<p>So my son will be going to GT as an incoming, oos freshman. He will not have his own transportation. How is the transit system there; are there buses that can get him from the school to the airport (and vice-versa)? How much would a cab cost if he chose to take one instead of a bus?
If he wanted to catch a Braves game, how far is the stadium from the school?</p>
<p>Turner field is about 5-10 miles away from the school. The transit system isn’t that good.</p>
<p>MARTA goes right to the airport (in fact it opens almost right into baggage claim). The Tech Trolley goes straight from various locations on campus to the closest MARTA station also. I don’t think any stops go by Turner Field though.</p>
<p>I believe it’s a flat fare to the airport from midtown if you take a cab, something like $32 + $2/extra person. Typically I just took MARTA down to the airport from GT, it’s pretty convenient unless you have a lot of luggage.</p>
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<p>Compared to DC / Chicago / Boston / NY / San Francisco, maybe, but it’s better than pretty much everywhere else in the US. </p>
<p>The MARTA subway stop is about 2 blocks from campus. The trains take you physically into the Airport for $1.75 one-way and if you fly Delta, you can check your bags in the airport train station. </p>
<p>To get to the Airport, you just hop on a South bound train and wait until it stops. It takes about 45 minutes from Tech to the Airport (it’s maybe 20 minutes to drive).</p>
<p>MARTA will also take you to Turner Field for $1.75 one-way. You walk the same 2 blocks to the MARTA station, take the train to 5-points, and catch the Braves Shuttle. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get from GT to the Ted on MARTA, which is faster than driving (with traffic) and a lot cheaper.</p>
<p>There are signs all over MARTA that tell you how to get to the game, and it seems like more people take MARTA than drive (most people, including me, drive to their nearest MARTA stop, park, and ride the train into the game).</p>
<p>You can also take the train to the Ga State stop and walk to Turner field (many people do that too). MARTA is fine for getting to major places like the airport, the GA Dome, and Lenox mall and even “Pill Hill” (a complex of hospitals on the north side), but if you want to get somewhere that isn’t on the main “T” of the rail stops (see map) [MARTA</a> - Getting There - Rail Schedules & Maps](<a href=“http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm]MARTA”>http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm) or want to get, say, to Emory or anywhere in the NW area, its not accessible by rail. You’d be doing a combo of rail and bus, which is time-consuming and somewhat cumbersome. But for Tech students, yes, you are close to the Stop near the BellSouth (now AT&T) Bldg (North Ave) and not too far from the Midtown station stop.</p>
<p>*** I thought you said you lived “just on MARTA” for 4 yrs, G.P. I didn’t realize you also had a car when you were in Atlanta.</p>
<p>On campus they have transportation available.
There’s even a shuttle/bus route to get to the Publix grocery store for instance.
In the city itself, MARTA works great for just about anything you may need or want to do, including sports venues and the airport.
You can access the routes on-line for both campus services and city routes.
Lots of people who live outside the city take the trains from MARTA stations to Downtown to get to Falcons and Braves games-it’s so much easier than fighting the traffic.
The North Ave. Station is only a short distance from campus.
Some Atlanta area people attach a stigma to riding MARTA-without having ever utilized the service-therefor presenting a negative perception.
Overall- it’s a great way to get around.
Freshmen aren’t able to have cars on campus anyway- so most freshmen will be relying on Marta or friends anyway.</p>
<p>jym626 - I lived in Atlanta off and on for over 10 years. I’m no college student - I’m a professor in my 40’s.</p>
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<p>Most of the stigma seems to be around riding the “MARTA Bus”. I take the sub into the office in the morning, an it’s full of people in suits heading downtown.</p>
<p>There is some great info on this thread, and it’s helping me get some peace of mind too. Thanks for your replies!</p>
<p>There may be some misunderstanding. There is no “stigma” against Marta. It is great for getting to/from the places on the rail line. Its just limited in where it goes, and oftentimes I have heard people expect it to be like the NYC subway, or DC Metro or BART or something, and they are sorely disappointed when they get to town. They come to town hoping to get around to places like Emory or the History Museum or something and discover they cant use it effectively. I think it is only fair to be up front about that. I use MARTA often when going to the Fox, the Dome, Phillips arena, etc, but as others have said, its easiest when you have a car to park at the MARTA lot. </p>
<p>GT-
I am aware you are not a student. I had no idea you lived in Atlanta other than the 4 years you mentioned in another thread. Where do you teach? UIUIC? You have also mentioned hiring engineers-- are you in academia, the private sector, or both? As someone who has a son who is a newly minted engineer, seeing the opportunities and potential through the eyes of someone further along in their successful career is of great interest to me. Will you share??</p>
<p>“Most of the stigma seems to be around riding the “MARTA Bus”. I take the sub into the office in the morning, an it’s full of people in suits heading downtown.”</p>
<p>Thats true and alot of my friends ride the subway in the morning its good. Now I won’t want to ride it at night past 10 because lets just say you will meet interesting people.</p>
<p>^^ True, and the east-west line, which my H used to use to get into downtown at one point, is quite different than the north-south line.</p>