Atlanta, GA
MARTA ridership to Atlanta airport accelerates after parking rate hikes
ATLANTA – It’s no secret that passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were not very happy about recent increases to parking rates.
Now many people have turned to other alternatives like MARTA to save money before they fly.
By the numbers:
New data FOX 5 requested from MARTA shows more people are taking the train to avoid parking fees at the Atlanta airport.
At the start of May, hourly, daily economy and international rates all went up.
MARTA estimates an increase in rail entries at its Airport station of approximately 7.5%, or an average of around 600 more entries from April to May 2025.
A MARTA train stops at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Photo by Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
In the same timeframe, MARTA’s data showed the average utilization of its long-term parking facilities has increased by around 43%, or an average of 69 more long-term spots in use per day.
What they’re saying:
Renee Steinike lives in Alpharetta and said the price increase has changed how she heads to the airport.
“For the last year and a half, I’ve been going home once a month to take care of my mom and I usually park at the west parking lot because it was very convenient, no problem, but just recently they raised rates to $30 a day. It’s ridiculous, so now I’m parking here and taking MARTA,” Steinike said.
For others, using MARTA is all about not having to deal with the traffic.
“It’s nice that you avoid a lot of the traffic going down there. So, you avoid the perimeter traffic at 285, you avoid the 75/85 merger. It’s just really convenient,” Caro Montes said.
Roswell resident Allyson Golightly was also taking the train.
“This is close to my house, yeah, but i feel like this station is pretty safe,” she said.
Dig deeper:
Back in 2019, MARTA police reported 436 transit-related crimes.
Over the last five years, that number has steadily slowed down. In 2024, 211 incidents were reported – dropping more than 50% from five years prior.
Data did show a jump in some crimes from 2023 to 2024.
“I make sure that I have my headphones in and my sunglasses on because sometimes it’s not real safe at certain times,” Steinike said,
Other riders say you just have to stay alert.
“I’ve lived in a lot of big cities throughout my life. I think Atlanta is no different as long as you just stay aware of your surroundings, keep your valuables where you are – I really don’t have a problem on transit,” Montes said.
What you can do:
MARTA only charges $5 a day for long-term parking at its Dunwoody, Medical Center, Kensington, Lenox and Sandy Springs stations.
The price for the College Park, Doraville, Lindbergh and North Springs stations will run you just $3 more daily at $8.
The Source: FOX 5’s Kendrick Henderson reported this story from interviews and data taken from MARTA reports.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that a major weekend construction project, set to fully shut down two miles of I-285, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Atlantans are relieved, with many looking forward to more freedom to travel this Mothers’ Day weekend. Kim Leoffler has the story.
ATLANTA – An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.
Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact
What we know:
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.
Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.
Unpaid wages and benefits
What we don’t know:
It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.
Employee reaction in Georgia
What they’re saying:
“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”
Finding help in Atlanta
What you can do:
Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.
The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.
Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.
The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.
“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.
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