Get ready for an extraordinary adventure, Atlanta! Three passionate friends from Chicago are bringing their world-record-breaking spirit to our city, and they're inviting everyone to join the celebration.

On January 8th, 2026, Joabe Barbosa, Matthew Plese, and Omar Yousaf will embark on an ambitious mission to visit every single MARTA station in under three hours. But this isn't just about breaking records—it's about celebrating the vital role public transportation plays in connecting our communities.

This remarkable trio has quite the story behind them. Barbosa, who grew up between Brazil and England, Plese from Chicago, and Yousaf, a soccer player who spent his childhood between New York and Mexico, have already proven they can achieve the extraordinary. They previously set the Guinness World Record for traveling to all 146 Chicago CTA stops in an impressive 8 hours, 58 minutes, and 55 seconds.

What makes their journey truly magical is how it all began. After Plese saw Barbosa on the news discussing their shared dream of running every street in Chicago, the two became fast friends. Then Barbosa had an actual dream about exploring Chicago's community zones, which sparked an incredible chain of events—leading from neighborhood tours to ultra marathons to conquering transit systems.

"It started because of a dream," Plese explains warmly. "It was so successful, so fun. We thought we could just go around to other cities now."

Atlanta represents an exciting new chapter in their journey. Since there's currently no existing world record for the fastest time to travel all MARTA stations, these trailblazers saw the perfect opportunity to put Atlanta on the map while spreading awareness about the importance of public transit systems that connect people from all walks of life.

Their ultimate vision extends far beyond Atlanta. The team dreams of setting records in every major U.S. city with transit systems, culminating in New York City, where the current record stands at 22 hours.

Here's where it gets even better—you can be part of history! The record attempt begins at 3pm on January 8th at the North Springs station, and everyone is invited to come cheer them on. The team will need witnesses to sign documentation throughout their journey, making this a true community celebration.

This heartwarming story reminds us that dreams really do come true, especially when shared with friends who believe in the same vision. It celebrates the infrastructure that brings us together daily and transforms an ordinary commute into something extraordinary. These three friends are showing us that with creativity, determination, and a spirit of adventure, we can turn even transit systems into pathways for making history and building connections across the country.

So mark your calendars, Atlanta! Come witness this inspiring attempt and celebrate what makes our city's public transportation special.