DeKalb County

MARTA canceling some routes due to COVID-19 staffing shortages

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — MARTA is canceling some train trips as COVID-19 continues to take a toll on staffing.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

MARTA sent out an alert via Twitter yesterday, saying select trips may be canceled because of staffing shortages due to COVID-19. Customers are advised to allow extra time to complete their trips.

“I work at the airport, so I definitely require the MARTA system to get to and from, so a big change would affect me a lot, so I probably would have to plan my route out a little bit more,” Justin Farmer said.

TRENDING STORIES:

Since early 2020, 1,203 MARTA employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

MARTA sent Channel 2′s Kristen Holloway a statement saying some employees are refusing to get vaccinated or submit weekly test results per their COVID-19 vaccination policy, which has led to more vacancies.

MARTA budgets for 1,366 full-time bus operators and currently has a little over 1,100 staff.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

In the meantime, Farmer says if there is a delay or cancellation along his route, he definitely has a plan B.

“At least for me, I always have a backup plan to get to work, either riding my longboard there which would take up a lot of time,” he said.

IN OTHER NEWS: