Let’s just get this out of the way at the top of the letter: I’m a proponent of rail on the BeltLine.
Call me an originalist, an absolutist, or an idiot, but when Ryan Gravel conceived of the BeltLine back in 1999, rail was always a component. From the loop’s earliest planning stages to the reality we have today, rail has been a component. What did y’all think that big grassy area off to the side of the trail was for?
Many residents and homeowners near the BeltLine seem to have been taken by surprise that the promise of rail might be coming to pass sooner rather than later. MARTA is currently working on its plan to extend the Downtown streetcar to the BeltLine and up to Ponce City Market.
I understand the trepidation by many concerning the streetcar. It’s mostly empty, has had maintenance issues, and it’s just “big.” The BeltLine is busy with walkers, joggers, bikers, and skateboarders, so having the big blue streetcar running next to it does seem off-scale.
When I pictured rail on the BeltLine in my head, I guess I thought of something akin to the trolley cars in San Francisco or maybe some kind of open-air tram system – something sleek and small.
That said, I believe the streetcar extension will be a success. Imagine getting on the train at Ponce City Market and heading to the emerging tech hub in South Downtown, the massive Centennial Yards project, or to catch a game or concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or State Farm Arena. This is where the streetcar is going to get traction and ridership
During his State of the City address on March 25, Mayor Andre Dickens promised four new MARTA infill stations, including one at the Murphy Crossing project in south Atlanta. Where the other three are going will be crucial to making MARTA a more viable option for the masses.
I lived directly on the BeltLine Eastside Trail…
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