Hi people,
Team 2230 will be staying in the Hotel Indigo in Atlanta for the Chaimponships. As “toursits”, we have no clue as to how we will reach the Georgia Dome. We heard that we could use the MARTA system to reach there.
Can anyone help us on the info that we might need in order to know how to reach the Dome (bus/rail number, address of station, transitions, time of travel etc…)?
Thanks in advance!! 
Use http://mapquest.com to find your hotel, and use the MARTA web page
to figure out how to get from there to downtown.
Atlanta is inside of Google Map’s Public Transportation Beta… check it out here.
Just go to maps.google.com, enter the directions like you are going to dive, and then click the option on the left for “Public Transportation” located just above the driving directions and just below the two destinations.
Hotel Indigo Midtown Atlanta is only a couple of blocks from the North Avenue MARTA station. From there it’s three stations south to the Five Points station, where you transfer to another line and go one station west to the Omni station. That’s right next to the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome.
The MARTA web site should be able to help with times and schedules.
You also want to make sure you purchase a multi-day visitor pass at the kiosk at the airport when you arrive.
The details are here: http://www.itsmarta.com/howto/special/visitorfaq.htm
If you are going to ride 2 times per day for three days, it is cheaper than paying the individual fare each time. The individual fare is $1.75 + $0.50 surcharge each time. The three day pass is $11.00 + $0.50 surcharge one time. The surcharge is to encourage people to use the reusable ticket cards instead of the disposable cards.
See you in Atlanta!
What’s the difference between the Omni Station and the one after it? It seems that Omni is the best for us if we are to visit the pits first.
The Vine street station is a little closer to the west side of the dome; the Omni station is a little bit farther from the east side. But the public entrance for the FRC Championship is on the northeast corner, so it’s about the same distance walking from either station.
The Omni station is definitely a good choice when going to the Georgia World Congress Center. As a bonus, you’ll find yourself among most of the other teams who are staying at hotels within easy walking distance.
http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm
Omni/Dome/CNN Center stop = W1 on that map on the blue/green line
Vine City = W2 on that map on the blue/green line
It may be worth noting depending on when you travel, the Omni station has a lot more traffic to it, but that’s not really a bad thing since there is more to see & do if you have time at that stop (CNN Center with awesome food court, etc…).
The one after it (on the other side of the Dome - Vine City) is a little more secluded & imho a less “safe” stop since it is kind of secluded.
This is just based on my personal opinion, & it isn’t meant to scare anyone out of using the second Vine City stop.
I just know that less people get off & on the MARTA using Vine City than the Omni/CNN stop - & it’s a quieter stop because of that.
I’ve used both with no problems, & like has been mentioned before, if you want to get to the pits, it’s easier to use that Vine City one & walk around the GA Dome. Just head left around the Dome & you’ll see the courtyard between the Dome & the GWCC as well as the entrance to the GWCC (pits).
You’ll also see some amazing substructures around & under the GA Dome using the Vine City stop as well during your walk as shown here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/18382
remember to keep your Marta tickets you need them to get out of the stations, some students on my team almost threw them out or lost them once they got on the subway.