Atlanta Beltline Explained: Transit

Learn how the Atlanta Beltline vision includes more than multi-use trails and greenspace; it is a transportation corridor designed to help people move about, get to work, and gain access to essential needs and services.
See the role transit plays in making this possible, when and where it will be built, and how it can transform Atlanta into a 21st-century model for urban connectivity.

[@evanblock5546]

Excited to see it happen!

[@dexter111344]

The problem is, the only bit right now is the streetcar that does a short loop and the plan to extend it to a full mode of transit is decades away. Way too long. It needs to be done in less than 10 years. And it needs to be given priority at signal crossings, too. Go all in with the commitment for it instead of half-assing it.

[@jamisontanksley112]

More rail is always better than less. The reason why the rail we have now sucks is because it’s forces to be stuck in traffic and the line doesn’t take people where you actually need to go. With that being said, TRAMS in lanes ONLY for street cars makes a successful transit. However, I think transit should build to replace were cars are supposed to go. Right now, the beltline of one often few places where peoples and bikes can commune like in a public square. Take space away from cars Sotheby’s streets cans also become more people friendlyand you have then good city design. Rails is our friend but we must leases the amount of space we have for cars, not for walking

[@herrdado3970]

Does Beltline allow vendors such as hommade bracelets, etc? Curious to see if that's an option for ppl.

[@minifishy7162]

Ponce City market has vendors I think on weekends right next to the beltline. I think the homade bracelets and such aren't technically allowed but I see people selling stuff along the beltline all the time!

[@stevenmcgillivray9283]

It'll be another expencive failure like the street car has been, and still is. A bonafide waste of taxpayers money. They should furnish their own transportation.

[@jeffreyman17]

This is such a bad idea. Just because transit was part of the plan 20 years ago doesn't make it a good idea today. The downtown streetcar is a HUGE failure that is way over-budget and way under-utilized. There are many more deserving transit projects in Atlanta, including those in more deserving neighborhoods that would do a much better job of increasing equity throughout the city. Given the current utilization of the Beltline, a second path to separate the vehicles (bikes, scooters, and skateboards) from pedestrians would be a substantially better use of that space at an infinitely more economical cost (also without downgrading the park-like character of the Beltline by putting a train car running directly through it).

[@brayg488]

As someone who has lived in atlanta for all my life, this is the best transit project to ever come to atlanta. With the density of the beltline exponentially increasing it makes no sense why light rail hasnt been built along the right of way. The light rail system will make it easier for commuters along the beltline to connect to existing marta heavy rail and other places along the beltline, not to mention, this project will make the system more ADA accessible, and more accessible for people with lower incomes. The beltline should bring atlantans together, and in order to do that we need transit. The reason for the downtown streetcar being a failure is because it doesnt connect peoples houses to where they need to commute, its more of a tourist trap than a real transit system, but if we connect the downtown streetcar to the beltline light rail it makes an easy connection between marta heavy rail and multiple places downtown. Another thing is that this project will preserve all of the greenspace along the beltline with the use of "green tracks," which are in use in many european cities like amsterdam and they look VERY nice. And finally, yes this project is expensive, but compared to how much GDOT spends on our roads and freeways in atlanta, this light rail project is a BARGAIN. GDOT has spent 800+ MILLION on the GA400 I-285 interchange alone which will end up making traffic worse due to induced demand. The streetcar east extension will cost about 250 million and help thousands of people get around the beltline daily, quickly, safely, efficiently, and cheaply.

[@MrStrickland90]

keep poor people off the beltline! and disabled people! only rich people who live on the east side or people who can drive themselves and are able bodied should be able to visit!

[@minifishy7162]

@jeffreyman17 What a terrible take. For starters, the beltline as an idea was originally came up with as a combined walking/biking/train. The man that came up with the whole beltline later left the project, citing his disappointment as to what the beltline has become. The state of the belline today is undeniably manufactured, and should be fixed with more low income housing. Not by neglecting the possibility of transit, thus only continuing to push poor people out.

[@TommyJonesProductions]

You are simply incorrect. Rail is integral to the success of the Beltline.

[@minifishy7162]

@@TommyJonesProductions not integral at all. As long as you ignore all the poor people, and the environment, and students, no rail is actually perfect!