ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council has approved a resolution urging the mayor’s office to move forward with plans for light rail along the Atlanta Beltline.
The proposal calls for three light rail loops along the 22-mile Beltline with an estimated price tag of $3.5 billion. The resolution calls on the city and MARTA to develop a funding and engineering plan by late January.
Residents spoke both for and against the proposal before the council’s vote.
“Beltline rail is a good idea. We want this,” resident Jan Rivers said.
Others questioned whether the proposed route would meet the city’s transit needs.
“The Beltline’s circumferential route does not serve demand, we need transit routes that crisscross the city,” Hans Klein said.
Resident Jay Miller raised concerns about adding rail alongside the Beltline’s existing trail.
“You add rail right next to it with a fence, you’re hemming these people in and there’s going to be a tragedy,” Miller said.
Supporters pointed to the potential for additional public transportation in the city.
“Atlanta would be a better city if we had fewer cars,” resident Paul Chiusano said.
“If you want to expand the tax base of the city, we must build public transit,” resident Yao said.
The council vote follows the release of findings from a multiyear Beltline transit study. The study found the proposed light rail system could generate about 4.2 million trips annually, with trains arriving in either direction every 10 minutes.
The study also found at least one-fifth of ridership would come from people who would otherwise drive to their destinations in the city. New MARTA stations where the two transit systems intersect could also be important to securing high ridership.
Design work is farthest along for transit on the Eastside portion of the Beltline near Ponce City Market.
The Beltline is continuing to accept online public feedback on the transit study. No information has been released detailing if or when construction would begin.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Veronica Waters contributed to this story.
