Editing CobbLinc

{{Short description|Bus public transit system in Cobb County, Georgia, United States}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name            = CobbLinc
| logo            = 
| logo_size       = 
| image           = 
| image_size      = 
| image_caption   = 
| company_slogan  = We're going your way
| parent          = 
| founded         = July 1989
| headquarters    = 463 Commerce Park Dr.<br />[[Marietta, Georgia]]
| locale          = 
| service_area    = Cobb County (Some Stops in Fulton)
| service_type    = [[transit bus]],  [[paratransit]], [[express bus service]]
| alliance        = 
| routes          = 17 
| destinations    = 
| stops           = 
| hubs            = 
| stations        = 
| lounge          = 
| fleet              = 
| ridership               = 10,392 (2005 est.)
| annual_ridership = 4,598,500 (2011) <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/FactBook/2012-APTA-Fact-Book-Appendix-B.pdf | title = 2012 Public Transportation Fact Book Appendix B: Transit Agency and Urbanized Area Operating Statistics | publisher = [[American Public Transportation Association]] | date = February 2012 | accessdate = 2018-01-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180423081821/http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/FactBook/2012-APTA-Fact-Book-Appendix-B.pdf | archive-date = 2018-04-23 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| fuel_type       ={{flatlist|
*[[compressed natural gas]]
*[[Diesel fuel|diesel]]}}
| operator        = [[Cobb County]]
| ceo             = 
| website         = http://www.cobblinc.org
}}

'''CobbLinc''' (formerly '''Cobb Community Transit''') is the [[bus]] [[public transit]] system in [[Cobb County, Georgia]], one of [[metro Atlanta]]'s three most populous [[suburb]]an [[County (United States)|counties]]. CobbLinc began operations in July 1989 (as Cobb Community Transit)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transit Division {{!}} Cobb County Georgia |url=https://www.cobbcounty.org/transportation/about/transit-division |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=www.cobbcounty.org}}</ref> and has had relatively strong ridership (3,793,253 total passengers in 2005) since then.

==Operation==
[[File:Parked Cobb Community Transit buses, April 2017 1.jpg|thumb|CCT and CobbLinc buses at a park and ride]]
CobbLinc has two [[transportation hub|hubs]]. Marietta Transit Center is along South Marietta Parkway in [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]], just west of the former [[Southern Polytechnic State University]] now the Marietta campus of Kennesaw State University. Routes connect to the most populated areas of the county, including [[Mableton, Georgia|Mableton]] and [[Kennesaw, Georgia|Kennesaw]].  Express routes also operate down to [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], connecting with [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] at the [[Arts Center (MARTA station)|Arts Center]] station.  [[Transfer (public transit)#Transfers|Transfer]]s are free between MARTA and CCT, though both transit agencies charge the same fare ($2.50) with a [[Breeze Card]]. CobbLinc's annual operating budget is about $12.9 million (2004), from fares and the general county budget, as well as [[Federal grant]]s.

All buses make automatic announcements inside the bus of upcoming stops and major roads, and stop requests from passengers.  This is done by pre-recorded voice announcements for the vision-impaired and [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] message signs for the hearing-impaired.  External announcements are also made by voice, in addition to the normal electronic signs. Some buses also run on [[compressed natural gas]] (CNG) rather than [[Diesel fuel|diesel]].

==Planning==
Along with Gwinnett, Cobb voted against MARTA in the 1970s, and thus was left out of the system.  The lack of [[sales tax]] revenue from the two counties stunted the growth of MARTA, however the [[Georgia Regional Transportation Authority|GRTA]] created by former governor of Georgia [[Roy Barnes]] has been seeking to create other solutions, such as possible [[light rail]] to Cobb through the [[Cumberland Mall (Georgia)|Cumberland Mall]] and [[Town Center at Cobb]] areas.  Other solutions proposed include special bus-only [[lane]]s on [[Interstate 75]], and [[commuter rail]] into [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]].  A cross-suburb line over to Gwinnett County has also been proposed, intersecting with a future extended MARTA north line between [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]] and [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] in [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]].

===2019 Light Rail Proposal===
In May 2010 Cobb's Board of Commissioners approved further funding to study a light rail line from the Cumberland/Galleria area to the Town Center/KSU area.  If constructed, the line would be approximately {{convert|14.5|mi}} long with seven stations.  The proposed line would be constructed and operational by 2019 with the expectation of nearly 50,000 riders daily by 2025.  At each end of the line, a circulator bus system has also been proposed bringing the total expected ridership for the new combined LRT/BRT system to nearly 100,000.  The project would be funded and operated through both federal and local sources.  As of 2010, it is unclear whether or not the new transit system would be operated by CCT, a new agency, or even another existing agency such as MARTA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2010 |title=VISIONS Light Rail |url=http://dot.cobbcountyga.gov/Planning_Studies/DOT_Visions_Final_May2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714032824/http://dot.cobbcountyga.gov/Planning_Studies/DOT_Visions_Final_May2010.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-14 |access-date=2010-07-03 |website=dot.cobbcountyga.gov}}</ref>

===Flex Busses and Shuttles ===
In 2015, Flex buses were added in Cobb County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2015-04-02 |title=South Cobb Welcomes Flex Transit |url=https://brightsidecobb.com/south-cobb-welcomes-flex-transit/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Bright Side |language=en-US}}</ref> They are organized into three zones in Powder Springs and Austell. There is also a Cumberland CID circulator shuttle.

=== Express ===
Cobb operates five GRTA Express routes, funded by GRTA. Express route 476 serves Douglas County, Powder Springs and Hiram park and rides. Route 463 serves Douglas County MMTC and West Douglas. Route 480, 483, and 490 serve Town Center. 480 continues to Acworth. 483 and 490 continue to Woodstock, and then 490 continues to Canton.

==Routes==
Most routes begin and end at the Marietta Transfer Center, though several operate from the Cumberland Boulevard Transfer Center.

===Local===
*'''10''': Marietta to Cumberland Mall via [[U.S. Route 41 in Georgia|U.S. Route 41]], then to [[Arts_Center_station_(MARTA)|MARTA Arts Center station]]
*'''15''': Marietta, south to County Services Parkway, then Windy Hill Road west to Wildwood office park
*'''20''': Marietta to Cumberland Mall, via [[Georgia State Route 280|South Cobb Drive]]
*'''25''': Cumberland to [[Hamilton E. Holmes station|MARTA H. E. Holmes station]], via Concord Rd SE, Hurt Rd, Austell Rd, Maxham Rd, Mableton Pkwy, Hillcrest Rd SE. 
*'''30''': Marietta to [[Hamilton E. Holmes station|MARTA H. E. Holmes station]], including Mableton and [[Six Flags Over Georgia]]
*'''35''':Cobb Hospital to [[Hamilton E. Holmes station|MARTA H. E. Holmes station]] including Austell  [Discontinued **]
*'''40''': North to Town Center Mall (at [[J. C. Penney]]) near Kennesaw, along Bells Ferry Road
*'''45''': Similar to 40, but along U.S. 41 instead; ends at Town Center Mall via [[Kennesaw State University]]
*'''50''': Marietta to Cumberland Mall, via Powers Ferry Road
*'''65''': East along [[Georgia State Route 120|Roswell Road]], south along Johnson Ferry Road to Johnson Ferry Baptist  Church, Park and Ride Lot, [[rush hour]]s also to [[Dunwoody station|MARTA Dunwoody station]], in DeKalb County [Discontinued **]
*'''70''': Cumberland Mall west to [[WellStar]] Cobb Hospital and Cobb County Health Center via East-West Connector and Powder Springs Road, including [[Home Depot]] world headquarters [Discontinued **]
* ** Discontinued August 1, 2011

===Express===
Express buses run only during peak hours, and only [[weekday]]s.  [[Morning]] buses run only ''to'' Atlanta, afternoon buses only ''from'' Atlanta.  All buses run via [[Interstate 75|I-75]], [[Interstate 575|I-575]] and [[Interstate 20|I-20]], and charge a fare of three dollars one-way, four for a round trip.

.   [https://www.cobbcounty.org/transportation/news/cobblinc-add-sunday-bus-service-route-10x '''10X:''' Upcoming route to replace 10A,10B,10C routes on summer 2019]

*'''100''': "North Cobb Express", Kennesaw (Busbee Park and Ride Lot) to [[Civic Center (MARTA station)|MARTA Civic Center station]], then to [[Five Points (MARTA station)|Five Points]]
*'''101''': "Marietta Express", Marietta (Transfer Center) to MARTA Arts Center station, and [[Peachtree Street]] at Luckie Street
*'''102''': "Acworth to Midtown", Acworth (Acworth Park and Ride Lot) to [[Arts Center (MARTA station)|MARTA Arts Center station]]
*'''476''' (GRTA Xpress Route): "Hiram-Powder Springs to Atlanta", Hiram (Hiram 278 Theater Park and Ride Lot) and Powder Springs to MARTA Civic Center and Arts Center stations
*'''475/75''' (GRTA Xpress Route): "Austell to Atlanta", South Cobb County (unincorporated) and [[Six Flags]] Theme Park to the MARTA Civic Center station.
*'''480''' (GRTA Xpress Route): "Acworth to Atlanta", Busbee Park and Ride Lot to Five Points and the MARTA Civic Center station
*'''481''' (GRTA Xpress Route): "Children's Healthcare to Atlanta", Children's Healthcare Park and Ride Lot to Five Points and the MARTA Civic Center station

===Park and Ride Lots and Transfer Centers===
*'''Marietta Transfer Center (MTC) Park and Ride''' @ South Marietta Parkway (SR 120 Loop) - Routes 10, 10C, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 65 and 101 connect at the MTC
*'''Busbee Park and Ride''' @ George Busbee Parkway - Express Route 100 and GRTA Route 480 connect at Busbee
*'''Children's Healthcare Park and Ride''' @ Big Shanty Road - Express Route 100 and GRTA Route 481 connect at Children's Healthcare
*'''Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Park and Ride''' @ Johnson Ferry Road - Route 65 connects at the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church
*'''Powder Springs Park and Ride''' @ the [[Silver Comet Trail]] in Powder Springs, GA - GRTA Route 476 connects at Florence Road
*'''Floyd Road Park and Ride''' @ the Silver Comet Trail in Mableton, GA -  Route 30 connect at Floyd Road
*'''Acworth Park and Ride''' @ Lake Acworth Drive in [[Acworth, GA]] - Express Route 102 and GRTA Route 480 connect at Acworth
*'''Cumberland Transfer Center (CTC)''' @ Cumberland Boulevard/Cumberland Mall (does not have a park and ride lot) - Routes 10, 10A, 10B, 20, 25, 50, 70 and [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] Route 12 connect at the CTC

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|CobbLinc}}
*[https://www.cobbcounty.org/transportation/cobblinc CobbLinc website]

[[Category:Bus transportation in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Transportation in Cobb County, Georgia]]