Atlanta, GA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is undergoing a significant modernization of its fare collection system, including a new mobile application, following persistent user complaints and public criticism regarding its outdated digital infrastructure. The initiative, dubbed "Better Breeze," aims for a phased rollout culminating in spring 2026, coinciding with Atlanta's hosting of the FIFA World Cup. This comes as former Apple engineer Chad Etzel recently highlighted the app's technical shortcomings on social media.
Etzel's tweet questioned the app's antiquated design, stating, > "How is it technically possible for the MARTA app to be letterboxed like it’s for ios6 and yet have Liquid Glass UI (compiled with Xcode 26)?" He further inquired about Apple's approval process and offered his services to improve it. This sentiment echoes widespread user dissatisfaction, with many reporting frequent crashes, inaccurate real-time bus and train tracking, and an interface not optimized for modern smartphone screens.
User reviews for the existing "MARTA On the Go" app consistently cite issues such as unreliable real-time data, difficulty navigating schedules, and a lack of integration across MARTA's various digital services. Some riders have resorted to using third-party apps or Google Maps for more accurate information, underscoring the official app's functional deficiencies. The current system's limitations have prompted calls for a more unified and dependable digital experience.
In response, MARTA is implementing the "Better Breeze" system, which will introduce contactless payment options, allowing riders to use bank cards, smartphones, or mobile wallets directly at faregates and on buses. A new, consolidated mobile app is central to this upgrade, designed to simplify the user experience by merging functionalities from existing separate apps like "MARTA On the Go" and "See and Say." This new application will enable ticket purchases, balance top-ups, and trip history reviews.
MARTA Interim General Manager & CEO Jonathan Hunt affirmed the necessity of the upgrade, stating, "We need to ensure our Breeze system is aligned with these once-in-a-generation improvements and ready for the future." The modernization effort is strategically timed to enhance the transit experience for both daily commuters and the anticipated influx of international visitors for the 2026 World Cup. The project also includes new faregates and ticket vending machines.
Chad Etzel, the critic behind the viral tweet, previously developed his own alternative app, "Terminus," to address the official app's shortcomings, utilizing publicly available MARTA data. His initiative highlighted the demand for a more functional and user-friendly digital tool for Atlanta's transit system. MARTA's new app aims to deliver the improved digital experience that riders, including Etzel, have long advocated for.
The transition to the "Better Breeze" system is expected to provide a more flexible, secure, and user-friendly transit experience, addressing long-standing technical and usability issues. A customer transition period began on March 28, 2026, allowing riders to adapt to the new payment methods and download the updated mobile application.
