New MARTA Breeze card to debut

110621-ATLANTA:Andrea Jemison recharges her Breeze card at a kiosk inside the Five Points MARTA station in down town Atlanta on Tuesday, June 21st. MARTA votes to raise fares to $2.50, the second increase in two years. That makes for 43% higher fares since two years ago. Monthly passes would go to $95, from $52.50 just two years ago. In spite of the sluggish economy, MARTA says the fare hikes are necessary to sustain the service and prepare for regional transit integration, and that in the last decade it went nearly nine years without raising fares to keep pace with inflation. Phil Skinner pskinner@ajc.com editor's note: CQ

Credit: Andria Brooks

Credit: Andria Brooks

110621-ATLANTA:Andrea Jemison recharges her Breeze card at a kiosk inside the Five Points MARTA station in down town Atlanta on Tuesday, June 21st. MARTA votes to raise fares to $2.50, the second increase in two years. That makes for 43% higher fares since two years ago. Monthly passes would go to $95, from $52.50 just two years ago. In spite of the sluggish economy, MARTA says the fare hikes are necessary to sustain the service and prepare for regional transit integration, and that in the last decade it went nearly nine years without raising fares to keep pace with inflation. Phil Skinner pskinner@ajc.com editor's note: CQ