INIT Begins Installation of MARTA’s Better Breeze Fare System

Simply check in contactlessly and start your journey. With MARTA's new Better Breeze fare collection system, using buses and subways is more convenient and flexible than ever before: mobile ticketing, and reloadable fare cards make boarding quicker and simpler while new account management tools help riders stay in control of their balances and trip history. © MARTA

Karlsruhe / Atlanta  – November 12, 2025

INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc., a global leader in intelligent transportation and fare collection systems, has begun construction of MARTA’s Better Breeze fare collection system – marking a major milestone in the Authority’s mission to modernize transit for metro Atlanta. The team is especially excited to partner with MARTA as Atlanta takes its place on the world stage during the upcoming World Cup™, showcasing the city’s growth, energy, and global appeal.

The Better Breeze modernization project will bring a new and refreshed look and feel to how riders pay and travel across the region. The upgrade includes more than 1,800 station and onboard payment readers, 275 ADA-compliant, next-generation ticket vending machines, and over 500 sleek and modern faregates equipped with INIT validators, with nearly half equipped for ADA accessibility. Behind the scenes, a powerful back-office system will manage every transaction and payment type, including debit and credit cards, ensuring a seamless experience across MARTA and its regional partners. 

Riders will also see improvements in the new Breeze app, which will allow them to purchase and manage fares directly from their smartphones. MARTA riders will enjoy a faster, more convenient transit experience with the new Breeze system, where contactless payments, mobile ticketing, and reloadable fare cards make boarding quicker and simpler while new account management tools help riders stay in control of their balances and trip history.

“The Better Breeze system lets MARTA customers tap and go with ease,” said Jonathan Hunt, MARTA Interim General Manager & CEO. “Whether using a contactless bank card, smartphone, smartwatch, mobile app or the new Breeze card, customers enjoy an easier, more flexible, and more secure way to ride.”

Carl Commons, CEO of INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc., at the press conference marking the launch of the project in Atlanta. (© MARTA)

MARTA and its regional partners – CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett, and Xpress – serve over 65.2 million riders annually. The Better Breeze fare system will play a vital role in improving the region’s transit network, ensuring smooth travel - not only for locals - but for the influx of visitors expected as Atlanta welcomes major events in 2026.

INIT’s back-office fare management system will ensure secure, real-time transaction processing, support transparent revenue sharing, and empower agencies to design and adjust flexible fare policies to meet evolving rider needs.

A phased construction and installation plan is expected to be completed by the Spring of 2026 with fare box implementations happening at a later date. Once fully implemented, the city’s transit network will enter a new era of smart mobility, where innovation meets accessibility, and every passenger can travel with confidence and convenience. 

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Simply check in contactlessly and start your journey. With MARTA's new Better Breeze fare collection system, using buses and subways is more convenient and flexible than ever before: mobile ticketing, and reloadable fare cards make boarding quicker and simpler while new account management tools help riders stay in control of their balances and trip history. 
© MARTA

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Carl Commons, CEO of INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc., at the press conference marking the launch of the project in Atlanta. (© MARTA)

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Andrea Mohr-Braun

Head of Department Corporate Marketing
INIT worldwide
Phone: +49 721 6100 113
Fax: +49 721 6100 399

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