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Published Friday, December 10, 2010 in Local

New Xpress Bus park-and-ride lot in operation

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

The new Coweta County park-and-ride for the Xpress Bus System is now in operation.

The new lot, located on Hollz Parkway just off Ga. Hwy. 34 East near the Summit, provides amenities lacking at the previous parking lot -- shelter, lighting, and benches.

Since the service began in late 2004, riders had caught the bus behind Bugaboo Creek steakhouse off Bullsboro Drive in Ashley Park. There was no shelter from the elements or benches, though some riders would sit on a utility box, said Bill McGrain, who drops off and picks up his wife at the lot each weekday.

McGrain said last week he was also looking forward to better lighting.

The Xpress bus travels to and from downtown and midtown Atlanta several times each weekday. It also provides "reverse commutes" from Atlanta to Newnan once a day.

For those who have been considering riding the Xpress Bus -- or any other mode of alternative transportation -- the Clean Air Campaign offers "commuter rewards" to anyone who tries an alternative commute. Commuters who register with the Clean Air Campaign can get $3 a day, up to $100 over a 90-day period, for each day they ride the bus, carpool, vanpool, telework, work a compressed work week, or walk or bike to work.

Existing Xpress Bus customers have the opportunity to win $25 gift cards each month.

The bus leaves Newnan at 5:30 a.m., 6, 6:15, 6:30, 7, and 7:30. All buses go to the Five Points and Civic Center MARTA stations. The 6 a.m., 6:15, 7, and 7:30 buses also stop at the Arts Center MARTA station and at the intersection of Spring Street at 5th Street.

The buses leave the Civic Center station at 3:05 p.m., 3:49, 4:05, 4:19, 4:52, 5:21 and 6:01, and leave the intersection of Pryor Street and Upper Alabama Street 10 minutes later. Buses leave the Arts Center station at 4:07 p.m., 4:36, and 4:50.

The reverse commute bus leaves the Civic Center station at 6:30 a.m. and arrives in Newnan at 7:25. It leaves Newnan at 4 p.m. and 4:50, en route to the Civic Center station.

The bus fares are $4 one way and $7 round trip. You can get a 10-ride pass for $35, and a 31-day unlimited pass for $125.

The park-and-ride lot itself was the result of an extensive effort by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to find and build the lot.

The new lot location was announced in January. The 9.42-acre site will have 700 spaces, though a portion of the lot hasn't yet been completed. The lot was paid for with federal and state funds; no local funds were expended.

For more information on the bus system, visit www.xpressga.com or call 404-463-4782.

For more information about commuter rewards from the Clean Air Campaign, visit www.logyourcommute.org

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