MARTA launches redesigned mobile app and web tools ahead of World Cup
Atlanta’s transit agency has rolled out a new mobile app and companion web-based rider tools built to handle the surge of visitors expected for this summer’s FIFA World Cup matches at Atlanta Stadium. MARTA will serve as a primary transit link for hundreds of thousands of domestic and international fans attending eight tournament games from June through July.
The free app, available on iOS and Android, offers real-time train and bus tracking, trip planning with saved routes, service alerts, and integrated incident reporting, replacing the standalone See & Say safety app. The tools support eight languages beyond English, including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French, and Arabic, and were designed with accessibility as a core priority. A browser-based version provides the same features without a download.
The platform is built on open data standards and the Open Trip Planner system used by transit agencies worldwide, drawing live vehicle positions from MARTA’s real-time data feeds.
MARTA, which logged more than 65 million bus and rail trips in 2025, says the launch is the first phase of a broader digital overhaul that will include a redesigned website and integration with its next-generation tap-to-pay fare system.
— Derek Prall
Stephen Causby named director of community building at Park Pride
Atlanta nonprofit Park Pride has promoted Stephen Causby to director of community building, a role overseeing the organization’s Friends of the Park and volunteer programs that support citizen park advocates across the region.
Causby joined Park Pride last August as associate director of grantmaking and implementation. He previously held planning and leadership positions at the Atlanta Regional Commission and the City of Atlanta’s Office of Housing and Community Development.
His connection to Park Pride predates his staff role by more than a decade. In 2008, Causby and neighbors in Atlanta’s English Avenue community started what would become Mattie Freeland Park as a community garden. The group later received a Park Pride Visioning Award, and the park opened in 2022.
The department itself has been renamed from community services to community building, signaling a more proactive approach to partnerships and resource-sharing.
“Our city and region are making decisions right now on what we will become over the next 50 years, and parks are a foundational part of that vision,” Causby said.
— Derek Prall
CARE hosts free volunteer event on the Atlanta Beltline this Saturday
Humanitarian organization CARE is inviting the public to help pack 2,000 hygiene kit care packages for U.S. disaster relief at a free drop-in event Saturday, June 20, from noon to 4 p.m. at LikeMinds ATL (112 Krog St. NE). No experience is required.
The effort marks 80 years since CARE delivered its first relief packages to families recovering from World War II. Attendees can also catch World Cup matches, and there will be games and giveaways throughout the afternoon. Register here.
— Derek Prall
KIND30 partners with Delta and Home Depot for World Cup kindness campaign in Atlanta
Nonprofit KIND30 is teaming up with Delta Air Lines and The Home Depot to encourage daily acts of kindness throughout Atlanta’s FIFA World Cup 2026 host-city window, June 15 through July 15.
The initiative asks residents, workers, and visiting fans to commit to one small act of kindness per day for 30 days, a gesture meant to showcase the city’s hospitality as it welcomes an international audience. The campaign will include employee engagement activities, community outreach, and digital storytelling inviting participants to share their experiences.
KIND30 founder Beth Abernathy said the hope is that the effort outlasts the tournament itself. Details and sign-up resources are available here.
— Derek Prall
Inframark-Slater joint venture awarded $150 million Fulton County wastewater contract
A joint venture between Inframark and Slater Infrastructure Group has been selected to manage wastewater operations across Fulton County’s North Fulton Service Area under a five-year, $150 million contract expected to begin Sept. 1.
Operating as Fulton County Wastewater Partners, the team will handle operations and maintenance for three treatment facilities: Big Creek and Little River Reclamation Facilities and the Johns Creek Environmental Campus along with 28 pump stations. Transition activities are already underway.
The partnership follows significant capital investment by Fulton County in its treatment infrastructure in recent years. The joint venture says its approach will prioritize system performance, long-term asset preservation, cost control and support for the county’s ongoing capital improvement work. The onsite team will draw on expertise across operations, engineering, asset management and cybersecurity.
Both firms bring prior experience operating wastewater systems in Georgia and nationally. Slater’s Jeanne Simkins Hollis said the goal extends beyond facility operations to workforce development and community quality of life. Fulton County Public Works Director David Clark said the county looks forward to having its recent infrastructure investments maintained by the new partnership.
— Derek Prall
My Friend’s Bottle Shop and Grant Park Conservancy team up for fundraiser at Oakland Cemetery
My Friend’s Bottle Shop is partnering with the Grant Park Conservancy for “Pours for the Park,” a fundraiser on Thursday, June 25, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Historic Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center.
Tickets are $35 and include an open bar, light bites, dessert, and raffle baskets. The centerpiece is an interactive auction for rare and collectible bottles, including Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton’s, and Michter’s 20 Year, with bidding conducted through the bottle shop’s loyalty points system. Proceeds support the Conservancy’s stewardship and improvement work across Grant Park, the 131-acre historic green space established in the 19th century.
The event is open to guests 21 and older. Tickets and details are available here.
— Derek Prall
