Atlanta Transportation & Driving


Campus Transportation
GT Parking & Transportation is the department responsible for all transportation within the Georgia Tech campus.  The Stinger Bus,Tech Trolley, and the Stingerette are the primary transportation services used on campus.

The Stinger Bus service offers three routes on campus – the Red Route, the Blue Route, and the Green Route. The Red and Blue Routes generally service the core of the Georgia Tech campus, while the Green Route extends both north and south of campus, including areas such as Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and Techwood Parkway.  The Stinger Bus offers a special grocery shuttle service to Atlantic Station on Saturdays and Sundays where students do their weekly grocery shopping or engage in other leisurely activities.  Click here to see a map of the Stinger Bus routes.

The Tech Trolley (also known as the Gold Route) links the center of Georgia Tech's campus--including the transportation hub next to the Student Center and the Campus Recreation Center (CRC)--with Technology Square and the Midtown MARTA Station, as well as a select few locations on the main campus. Click here to see a description of the Tech Trolley and other bus routes, as well as links to route maps.

The Stingerette provides after-hours transportation for Georgia Tech students and employees. The shuttle services on-campus housing accommodations, on-campus facilities, academic buildings and the MARTA Midtown Station. The Stingerette is available Monday through Sunday from 6:00pm to 7:00am, excluding Institute holidays. Call 404.385.RIDE(7433) or visit www.stingerette.com to request a ride from the Stingerette.

The Stingerette also offers a Paratransit Service, which provides transportation assistance to members of the Georgia Tech community with permanent or temporary mobility impairments. This service operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Authorization to use this service must be obtained from the ADAPTS office, located in the Student Services Building (404.894.2561).

Students living in the Home Park and Centennial Place communities may purchase a Safe Ride Home Punch Card.  Each card allows 10 safe rides home via the Stingerette Nighttime Shuttle.  Cards may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation office (828 West Peachtree St.) for $20 each.


MARTA
Georgia Tech’s campus is accessible by Atlanta’s public transportation system, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority). MARTA offers rail and bus service throughout metropolitan Atlanta. The trains stop throughout the city, with two stops convenient to the Georgia Tech campus: North Avenue Station and Midtown Station.  More than 90 bus routes service the city; buses 1 and 26 stop on the southern edge of campus, and bus 12 stops along the northern edge. While the area covered by MARTA is limited, it does offer convenient and inexpensive transit between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the Georgia Tech campus: click here for more info.

The Breeze Card is used for payment on all MARTA trains and buses.  The Breeze Card itself costs $1.00 (it is reusable and rechargeable – you don’t have to buy another one unless you lose yours) and a one-way fare on a bus or a train costs $2.50.  You need to add additional fare/value to your Breeze Card when you buy it.  The Breeze Card allows you to transfer for free between buses and trains.

MARTA offers discounted monthly passes to students for $58.50, which is much cheaper than a regular monthly pass purchased directly through MARTA.  You can purchase these passes from the Buzzcard Center, located on second floor of Barnes & Noble @ GT in Tech Square. 


Bicycling
Georgia Tech has been recognized as a Bike Friendly University, and many students use bicycles to get around campus and Atlanta.

The BuzzBike program offers an inexpensive, fun, healthy and eco-friendly transportation option for Georgia Tech students. Students can rent bikes each semester to traverse the campus and surrounding areas while reducing traffic congestion on area streets. Twenty-five bicycles will be available for rental to students for the summer, fall and spring semesters. BuzzBikes are available on a first come, first serve basis. To apply for bike rental, please complete the Semester Bike Rental Application. Remaining applicants will be placed on a wait list and contacted when a bike becomes available.

Starter Bikes  is a collaborative project that provides low-cost used bikes to students and community members.  They also guarantee buyback when you no longer need the bike. To learn more, stop by the parking deck of the Campus Recreation Center on Fridays between 4pm and 6pm. Click here for more information.

Atlanta also has several bike shops where you can buy a new or used bike or get a bike repaired.  Visit the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's website for information about local bike shops, commuting by bike, bike-related news and initiatives, and more.


Parking on Campus
All Georgia Tech students, including freshmen, are eligible to purchase parking permits beginning in August of each academic year at the Parking and Transportation office. All student parking permits will be charged to the student's Bursar account and must be paid through the Bursar's Office. 

If you are driving to Georgia Tech for a brief period of time, there are also several visitor lots where you can park for an hourly fee.


Obtaining a GA Driver's License
If you will get a Georgia License, you must apply in person to the Department of Driver Services (DDS).  All drivers from other nations (including Canada and U.S. Territories) must pass Georgia’s written, road, and vision tests in order to be issued a Georgia driver license.  

For general requirements and the most convenient location for written and driving exams, please visit the Department of Driver Services website.  For specific information and requirements for non-US citizens, please visit the DDS webpage for non-U.S. citizens.

Note: You are not required to have a social security number (SSN) to obtain a GA state driver’s license or identification card. If you do not have a SSN and would like to get a license or identification card, you should obtain a Form SSA-L676 (Social Security Card Denial Notice) from the Social Security Administration.  Bring your passport, printout of your I-94 electronic record or I-94 card and I-20 or DS-2019 to the Social Security Administration and request a denial notice.  The issuance of this form does not prevent you from being granting a SSN in the future. It simply states that you are currently not eligible for one.

 

Follow these 4 Steps to Make the Process Smoother & Save Time:

  1. Wait 10 days after you arrive in the United States: You may want to apply for a driver’s license or SSN right away, but be patient. The 10-day wait allows time for all the government databases to update with your arrival information.
  2. Make sure your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status. You will receive an email from OIE when your SEVIS record is activated.
  3. Wait two days after your ISSS activates your record in SEVIS to apply for your driver license. 

Buying a Car
Buying a car is a serious financial matter. You are advised to be careful when purchasing any car, especially a used car. While most car dealers are reputable, some try to deceive customers by selling defective cars. You may want to find a friend who knows a lot about automobiles or read a magazine like Consumer Reports to help you decide which model of car will be best for you. It is wise to test-drive the car and to have a mechanic inspect it before you buy. This is to ensure that there are no major defects. For a small fee you can also purchase a vehicle history report from carfax.com by providing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the car.

Once you have negotiated a buying price, make sure that you receive the title certificate for the car and that the seller has signed over the car’s ownership to you. If you are buying a used car, when you pay the money and sign the papers, the vehicle is yours. You do not have the right to return the vehicle and ask for your money back if you find something wrong.

Owning and operating a car is no simple matter. Besides the cost of buying the car, there are other costs involved:

  • Automobile insurance (required by State of Georgia Law)
  • Gasoline, regular motor oil changes, and other car maintenance and repair costs
  • Annual emissions inspections, registration, and taxes
  • Parking fees on campus and in some apartment complexes

You should seriously consider the costs associated with owning a car before deciding to buy one. 

There are other options for people who need access to a car occasionally, but not on a daily basis:
Zipcar provides 24 hours a day/7 days a week access to Zipcars parked on campus to borrow for short-term use.  Once you join, you can reserve a car online, let yourself in with your Zipcard, and drive.  Hourly and daily rates are available, and include gas and insurance. Please refer to the website for more information.

There are many rental car companies in Atlanta, including AvisBudget, and Enterprise.  You can find a complete listing of companies, locations, and pricing by doing an internet search.

Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft also have a significant presence in Atlanta.