The Breeze Card is a contactless smart card used on bus and rapid transit routes in Metro Atlanta. It is part of an automated fare collection system which Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) introduced to the general public in early October 2006.^[1] The card can also be used on CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett, Connect Douglas, and Xpress buses. It automatically debits the cost of the passenger's ride when placed on or near the Breeze Target at the fare gate. Transit riders are able to add value or time-based passes to the card at Breeze ticket machines located at all MARTA stations and select retail locations.

On July 1, 2007, the TransCard and the paper bus transfers were discontinued and patrons now use a Breeze Card or Ticket to access the system (except for single bus rides, which can still be paid for in exact change), and all transfers are loaded on the card. Breeze ticket machines distribute regional transit provider passes (providing that the requested system has completed their transformation to the Universal Breeze AFC.) The Breeze Card employs passive near-field communication (NFC) technology.

The Breeze system uses a Breeze Card. The card, made of plastic, is durable and can be purchased for $2. The card can be reloaded on a bus (cash only) or at a Breeze vending machine. There is also a ticket composed of coated paper.

The fares are authenticated by near-field communication at the rail station faregates or at the fareboxes in the buses. The cards are also used to receive transfers when riders tap to exit the rail station. Transfers are automatically loaded when riders tap their Breeze Cards as they enter a bus.

Breeze Card can be used with MARTA bus, rail, and streetcar. It can also be used with CobbLinc, in Cobb County, Ride Gwinnett, of Gwinnett County, Connect Douglas, in Douglas County, and GRTA Xpress. Ride Gwinnett allows free transfers to and from MARTA only while using Breeze Cards and Tickets.^[2]

In 1995, MARTA opted in a plastic stored-value card pilot run by Visa during the 1996 Summer Olympics.^[3] MARTA ended the program in 1998 but expressed interest in using smart cards in the future.^[4] In 2003, MARTA entered negotiations with Cubic Transportation Systems to replace the existing fare system with one using smart cards.^[5]

In preparation for the Breeze Card, MARTA initially deployed the Breeze Ticket, a limited-use paper stored value card. During the installation phase (December 2005 to September 2006) Breeze gates were installed in all stations, there were new bus fare boxes and Breeze vending machines, in which individuals can buy tickets encoded with one ride. MARTA first implemented Breeze at the Bankhead station in December 2005.^[6] The fare gates were criticized by the MARTA Board of Directors due to the bottom of the gates being 15 inches (380 mm) above the ground, allowing fare evaders to crawl underneath the gates.^[7] MARTA corrected the issue by attaching plastic bars to the bottom of the gates, reducing the gap to 6 inches (150 mm).^[8] System wide installation (both train stations and buses) was completed in early September, making MARTA the first system in the United States to move towards only smart cards for fare (excepting cash).^[9]

Between October 2006 and July 2007, patrons were allowed to purchase Breeze Cards (which initially expired three years after first use) for free.^[10] Also, starting October 2006, patrons were allowed to reload Breeze Tickets (which expire 90 days after purchase). After July 2007, the price to purchase a Breeze Card and a Breeze Ticket were set to $5 and $0.50 respectively. Now, the ticket vending machines provide patrons with the ability to check a card's balance, and pay for parking at certain stations.^[11] They currently accept credit cards and cash for payment.

The system stopped selling tokens in the late fall, and magnetic weekly and monthly MARTA cards were still sold until July 2007 when magnetic cards were invalidated permanently, signaling completion of the Breeze system conversion. Breeze Cards became available by mail to customers that pre-ordered starting September 30, 2007. As the conversion reached its final phase, MARTA hosted "token exchanges" from October to December, allowing for people with rolls of tokens to have the number of tokens encoded on an extended-use card.^{[citation needed]}

In May 2007, MARTA began to charge a 50-cent surcharge on all Breeze Tickets. In July 2007, MARTA also stopped offering free Breeze Cards online and order forms from MARTA Ride Stores.^[12] Magnetic cards were invalidated permanently and MARTA stopped accepting paper transfers.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2017, the original blue Breeze Cards were discontinued and replaced with new silver cards that offer, "added security to combat fraud and abuse."^[13]

In January 2024, MARTA and Innovations in Transportation, Inc. (INIT) announced an agreement for implementation of Automated Fare Collection (AFC) 2.0.^[14][15] Designed as a complete replacement of Cubic's 2006 implementation, AFC 2.0 requires a new, orange NFC card, along with new ticket vending machines, faregates, and bus fare validators. AFC 2.0 also adds mobile wallet support (including Express Transit/Pay for iOS and Android) for NFC cards as well as contactless bank cards, a new mobile app, and website for card management.

In 2025, MARTA branded AFC 2.0 as "Better Breeze" with an aggressive six month installation schedule, from October 2025-March/April 2026, intended to be complete prior to the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. The new system launched to limited public use on March 28th, 2026, with complete availability in May 2026.

MARTA's Breeze allows riders to load money on the card for use over time, and to add 7- and 30-day passes that are not fixed to a calendar period.^[16] The system provides a better way for MARTA to analyze transit patterns, allowing for schedule changes to suit demand, and free up more staff to work directly with customers in stations. Breeze also helps prevent fare evasion, which in previous years cost an estimated US$10 million annually.^[8]

The upgrade to Breeze also resulted in a complete replacement of all fare gates and token-based system. The previous system was subject to entrance without payment, as a low turnstile permitted "turnstile jumping" and a handicapped gate could easily be opened by reaching over to push the exit bar. Moreover, there were instances where the turnstile mechanisms would be deteriorated such that some people could forcefully advance the turnstiles with their bodies. The new system offers taller gates and cannot be opened from the outside without first paying.^{[citation needed]}

The Breeze Card uses the MIFARE smart-card system from Dutch company NXP Semiconductors, a spin-off from Philips. System supports single-use as well as multi-use cards. The disposable, single-use tickets contain MIFARE Ultralight technology.

The first-generation of Breeze Cards (blue cards) were MIFARE Classic cards. These cards have been phased out due to known security weaknesses and are no longer valid for transportation.

The second-generation Breeze Cards (grey cards) are based on MIFARE DESFire EV1 technology.

The third and current generation Breeze Cards (orange cards) use near-field communication (NFC) technology.

• List of public transport smart cards

• Official website 👁 Edit this at Wikidata
  
• MARTA website