Cobb Community Transit
Encyclopedia
Cobb Community Transit or CCT is the bus
public transit system in Cobb County, Georgia
, one of metro Atlanta
's three most populous suburb
an counties. (The others are Gwinnett County
, which operates Gwinnett County Transit
and Clayton County
, which formerly operated Clayton County C-TRAN
.)
is along South Marietta Parkway in Marietta
, just west of Southern Polytechnic State University
. Routes connect to the most populated areas of the county, including Mableton
and Kennesaw
. Express routes also operate down to Atlanta
, connecting with MARTA
at the Arts Center
station. Transfers are free between MARTA and CCT, although CCT charges a slightly lower fare ($1.50 versus $2.00). CCT's annual operating budget is about $12.9 million dollars (2004), from fares and the general county budget, as well as Federal grant
s.
All buses make automatic announcements inside the bus of upcoming stops and major roads, and stop requests from passengers. This is done by pre-recorded voice announcements for the vision-impaired and LED
message signs for the hearing-impaired. External announcements are also made by voice, in addition to the normal electronic signs. Some buses also run on compressed natural gas
(CNG) rather than diesel.
revenue from the two counties stunted the growth of MARTA, however the GRTA
created by former governor of Georgia Roy Barnes
has been seeking to create other solutions, such as possible light rail
to Cobb through the Cumberland Mall
and Town Center at Cobb areas. Other solutions proposed include special bus-only lane
s on Interstate 75
, and commuter rail into Cherokee County
. A cross-suburb line over to Gwinnett County has also been proposed, intersecting with a future extended MARTA north line between Roswell
and Sandy Springs
in Fulton County
.
s. Morning
buses run only to Atlanta, afternoon buses only from Atlanta. All buses run via I-75
, I-575
and I-20
, and charge a fare of three dollars one-way, four for a round trip.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
public transit system in Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta, which is located in the center of the county. The county was named for Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States representative and senator from Georgia...
, one of metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
's three most populous suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an counties. (The others are Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County, Georgia
, Gwinnett County had a population of 805,321. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 53.3% white , 23.6% black , 2.7% Korean, 2.6% Asian Indian, 2.0% Vietnamese, 3.3% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.8% some other race and 3.1% from two or more races...
, which operates Gwinnett County Transit
Gwinnett County Transit
Gwinnett County Transit or GCT is the bus public transit system in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA, one of metro Atlanta's three most populous suburban counties...
and Clayton County
Clayton County, Georgia
Clayton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 236,517. The 2008 Census estimate placed the population at 273,718. The county seat is Jonesboro...
, which formerly operated Clayton County C-TRAN
Clayton County C-Tran
The Clayton County C-TRAN was a bus transportation system in Clayton County, Georgia that ran from 2001 to 2010. C-Tran was run by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to manage the local bus system, linking bus routes to MARTA, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and...
.)
Operation
The CCT began operations in July 1989, and has had relatively strong ridership (3,793,253 total passengers in 2005) since then. The hubTransportation hub
A transport hub is a place where passengers and cargo are exchanged between vehicles or between transport modes. Public transport hubs include train stations, rapid transit stations, bus stops, tram stop, airports and ferry slips. Freight hubs include classification yards, seaports and truck...
is along South Marietta Parkway in Marietta
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, just west of Southern Polytechnic State University
Southern Polytechnic State University
Southern Polytechnic State University is a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta, Georgia, USA just northwest of Atlanta...
. Routes connect to the most populated areas of the county, including Mableton
Mableton, Georgia
Mableton is a census-designated place in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 37,115.It was named for Robert Mable, who in 1843 bought 300 acres of land on September 11...
and Kennesaw
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history...
. Express routes also operate down to Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, connecting with MARTA
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
at the Arts Center
Arts Center (MARTA station)
The Arts Center Station is an underground metro station on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system....
station. Transfers are free between MARTA and CCT, although CCT charges a slightly lower fare ($1.50 versus $2.00). CCT's annual operating budget is about $12.9 million dollars (2004), from fares and the general county budget, as well as Federal grant
Federal grant
In the United States, federal grants are economic aid issued by the United States government out of the general federal revenue. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of...
s.
All buses make automatic announcements inside the bus of upcoming stops and major roads, and stop requests from passengers. This is done by pre-recorded voice announcements for the vision-impaired and LED
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
message signs for the hearing-impaired. External announcements are also made by voice, in addition to the normal electronic signs. Some buses also run on compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(CNG) rather than diesel.
Planning
Along with Gwinnett, Cobb voted against MARTA in the 1970s, and thus was left out of the system. The lack of sales taxSales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
revenue from the two counties stunted the growth of MARTA, however the GRTA
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority or GRTA is a government agency in the U.S. state of Georgia...
created by former governor of Georgia Roy Barnes
Roy Barnes
Roy Eugene Barnes served as the 80th Governor of Georgia from January 1999 until January 2003. Barnes was also a candidate for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election....
has been seeking to create other solutions, such as possible light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
to Cobb through the Cumberland Mall
Cumberland Mall
Cumberland Mall, located in the Cumberland district of Metropolitan Atlanta near the suburbs of Smyrna and Vinings, opened on August 8, 1973 and was the largest mall in Georgia, United States, when it first opened.-Early years:...
and Town Center at Cobb areas. Other solutions proposed include special bus-only lane
Lane
A lane is a part of the roadway within a road marked out for use by a single line of vehicles in such a way as to control and guide drivers for the purpose of reducing traffic conflicts. Most public roads have at least two lanes, one for traffic in each direction, separated by Lane markings...
s on Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
, and commuter rail into Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Georgia
As of the census of 2000, there were 141,903 people, 49,495 households, and 39,200 families residing in the county. The population density was 335 people per square mile . There were 51,937 housing units at an average density of 123 per square mile...
. A cross-suburb line over to Gwinnett County has also been proposed, intersecting with a future extended MARTA north line between Roswell
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
and Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
in Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
.
2019 Light Rail Proposal
In May of 2010 Cobb's Board of Commissioners approved further funding to study a light rail line from the Cumberland/Galleria area to the Town Center/KSU area. If constructed, the line would be approximately 14.5 miles (23.3 km) long with seven stations. The proposed line would be constructed and operational by 2019 with the expectation of nearly 50,000 riders daily by 2025. At each end of the line a circulator bus system has also been proposed bringing the total expected ridership for the new combined LRT/BRT system to nearly 100,000. The project would be funded and operated through both federal and local sources. As of 2010 it is unclear whether or not the new transit system would be operated by CCT, a new agency, or even another existing agency such as MARTA.Shortfalls
CCT generally serves the core portions of the county, with little to no service to the West and East sides. Acworth, as well as the greater Northwestern area of the county lack local service, with only express routes operating out of the newly renovated Acworth Park and Ride lot. East Cobb holds a single local route, route 65. Many County-owned facilities, such as the West Cobb Regional Library and Mountain View Aquatic Center have no service at all. Other busy throughways, perfect spots for a transit corridor, such as Dallas Highway (in West Cobb) and the northern end of Cobb Parkway have no service. Other complaints include infrequent service to MARTA stations as well as a complete shutdown of the system every Sunday and on Holidays, as opposed to other regional operators, which operate reduced schedules on these days.Routes
Most routes begin and end at the Marietta Transfer Center, though several operate from the Cumberland Boulevard Transfer Center.Local
- 10: Marietta to Cumberland Mall via U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
, then to MARTA Arts Center station - 15: Marietta, south to County Services Parkway, then Windy Hill Road west to Wildwood office park
- 20: Marietta to Cumberland Mall, via South Cobb DriveGeorgia State Route 280State Route 280 is a state route located in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area in the U.S. state of Georgia. State Route 280 is a major urban arterial, with portions of the route seeing an Average Annual Daily Traffic of over 30,000 vehicles, especially around Dobbins Air Reserve Base...
- 30: Marietta to MARTA H. E. Holmes stationH.E. Holmes (MARTA station)Hamilton E. Holmes is an elevated metro station in the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system, and the western terminus for the Blue Line. This is one of the busiest stations in the MARTA system, handling an average of 22,000 boardings per weekday...
, including Mableton and Six Flags Over GeorgiaSix Flags Over GeorgiaSix Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas.... - 35:Cobb Hospital to MARTA H. E. Holmes stationH.E. Holmes (MARTA station)Hamilton E. Holmes is an elevated metro station in the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system, and the western terminus for the Blue Line. This is one of the busiest stations in the MARTA system, handling an average of 22,000 boardings per weekday...
including Austell [Discontinued **] - 40: North to Town Center Mall (at J. C. PenneyJ. C. Penney-External links:*...
) near Kennesaw, along Bells Ferry Road - 45: Similar to 40, but along U.S. 41 instead; ends at Town Center Mall via Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw State UniversityKennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta...
- 50: Marietta to Cumberland Mall, via Powers Ferry Road
- 65: East along Roswell RoadGeorgia State Route 120State Route 120 begins at SR 100 near Tallapoosa and ends at West Crogan Street in Lawrenceville.In Marietta, SR 120 has a spur route , which acts as a perimeter for the northern part city. In Paulding County, the highway cosigns with the following highways . Then it cosigns with through Dallas...
, south along Johnson Ferry Road to Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Park and Ride Lot, rush hourRush hourA rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
s also to MARTA Dunwoody stationDunwoody (MARTA station)Dunwoody is an elevated metro station on the Red Line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system. It is located at the southwest corner of Perimeter Mall, and also serves the surrounding high-rise office parks in the Perimeter Center business district...
, in DeKalb County [Discontinued **] - 70: Cumberland Mall west to WellStar Cobb Hospital and Cobb County Health Center via East-West Connector and Powder Springs Road, including Home Depot world headquarters [Discontinued **]
- ** Discontinued August 1, 2011
Express
Express buses run only during peak hours, and only weekdayWeekday
Weekday may either refer to only a day of the week which is part of the workweek thus not part of the weekend or to any of the days of the week.-Weekday as a day of the workweek:In most countries the days of the workweek are:# Monday# Tuesday# Wednesday...
s. Morning
Morning
The word morning originally referred to the sunrise. Morning precedes midday, afternoon, and night in the sequence of a day.Morning is the part of the day usually reckoned from dawn to noon...
buses run only to Atlanta, afternoon buses only from Atlanta. All buses run via I-75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
, I-575
Interstate 575
Interstate 575 is an Interstate Highway spur route in the United States, which branches off Interstate 75 in Kennesaw and connects the metro Atlanta area with the north Georgia mountains. I-575 is also the unsigned State Route 417 and is cosigned as SR 5...
and I-20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
, and charge a fare of three dollars one-way, four for a round trip.
- 100: "North Cobb Express", Kennesaw (Busbee Park and Ride Lot) to MARTA Civic Center stationCivic Center (MARTA station)Civic Center is an elevated metro station on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system. It is located in the SoNo district of Atlanta...
, then to Five PointsFive Points (MARTA station)Five Points is a tri-level underground multi-platform metro station of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system. It is the transfer point between the Red and Gold Lines and the Blue and Green Lines and serves as MARTA's transportation hub. It provides access to the Five Points... - 101: "Marietta Express", Marietta (Transfer Center) to MARTA Arts Center station, and Peachtree StreetPeachtree StreetPeachtree Street is the main street of Atlanta. The city grew up around the street, and many of its historical and municipal buildings are or were located along it...
at Luckie Street - 102: "Acworth to Midtown", Acworth (Acworth Park and Ride Lot) to MARTA Arts Center stationArts Center (MARTA station)The Arts Center Station is an underground metro station on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system....
- 470/47 (GRTA Xpress Route): "Hiram-Powder Springs to Atlanta", Hiram (Hiram 278 Theater Park and Ride Lot) to MARTA Civic Center station
- 475/75 (GRTA Xpress Route): "Austell to Atlanta", South Cobb County (unincorporated) and Six FlagsSix FlagsSix Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
Theme Park to the MARTA Civic Center station. - 480 (GRTA Xpress Route): "Acworth to Atlanta", Busbee Park and Ride Lot to Five Points and the MARTA Civic Center station
- 481 (GRTA Xpress Route): "Children's Healthcare to Atlanta", Children's Healthcare Park and Ride Lot to Five Points and the MARTA Civic Center station
Park and Ride Lots and Transfer Centers
- Marietta Transfer Center (MTC)Park and Ride @ South Marietta Parkway (SR 120 Loop) - Routes 10, 10C, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 65 and 101 connect at the MTC
- Busbee Park and Ride @ George Busbee Parkway - Express Route 100 and GRTA Route 480 connect at Busbee
- Children's Healthcare Park and Ride @ Big Shanty Road - Express Route 100 and GRTA Route 481 connect at Children's Healthcare
- Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Park and Ride @ Johnson Ferry Road - Route 65 connects at the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church
- Florence Road Park and Ride @ the Silver Comet TrailSilver Comet TrailThe Silver Comet Trail is a paved, multi-use, recreational trail in western Georgia.-Route:The Silver Comet Trail is a rail trail and is named for the Silver Comet passenger train that used the same route from 1947 to 1969...
in Powder Springs, GA - GRTA Route 470/47 connects at Florence Road
- Floyd Road Park and Ride @ the Silver Comet Trail in Mableton, GA - Route 30 connect at Floyd Road
- Acworth Park and Ride @ Lake Acworth Drive in Acworth, GA - Express Route 102 and GRTA Route 480 connect at Acworth
- Cumberland Transfer Center (CTC) @ Cumberland Boulevard/Cumberland Mall (does not have a park and ride lot) - Routes 10, 10A, 10B, 20, 50, 70 and MARTAMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit AuthorityThe Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
Route 12 connect at the CTC