Decatur is one of the few MARTA stations located underground on the east line and it’s pretty great. Instead of running along the train tracks as an elevated line, the MARTA tunnel diverges north just after the East Lake station so that the Decatur station is smack dab in the middle of the Decatur square – underground. This photo is from 1976. Pedestrians had to walk over bridges to get from one side of the square to the other during the lengthy construction process. There’s something kind of terrifying seeing downtown Decatur split down the middle by a giant trench, especially for those of us who have only known it as the Decatur Square – with grass, a fog fountain, and plenty of open space. Most people who come to our festivals on the square have no idea they’re standing just 18 inches above the ceiling of the MARTA station!
