Commuter Spotlight: Atlanta Newcomer Jack Loves His Stress-Free Commute
Published: 3/3/2020
When Jack Harrison was planning to move to Atlanta after graduating from a liberal arts college in Kentucky in 2018, he had heard a chorus of warnings about Atlanta traffic—both from trusted friends and online sources.
“I figured I needed to avoid traffic at all costs,” said Jack.
His instinct was a good one: ask any Atlantan about traffic, and you’ll likely hear groans. There’s data behind the discontent, too: traffic consistently ranks as a top concern in regional surveys, including a recent Atlanta Regional Commission survey of commuters within the Metro-Atlanta region. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that traffic is bad in Atlanta. In fact, 97.5% of the respondents said that traffic congestion is a serious problem.
Considering the warnings - Jack took the time to research his options and strategically chose to live close to a MARTA rail station. He uses the train to commute every day to his job at Giveffect, a nonprofit software company in Midtown.
Jack starts his day with a reasonable drive from his home in the Chamblee area to the Brookhaven MARTA Station, utilizing one of the station’s 1,460 parking spots. He then enjoys a 12 minute MARTA ride south to Midtown, followed by a short walk from the Midtown Station to his office.
After living in Louisville, where there’s not a citywide rail system, Jack really appreciates the convenience of MARTA. He was surprised how easy and smooth the commute is.
“The train arrives at a reasonable and routine time,” said Jack. “The cars have always been clean where I sit—and I take it to and from work every day!”
Entertainment and connection
There’s something about riding the train with other Atlanta residents that makes Jack feel connected to his new home.
“You see people from all walks of life, hearing conversations between folks that simply couldn’t happen sitting in a car by yourself,” he said.
Plus, the commute is the perfect time for Jack to decompress at the beginning and end of each day. Without the stress of weaving through traffic, he can read a book or pop in his earphones to listen to one of this favorite podcasts - FiveThirtyEight Politics Podcast or Up and Vanished.
Plan for the trip
Jack recommends that new MARTA commuters do their research ahead of time.
“Figure out what station’s closest to you, how much a ticket costs and whether you’ll need to take the bus if the nearest station is too far,” said Jack. He even practiced his commute before his first day of work, to make sure he was comfortable with the route.
The benefits of riding MARTA, to Jack, include saving time as well as saving money on gas. Even though his commute involves a bit of driving, it’s not nearly as many miles he would drive if he didn’t ride MARTA, and the commute saves him wear and tear on the car.
Plus, having a brief walk through Midtown embedded in his commute is a great way for him to experience the district.
“I’ve always liked living in a city,” said Jack. “I like being around a lot of people and seeing the hustle and bustle of everything.”
Earn more, drive less
Looking for a less stressful commute like Jack? Midtown Transportation offers personalized route planning to help you find your best commute, and serious rewards for anyone who switches their commute. Visit www.midtownatl.com/commute. For regular updates on commuting and transit in Midtown and beyond, follow us on Twitter at @MidtownMobility.