Last spring, more than 200 Emory graduate and professional students purchased Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) passes at discounted rates, increasing their access to the university’s campus and other metro Atlanta destinations.
The Subsidized MARTA (SMARTA) pilot project concept was developed by the Emory Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) and implemented in partnership with Transportation and Parking Services (TPS), part of the Division of Campus Services. Initially launched in fall 2024, the program was refined this year.
“Many graduate and professional students face significant expenses, including tuition, fees and general cost of living, while they are earning limited or no income,” says Jenna Daniel, GSGA’s vice president of sustainability and a graduate student in the School of Medicine.
“Creating affordable options for students to utilize public transit reduces the financial burden of commuting and parking and allows our campus to become more accessible to students without access to a car,” Daniel adds.
A 30-day unlimited MARTA pass currently costs $95 per month if purchased directly from the transit authority. However, the pass is available to all Emory students for $68.50 through MARTA’s University Pass (UPASS) Program and may be purchased on campus from Emory Transportation and Parking Services.
Through its SMARTA pilot project, GSGA funds a subsidy of $35, reducing the cost to only $33.50 per month for participating Emory graduate and professional students.
“TPS’ participation in MARTA’s UPASS program allowed GSGA to build on the existing relationship between Emory and MARTA to create the SMARTA program and facilitate the sale of passes,” says Ariel Paz Yitzchaki, GSGA president, a juris doctor candidate in the School of Law, and a sponsor of the original bill in fall 2024.
“The SMARTA project highlights the potential to expand similar initiatives that advance student engagement, affordability and access across the university,” she adds. “At the same time, it reflects GSGA’s focus on meaningfully improving access to resources to help students focus on what matters most — their studies.”
GSGA believes a lack of affordable and reliable transportation should never be a barrier to academic success, engagement in campus life, or participation in the metro community, Yitzchaki and Daniel explain.
Walter Kolis, TPS’ assistant director of transportation services, worked on the project with GSGA.
“Reliable public transportation is essential for Emory students to reach their classrooms, jobs, health care and more,” Kolis says. “By reducing the cost, GSGA is helping graduate students access more opportunities to engage where they live, work and learn.”
GSGA and its undergraduate counterpart, the Student Government Association (SGA), recently began to subsidize 10-trip passes for their respective constituencies, Kolis notes. All subsidized passes for are available in the TPS office in the Starvine Parking Deck on the Clairmont campus.
“When universities invest in affordable public transportation options, they directly support both student success and the health of the campus and surrounding community by easing traffic congestion, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions,” Daniel adds.
The 2025-26 GSGA Executive Board.