In less than a week, visitors from around the world will descend on Atlanta for the FIFA World Cup 2026, but many residents worry that the city’s transit system, known as MARTA, isn’t ready after three attacks in the past two weeks, including one killing.
“I’m nervous that it won’t be ready by next week for the world coming here,” one passenger told The Daily Wire.
At MARTA’s North Avenue Station, riders described a system they believe has become increasingly unsafe, citing violent crime, fare evasion, and a lack of visible security. The Daily Wire interviewed several passengers at the station, many of whom said they no longer feel safe while riding.
“When I say it’s not safe, there is no security,” one passenger said, pointing to multiple people walking through fare gates without paying. MARTA officials say fare evasion costs the transit system $7 million per year.
Other riders said they have witnessed fights on trains. One passenger described an incident in which another rider struck a young girl without provocation. “There was a little Hispanic girl that got hit on the train,” the passenger said. “She was crying. It was really sad to see.”
Passengers also said weapons are not an uncommon sight. “Somebody dropped something. It was a gun,” one rider said. Another passenger recalled watching someone pull out a knife inside a crowded train car. “I’ve heard everything from death to rape to murder,” another rider said.
Several passengers said the trains get worse at night.
“Absolutely not,” one rider said when asked if they felt safe riding MARTA at night.
“Nighttime is when I like to call them the nightcrawlers — the people you wouldn’t see in the daytime. The train is their home,” said another person.
The riders’ fears are reflected in the numbers and data.
MARTA openly subsidizes fares for homeless riders while paying riders say they are left to deal with the consequences, such as drug use, outbursts, and mental disorders that can accompany those taking shelter on the train.
Violent incidents on MARTA’s rail lines occur at nearly four times the national average for public transit systems, according to federal officials.
Those concerns have drawn the attention of Washington. The Trump administration launched a federal investigation into MARTA following a series of violent attacks on the transit system.
“Every American should be disturbed by the horrific crimes we have seen on MARTA in the last month,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said.
“No one should be forced to fear for their safety simply because they choose to ride public transit,” Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told Atlanta Democratic Mayor Andre Dickens. “All they gotta do is call and ask us.”
And while riders raise questions, Dickens projects confidence in the city’s transit system for the World Cup. “MARTA is going to step up big,” he said.
While MARTA operates independently of City Hall, Dickens is not entirely removed from the transit system’s leadership. The mayor appoints three members to MARTA’s board of directors, giving him significant influence over the authority’s direction and oversight. As Atlanta prepares to welcome visitors from around the globe, that relationship is likely to intensify scrutiny of the mayor’s handling of transit safety.
.png)
.png)
