What travelers need to know

The shuttles appeared to be operating smoothly on the first day of the station closure. Brian Lane, who lives in Gainesville, took MARTA and the shuttle to the airport on Monday morning and said it was a smooth process.

“I was a little anxious that it might be extra time but (it was) very smooth and didn’t really tackle much extra time to get here,” Lane said, adding that he was “very impressed.”

The Airport station will be closed from April 8 until May 19. MARTA said shuttle buses will be in service from 4 a.m. until 2 a.m., and will drop off and pick up passengers at the domestic terminal North lower level, operating every 12 minutes.

Joe Palladi, who lives in Brookhaven, said having MARTA rail service directly to the airport has “tremendous value,” and losing that during this period with shuttle buses as a substitute “adds a degree of difficulty” — especially for travelers to the city who may not know the station is closed.

“It adds delay — and you know, when you’re traveling you just want to get to where you’re going,” Palladi said. He thinks some who would usually take MARTA to and from the airport will opt to drive or get a ride during the closure, increasing vehicle traffic at the terminal.

MARTA officials said the Airport station closure has been scheduled for a slower travel period — after spring break and before Memorial Day weekend and the busy summer travel season.

They opted to close the station for work to replace floor tiles and prepare the site for a new canopy structure, saying it will ensure safety and reduce construction time by 17 months.

There is still more work planned…