The current iteration of express bus service was created in 1999, when the Atlanta Regional Commission created a new transportation network plan to bring metro Atlanta back into compliance with the U.S. Clean Air Act and regain federal road construction funding.[3] The bus system began serious development in 2001 after then-Governor Roy Barnes announced that the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) would issue $8.5 billion in bonds, of which 55% was for mass transit.[4]
In January 2002, GRTA offered 13 counties funding for road projects if they agreed to pay to operate the regional bus system for five years.[5] Only Fayette and Cherokee counties refused the deal.[6] Funding for the system faced issues in September after a 20-year SRTA bond was challenged in court by a group opposing the construction of the Northern Arc, which argued that the bond program violated the state constitution by bypassing the General Assembly.[7][8] The bond program ended up being cancelled by the following governor, Sonny Perdue, who opted to rely on loans from the state legislature.[8]
In June 2003, the GRTA authorized the purchase of 58 buses for the system.[9] In months leading up to service, GRTA faced pushback from Central Atlanta Progress and Midtown Alliance, who argued that the presence of large coach buses would undermine efforts to improve pedestrian experience on Peachtree Street and that buses should be routed along adjacent one-way streets.[10] Service began on June 7, 2004 and was met with protests from pedestrian activists.[11] After a month of service, activists and GRTA agreed on a plan to move buses from Peachtree Street onto West Peachtree Street.[12]
Xpress saw severe overcrowding on some routes during a period of record high gas prices in 2008.[13] But in 2010, the system saw its first budget crisis, raising pass prices and fares for routes over 25 miles to try to make up the difference.[14] In 2015, GRTA approved the first major redesign of the system, adjusting departure times and stops on all routes, cutting one route, and adding three cross-suburb routes terminating at Perimeter Center.[15]
As of April 2025, the Xpress network includes 27 routes.[16] Service hours are from roughly 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 pm weekdays, with most service being rush-hour only.[citation needed]
* Route is operated by, and as a part of, Gwinnett County Transit[citation needed] ** Route is operated by, and as a part of, Cobb Community Transit *** Route is operated by, and as a part of, Cherokee Area Transportation System (CATS) **** Route is operated by American Coach
Fares
Xpress charges fares based on distance travelled. As of April 2025, adult one-way fares from Green Zone park and rides to Atlanta are $3.00 and fares from Blue Zone park-and-rides to Atlanta are $4.00. Round-trip, 10-trip, and 31-day passes are available using a Breeze card or the Breeze 2.0 app.[17]
Future plans
In June 2025, Xpress will Implement its Redefining the Ride plan, which will cut 12 lines and service to seven park and rides.[18]
↑ McCosh, John (October 19, 1999). "TOWARD 2025: 25-year road map to clean air". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.A1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Ledford, Joey (July 16, 2001). "State finally ready to give $8.5 billion to transit projects". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.C3 – via NewsBank.
↑ Feagans, Brian (February 1, 2002). "Road funds offered -- with buses attached - Transit board deal criticized". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.J1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Yoo, Charles (April 10, 2002). "Fulton gets on board with buses". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. pp.A1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Hairston, Julie (September 2, 2002). "Suit puts bonds' payment at risk". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.C1 – via NewsBank.
1 2 Stanford, Duane (May 14, 2003). "Barnes' road, transit plan will be killed - Perdue won't give approval to $822 million in bonds". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.B1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Hairston, Julie (June 12, 2003). "Express buses get green light - Bond funds to target bottlenecks". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.D1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Saporta, Maria (May 24, 2004). "GRTA Xpress bus route fuels battle of Peachtree". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.E4 – via NewsBank.
↑ Campbell, Colin (June 8, 2004). "Xpress buses overcrowd already busy Peachtree". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.B2 – via NewsBank.
↑ Hairston, Julie (August 19, 2005). "Big buses off Peachtree - Plan would reroute commuters". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.D3 – via NewsBank.
↑ Reid, S. A. (April 18, 2008). "Local commuters fill up buses, not gas tanks, as prices soar". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.A1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Hart, Ariel (August 13, 2010). "Xpress service going broke - With no new money, system may collapse. - GRTA's Miller says end could come for buses in next fiscal year". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp.B1 – via NewsBank.
↑ Simmons, Andria (August 12, 2015). "Major changes to Xpress bus service approved". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution– via NewsBank.
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