MARTA and Buckhead Crime Rates Drop
MARTA and City officials say they have seen a dramatic drop in crime.
MARTA officials reported they have seen a 17% drop in crime at their lots and would see another 13% reduction if car thefts are not factored into the equation.
Collaboration between the City of Atlanta and the Georgia General Assembly played a key role in driving down crime rates across the city and especially in Buckhead during 2023, according to Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns. The mayor and speaker praised their partnerships during their speeches at the Buckhead Coalition’s annual luncheon at the St. Regis Atlanta hotel on January 25th.
The mayor repeated his phrase, “Atlanta is a group project,” and said the partnerships between the Atlanta Police Department and agencies including the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Bureau of Investigation were critical in making the city safer.
Violent crime dipped more than 20% in Atlanta in 2023. Homicides were down 21% across the city and down 36% in zone 2, which includes Buckhead, the mayor said.
Mr. Burns stated “Buckhead now leads Atlanta in overall crime reduction Have we accomplished everything that we want to accomplish? The answer’s no, but we’re certainly moving in the right direction.
“And it’s my opinion that this is a direct result of policies and partnerships from both the state and the city level,” Burns said.
Burns noted his promise last year, approved by the General Assembly, to set aside $1.3 million in the state budget for a new Georgia State Patrol post in Buckhead. The new facility will be built on the campus of the Governor’s Mansion on West Paces Ferry Road.
“This will allow an additional 30 state troopers to have more focus on this area,” Burns said. “They will be here making sure their presence is felt in this Buckhead community.”
MARTA Police recently received a national award for its bike patrol. It also touted its increased partnership with other area law enforcement for the drop in crime.
Discounted Monthly MARTA Pass Program
Livable Buckhead offers MARTA Breeze Cards at a 20% discount to companies. The cards are reloaded electronically by Livable Buckhead and MARTA, saving commuters time and hassle. Many employers subsidize the Breeze Card to encourage transit ridership and to receive a deduction on corporate taxes.
