took place this week.

Stadler, the manufacturer, said in a statement to the AJC the company was “confident about meeting the service start goal in line with the testing and training protocols,” and that so far “the trains are performing as expected.”

ATLANTA – An Atlanta federal district court judge remains on the bench after an investigation revealed she had an extramarital affair and sex in her chambers, initially lying to investigators before admitting to the actions.

Atlanta federal judge reprimanded

What we know:

TMZ reports that the investigation revealed that the judge engaged in an extramarital sexual relationship with members of the Atlanta Police Department. 

The Associated Press reports that two had sex in the judge’s chambers during business hours within hearing distance of staff. Law clerks reported the activity after overhearing the encounters on multiple occasions.

Security footage and logs confirmed that the officer frequently visited the judge’s chambers in uniform around lunchtime. The judge initially called the allegations “outrageous” and denied them. She later recanted and admitted to the relationship.

The committee issued a private reprimand, keeping her name secret because she demonstrated a propensity for rehabilitation and had an otherwise exemplary service record. The judge agreed to write apology letters to six former law clerks, decline the position of chief judge of the district, and refrain from serving on any Judicial Conference committee. Her identity was later unmasked in a report by Bloomberg.

What we don’t know:

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact dates when the misconduct occurred inside the Atlanta federal building. 

The police department has not disclosed whether the officer faces internal disciplinary action or if his employment status has changed following the investigation. 

Big picture view:

Federal judges receive lifetime appointments under the U.S. Constitution and can only be removed from office through impeachment by Congress. The judicial system relies on internal circuits to review misconduct complaints through committees. These bodies can issue private or public reprimands, censure judges, or temporarily withhold new cases, but they lack the legal authority to strip a judge of their title.