North Springs MARTA Corridor Study

Project Overview

The North Springs MARTA Corridor Study is a strategic project to make the station a more walkable destination by improving multimodal safety and comfort on Peachtree Dunwoody Road; identifying a preferred route to extend the PATH 400 trail north to the station area; enhancing walking and biking access to the station; finding opportunities for placemaking at the station; and creating a concept for transit-oriented development on the North Springs MARTA Station property.

This project was led by the City of Sandy Springs, with funding and support from the Atlanta Regional Commission through its Livable Centers Initiative program. MARTA and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCID) were key partners in this study.

North Springs MARTA Corridor Study Final Adopted Report (PDF)

Study Area

The study area for this project includes:

• 1.75 miles of Peachtree Dunwoody Road from Abernathy Road to Spalding Drive, with consideration of potential nearby alignments for a trail
• North Springs MARTA Station

Public Engagement

Staff presented an update to the Mayor and City Council during the December 17, 2024 Work Session.

Work Session Presentation (PDF)

November 18, 2024 Public Meeting

A final public meeting to discuss revised concepts was held on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Meeting Materials:

• Welcome Letter (PDF)
• Meeting Displays (PDF)
• Revised Concepts Public Input Survey
• Comment Form (opens in new tab)

August 22, 2024 Community Workshop

A community workshop was held on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Comments were accepted through Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Meeting Materials:

• Welcome Letter (PDF)
• Comment Card (PDF)
• Presentation (PDF)
• Display Boards (PDF)
• Roll Plot (PDF)

Goals

The project goals are to:

1. Engage the Sandy Springs community to create a clear vision for the corridor.
2. Develop a concept for the North Springs MARTA Station site, including transit-oriented development, placemaking opportunities, and better access for pedestrians and cyclists.
3. Recommend a safer, more multimodal design for Peachtree Dunwoody Road.
4. Identify a preferred route to extend the PATH 400 trail through this area.

Timeline

The project kicked off in March 2024. The final plan was approved by Mayor and City Council in February 2025.

Key Terms

Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-oriented development (TOD) aims to develop the areas around high-quality transit—like MARTA rail—to put more destinations within an easy walk of transit and reduce the need for car trips. It can take different forms depending on neighborhood context and may include multifamily residences, shops and restaurants, other places of work, community facilities, public spaces, and more. A key goal of this project is to understand what type of TOD will work best at North Springs Station to fit with the neighborhood's desires and the market potential. Learn more about how MARTA is working on TOD plans like this at other stations across Metro Atlanta on the MARTA transit-oriented development page (opens in new tab).

Placemaking

Placemaking is taking care of our public spaces to make them special, interesting, and personal to our communities. This can include elements like murals, art installations, custom urban design elements, landscaping, lighting, seating areas, performances, other events, and more. Identifying opportunities for memorable features like these to add warmth and personality to the North Springs Station site is part of this project, and we are looking for placemaking ideas from the community.