Bankhead station
| Company type | MARTA metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | December 12, 1992 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
Area served | Grove Park, Bankhead, West Lake, Howell Station, Atlanta Westside |
| Products | Metro rail services (Green Line) |
Bankhead is an elevated metro station situated in Atlanta, Georgia, functioning as the western endpoint of the Green Line within the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail network. Following recent adjustments to neighborhood boundaries, it now lies within the Grove Park area and primarily serves Grove Park, Bankhead, West Lake, Howell Station, along with other communities on Atlanta’s Westside. The station provides bus connections to Donald Lee Hollowell Highway, Maddox Park, and the upcoming Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry, which is set to be Atlanta’s largest park.
Unlike the majority of MARTA stations designed to handle eight-car trains, Bankhead station currently supports only two-car trains, with provisions made for potential expansion up to four cars in the future. It is distinct in being exclusively served by the Green Line.
The vicinity of the station is expected to become a significant segment of the Belt Line, positioned near Maddox Park and the new Westside Park, thereby fostering opportunities for transit-oriented development.
Station layout
| P Platform level |
Westbound | ← Green Line disembarking passengers only |
| Island platform, doors open on left side | ||
| Eastbound | Green Line heading toward Edgewood/Candler Park (weekends service extends to King Memorial, nights to Vine City) (via Ashby) → | |
| G | Street Level | Entrance/Exit, station building |
History
Bankhead Station commenced operations on December 12, 1992, coinciding with the opening of Doraville station. The Green Line represents a portion of the originally proposed Proctor Creek Line, which was intended to extend beyond Bankhead northward to serve the Perry Homes area (currently known as West Highlands).
A separate segment exists between Edgewood/Candler Park and East Lake stations called the Tucker-North Dekalb Line; this plan included two additional stops at Emory University and North Druid Hills. The envisioned Green Line was projected to run from Bankhead to North Druid Hills stations.
In December 2005, Bankhead became the inaugural MARTA station to introduce Breeze Cards. A fare evasion problem emerged due to a 15-inch gap beneath the fare gates; this was addressed by installing plastic bars that reduced the gap to 6 inches, effectively curbing evasion.
In 2019, MARTA suggested renaming Bankhead station to Donald Lee Hollowell Station in conjunction with the renaming of Bankhead Highway.
Future developments
By the year 2025, the station will be extended to accommodate trains consisting of six cars. This change is driven by anticipated growth in the surrounding area and the rollout of CQ400 trains—new four-car units that will replace the existing two-car configurations. This enhancement will allow for longer trains operating on the Green Line and may support a future extension reaching into Cobb County.
Local landmarks and key destinations
- Maddox Park
- Westside Park
- BeltLine Westside Trail
- King Plow Arts Center
- Fulton County Jail
- Fulton County Division of Family and Children Services
Bus connections
The following MARTA bus routes provide service to this station:
- Route 26 - Marietta Street / Perry Boulevard
- Route 50 - Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway