Arts Center station (MARTA)
| Company type | Subway station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | December 18, 1982 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
Area served | Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Products | MARTA Red and Gold Line subway service |
Arts Center station is a subterranean subway stop on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) system, catering to both the Red and Gold routes. It stands as the most northern of three MARTA stations located in Midtown Atlanta, alongside Midtown and North Avenue. Beyond Arts Center, the tracks ascend from underground as they approach the elevated Lindbergh Center.
The facility comprises four distinct levels: the platform, a mezzanine featuring fare gates oriented toward West Peachtree Street, bus bays designated for feeder services, and an upper floor positioned opposite the Woodruff Arts Center. In terms of ridership, it ranks seventh within the MARTA network, with an average weekday entry count of 6,605 passengers.
Arts Center serves as a major transit link to Peachtree station, Atlanta’s Amtrak intercity rail terminal situated roughly one mile to the north. Direct connection to Peachtree station and other northern locations is provided by MARTA's Route 110 bus.
Furthermore, a Zipcar vehicle is stationed in the parking area adjacent to the station.
Station layout
| U | Bridge Level | Parking Lot |
| G | Street Level | Entrance/Exit, bus loops |
| M | Mezzanine | Fare barriers |
| P Platform level |
Southbound | ← Red Line, Gold Line toward Airport (Midtown) |
| Island platform, doors open on the left | ||
| Northbound | Gold Line toward Doraville (Lindbergh Center) → Red Line toward North Springs (Lindbergh Center) → | |
History
Arts Center Station commenced operations on December 18, 1982, simultaneously with the opening of the Midtown Station. At that time, it functioned as the northern endpoint for both the Gold and Red Lines—then known as the Northeast-South and North-South Lines—until December 15, 1984. On that date, the northern termini shifted to the newly opened Brookhaven/Oglethorpe station and Lindbergh Center station, pending further system growth.
Just beyond Arts Center lies a track stub intended for the unconstructed Northwest Line, which was originally planned to extend into Cobb County, Georgia. The expansion was halted due to Cobb County’s rejection of a necessary sales tax referendum, restricting this line to a short two-station spur serving the Brookwood, Atlanta area and Northside Drive. Ultimately, this branch was abandoned in favor of extending the Red Line past Buckhead station to reach communities in Sandy Springs, Georgia and Dunwoody.
Nearby Attractions & Noteworthy Sites
- High Museum of Art
- Museum of Design Atlanta
- Breman Jewish Heritage Museum
- Woodruff Arts Center
- Center for Puppetry Arts
- Center Stage Atlanta
- 14th Street Playhouse
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- Alliance Theatre
- Ansley Park
- Piedmont Park
- Atlantic Station
- Colony Square
- Promenade Building
- Headquarters of EarthLink
- One Atlantic Center
- Atlanta Campus of Savannah College of Art and Design
Bus Services
MARTA bus lines provide access to prominent business and cultural districts such as Atlantic Station, Buckhead including Lenox and Phipps Plaza, Midtown, Underground Atlanta, Emory University Hospital Midtown, and Piedmont Hospital through the following routes:
- Route 27 - Cheshire Bridge Road corridor
- Route 37 - Defoors Ferry Road
- Route 40 - Peachtree Street and Downtown area
- Route 110 - Peachtree Road serving Buckhead
- ASAP - Complimentary shuttle service to Atlantic Station
Transit System Connections
- Access to CobbLinc services at transfer centers including Cumberland, Marietta, and the Cumberland Mall
- Routes operated by Ride Gwinnett connecting to shopping destinations like Sugarloaf Mills (previously Discover Mills) and the Mall of Georgia
- The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority's "Xpress" commuter service linking to both Sugarloaf Mills and the Mall of Georgia
- A no-cost shuttle providing transportation to the Atlanta Amtrak station