ATLANTA — Leaving your car at the rail station overnight is about to cost more.
According to WSB-TV Channel 2, reporting dated Aug. 23, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority will increase long-term parking rates by $2 per day and reduce its free parking window from 24 hours to 14 hours starting Sept. 14.
WSB says the price increase applies to all paid long-term parking facilities across the system, while existing free daily parking locations remain unchanged.
New daily rates (after 14 hours)
Per WSB’s station-by-station breakdown:
$10 per day after 14 hours at:
- College Park
- Doraville
- Lindbergh
- North Springs
$7 per day after 14 hours at:
- Dunwoody
- Kensington
- Lenox
- Medical Center
- Sandy Springs
Why MARTA says it is doing this
WSB reports the adjustments are MARTA’s first system-wide parking fee increase since 2009, though rates at end-of-line stations were previously raised in 2017.
According to MARTA, as relayed by WSB:
- The fee change is meant to help recover costs from system-wide automated parking upgrades implemented since 2024 — new gates, payment kiosks, payment technology, call boxes, license-plate readers, and upgraded lighting.
- MARTA estimates about $500,000 in additional annual operating revenue.
- That revenue is intended to fund future security measures and lighting improvements at parking facilities.
- The authority says the new pricing aligns more closely with surrounding private parking while remaining lower than market rates in business districts and near the airport.
- The changes are designed to help parking operations become self-sufficient without relying on fares or tax revenue.
What this package is — and is not
This is a policy announcement story grounded in WSB’s Aug. 23 report of MARTA’s stated rate package. It is not:
- a full board packet or ordinance text
- a claim that free daily lots are being eliminated
- an independent audit of the $500,000 revenue estimate
What to watch
- Whether riders shift from paid long-term lots to free daily facilities or other modes after Sept. 14.
- How MARTA communicates the 14-hour free window at stations and in apps before the effective date.
Primary source: WSB-TV — MARTA to increase long-term parking rates
