New mural and station enhancements made possible through a collaboration of the City of Dunwoody, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, and MARTA
ATLANTA – June 22, 2021 – Commuters and guests passing through Dunwoody Station will be greeted by a suite of station enhancements in the shuttle loop, most impressively a 70-foot wide 3-panel mural – one of the largest pieces of public art in the area. To better serve the hundreds of professionals and visitors who use last-mile shuttles at the station, the City of Dunwoody and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) partnered with MARTA to implement the mural along with new shuttle signage and enhanced lighting.
As commuters return in greater frequencies to Dunwoody Station, they’ll have the chance to admire “The Commuters,” designed and painted by Atlanta artist Neka King. King’s piece was chosen from among two dozen candidates by a panel of local stakeholders including representatives from the City of Dunwoody, Spruill Center of the Arts, and MARTA Artbound. King’s concept was chosen for its vibrancy, unique perspective and connection to the space around it.
“Neka King’s artwork transforms bare walls into an inviting space that is colorful and creative,” said Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch. “Improving the commuters’ experience is key to increasing ridership both on MARTA and the shuttle services. I’m excited about this collaboration with MARTA and look forward to more public art projects at the Dunwoody Station and throughout the City.”
Enhancements to the station also include prominent shuttle wayfinding, an important functional addition for riders navigating connections between MARTA, Xpress and shuttle services. A new information panel will give riders easy avenues to access real-time tracking, schedules, and other updates. Additional lighting will be completed later this month to improve visibility in the shuttle loop.
The PCIDs funded the mural and shuttle improvements as part of a special initiative to improve the daily transit experience for area professionals, visitors and residents. In partnership with MARTA’s Artbound program, station architects and engineering team, staff of the PCIDs’ Perimeter Connects program mapped out a series of improvements that would better reflect Dunwoody Station’s growing importance and connections to Central Perimeter’s business district.
“Transit is a key ingredient for the success of the Perimeter business district and the thousands of companies that call it home,” said Ann Hanlon, Executive Director of the PCIDs. “As offices reopen and people return to their commute, we had the opportunity to give them a better experience and to do so quickly. We’re proud of the partnership that made this possible, and we look forward to continuing to work together to support transit in Perimeter”.
Since its opening in 1996, the Dunwoody Station has grown into one of the most active transit hubs outside of I-285, welcoming more than three thousand riders each weekday. In addition to a bus depot serving three Xpress buses and three MARTA bus routes, the station is home to seven different shuttle routes that connect transit riders directly to and from their destinations.
# # #
About Perimeter Community Improvement Districts
The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) is leading the charge to implement vital transportation improvements to enhance mobility and access to the Perimeter Activity Center. Representing both the Central (DeKalb) and Fulton Perimeter CIDs, the PCIDs are self-taxing districts that use additional property taxes to help accelerate needed transportation and infrastructure improvement projects. For more information about the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, visit www.PerimeterCID.org.
About Perimeter Connects
Perimeter Connects is a program of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs). To support Central Perimeter’s vitality, Perimeter Connects provides free consulting services to employers and commercial properties, as well as programs and resources for commuters such as the Dunwoody Station enhancements. Perimeter Connects and the PCIDs implement and partner on transportation solutions that improve access and mobility and reduce congestion. For more information about Perimeter Connects, visit www.PerimeterConnects.com.
About the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
Established in 1971, MARTA is among the largest transit agencies in the U.S., providing 95 percent of the public transit trips in the metro Atlanta region with 110 fixed bus routes, 38 heavy rail stations, 2.7 miles of light rail, and on-demand paratransit services. One percent of MARTA’s annual budget is allocated to enhance the ridership experience through visual and performance art. MARTA Artbound provides opportunities for artists year-round with a range of projects encompassing many modes of art. To learn more visit https://itsmarta.com/artbound.aspx.
About the City of Dunwoody
Dunwoody is located in metro Atlanta, in northern DeKalb County, and was officially incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008. The City of Dunwoody’s dynamic, business-friendly atmosphere, vast recreation opportunities, lower-overall cost of living and proximity to mass transit make it an excellent to place to live, work, play and visit. To learn more, go to www.dunwoodyga.gov.
