To anyone who has stepped onto the Atlanta BeltLine over the past few years, the beauty of this linear park hits you right between the eyes. New York may have its vaunted High Line, but no one has something as impactful as the BeltLine that provides both refreshing access to nature and a vital footpath that safely moves millions of commuters, exercise seekers and others out for a shaded stroll over and under Atlanta’s notoriously dangerous street grid.
In spite of all the obvious benefits of the current BeltLine, its thriving businesses and the enjoyment of all Atlantans of every age, color and income level, why are we hellbent on squandering nearly a quarter-billion dollars and chopping down all of the shade trees and meadows that are the heart and soul of the BeltLine to make way for a 40-foot wide, concrete and steel extension of the nearly empty Atlanta Streetcar. Even worse will be the continuous safety fences and limited crossing points required for the fast-moving train system. They have gotten it completely wrong.
Why are they doing this? Apparently because it was always in the plan — and maybe it will help justify the failed streetcar. And, since this is just the first phase of a planned $2.5-billion-dollar system along the entire 22-mile loop, the entire linear park experience is severely threatened.
While originally conceived in the 1990s as a Rail-To-Trail project in the City’s Parks Master Plan, a more recent student project proposed a light-rail system encircling the City with no provision for a linear path. Then the Emerald Necklace Study, commissioned by the Trust for Public Land, made a strong case for deploying the BeltLine as a heavily planted multi-use trail connecting parks and neighborhoods across the City while also discussing the challenges of adding light rail on the narrow corridor.
Without any rail and with very little real anticipation of it, the BeltLine has become a phenomenally successful linear park corridor, capturing the imagination of millions of diverse citizens and surpassing even the wildest predictions for commercial and residential investment along its growing reach. The BeltLine is now a famously and breathtakingly lovely green ribbon that has become all of Atlanta’s front porch.
In a city that is suffering from constant tree canopy loss and the brutal heat island effects of climate change, this rapidly maturing tree canopy provides essential shade and comfort to its users. And, every mature tree on the BeltLine absorbs thousands of gallons of stormwater every year and significantly reduces air temperatures.
Yet Rail on the BeltLine just will not go away and is now a serious threat we must all rise up to address or lose control of this remarkable asset rightfully owned by the citizens of Atlanta and shared with the entire region.
One practical alternative is to simply expand the capacity of the current overcrowded BeltLine with a separate cycle track. Thousands of faster, wheeled vehicles would easily overwhelm the most exaggerated ridership numbers ginned up to justify the streetcar while saving the valuable tree canopy that provides comforting shade to thousands. Adding a separate track also makes extra space available for the much lower-cost micro-mobility technologies of the future while saving hundreds of mature shade trees and acres of flower-filled meadows.
Because the broad community is not aware of the recently approved plans to permanently destroy the current BeltLine, Better Atlanta Transit was formed to bring attention to these potentially irreversible choices being made now. We need to slow down this rushed decision-making process and seek new ideas. Let’s talk about much smarter and less expensive transit alternatives, including innovative, smaller-scale autonomous vehicles that could provide all-weather and lower-cost travel options in the same space as electric bikes and scooters.
And, we must honestly discuss matters of equitable distribution of precious tax dollars and admit that BeltLine rail is sucking a vastly unfair portion of More MARTA funding away from many more valid transit priorities — from a list of 77 original ideas down to just a handful because of the incredible cost of this one outdated fixed rail project.
We support a robust transit system, and MARTA’s more reasonable plans offering lower-cost options like BRT to more transit-dependent areas of the City make a lot of sense. We also believe the definition of transit needs to be broadened to include the vast array of new micro-mobility options being embraced worldwide.
We hope you will join the conversation and stand with us to Save Our BeltLine and imagine better Atlanta transit for all.
I applaud the Saporta Report for publishing this piece, but I note that the accompanying pictures are inaccurate to the point of being misleading.
First, MARTA has stated that there will be a safety fence running alongside the track. The pictures do not show this fence. A fence will return the Beltline to its previous status as a barrier that divides neighborhoods; you won’t be able to get from one side to the other, except at a few designated spots. Good-bye Ladybird! It will be fenced off.
Second, MARTA has stated that tracks will be mounted on a concrete bed, not on a grassy bed. Greenery on the Beltline will be replaced by concrete. Already, Atlanta Beltline Inc. is cutting down hundreds of trees on the southeast trail. The pictures above show misleadingly green tracks.
Third, the Atlanta streetcars fail to convey that the streetcars are huge — the biggest model that Siemens makes. Their presence — their size, speed, and overhead power cables — will dominate the Beltline experience. Today’s linear park will truly be converted to a rail corridor (a transformation that Beltline Rail supporters energetically celebrate.)
There is, however, one thing those pictures do get right: they show the dangers presented by today’s Beltline trail. Today’s trail dangerously mixes pedestrians, children, and pets with relatively high-speed cyclists and scooter-ists. Vulnerable people increasingly must stay off the trail.
Today’s Beltline needs “modal separation” that separates walkers from riders — “heels” from “wheels”. A separate cycle track would end this danger and make the Beltline usable by everyone. But if rail is built there will be no room for such modal separation. The Beltline will be forever crowded and dangerous.
For more realistic pictures, readers may want to check out: https://SaveTheBeltline.net
Excellent points all-around. Another point: the article doesn’t include photos of how wonderful it would be to simply have the “wheels” path running parallel to the “heels” path.
Creating the *two* paths is such a blindingly obvious solution! There are so many positives: easier and cheaper to build, more useful, accessible, no barriers, gets bikes and scooters away from walkers, … the list goes on. The negatives: hard to think of one, except that those who have fought for rail will have to accept the reality.
Walter, thank you for saying what needs to be said. Expanding the streetcar project, one of the most epic failures in transit history, onto the beltline would be spectacularly destructive. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Ruining the most successful thing in Atlanta – the Beltline – by imposing on top of it the least successful thing in Atlanta.
This streetcar project would be a failure for residents in Atlanta. The article points out many alternatives that are based on 2023 models and technology. The city will hopefully move forward, on a better path. The photos I assume were added to the article to illustrate rail on the Beltline in a fictional world? I also noticed that it took some work to get to this article. This quality content should be highlighted on the main page!
I am gratified to see more people stepping up to defend the BeltLine. When I was considering a move from the DC area to Atlanta, the presence of the Beltline was perhaps the main selling point for this city. The last thing I want to see is a cadre of old-school streetcar advocates destroy it.
I agree with Han Klein that modal separation between those on foot and those on wheels is what’s needed here. This is the sort of design common in bike and pedestrian-friendly countries, like Denmark, The Netherlands, and so forth. Unfortunately, it’s very rare in Atlanta.
Streetcars were big in the late 1990s to early 2000s (hence the thesis behind the Beltline streetcar), but the micromobility revolution (e-scooters, e-bikes, personal mobility scooters, etc) rendered them obsolete. Nobody is going to wait on a slow tram when they can get to their destination quickly via a shared or personal device.
Atlanta’s leaders should count their blessings that they only wasted money on the existing streetcar and move on. It would be the epitome of political arrogance to double-down on their error and saddle taxpayers with yet another white elephant.
Cannot state this enough:
… modal separation between those on foot and those on wheels is what’s needed here. This is the sort of design common in bike and pedestrian-friendly countries, like Denmark, The Netherlands, and so forth.
Please build the separate track for bikes and other powered vehicles, and stop the insanity of rail!
BTW, how about Atlanta promoting the purchase of e-bikes? I applaud that program. E-bikes are a great solution for hilly humid cities. Let’s add space on the Beltline for them!
The Beltline was always intended to have transit. Modern cities have transit AND bike paths AND sidewalks connecting residents to parks, businesses, jobs, and entertainment. The Beltline is a visionary idea and a critical puzzle piece in a more connected and livable Atlanta. Though some criticism of the design is warranted, nixing the transit altogether is short-sighted and further encourages auto dependence. Scooters aren’t ideal for long distances across the city and its gaslighting to say micromobility is a replacement for quality transit service. Let’s focus on achieving high quality for the streetcar, buses, and heavy rail in Atlanta and the region.
CX, could you consider expanding your notion of “transit”. Bikes, especially ebikes, are an excellent form of transit. Works door-to-door. With rail, I have to first get the access point, then wait for the train, then finally get to my destination. With an ebike, I simply go door-to-door. Easy. Quicker.
I suppose that it is possible that a new “wheeled” Beltline pane would get insufficient use. But I doubt it. What you will probably see is a huge increase in ebikes on the wheeled lane — they are really catching on, and the prices keep coming down. And getting bikes and scooters off the pedestrian path means that more people will walk. I know plenty of people who feel unsafe on the Beltline as-is, as far too many bikes go whizzing by.
So if I’m completely wrong, and people resist using the new “wheeled” lane, and Beltline usage thus drops, then one could abandon the paved wheeled lane and install rail. I’ll take bets from anyone who believes that a new wheeled lane will not be a huge success.
I love all the apocalyptical comments indicating rail will destroy the Beltline forever and there will be fatal consequences to adding the train alongside the path. I’m a property owner along the Beltline and fully support this rail project. It goes to support the broader vision of connecting Atlanta and providing more mobility options for citizens of Atlanta and visitors. The current preserved rail corridor is not used by pedestrians and nearly all access points, including the one in front of lady bird will be preserved. Might we see the garage sale of ‘vintage’ items have to move? Probably, but overall I believe the naysayers are pulling at straws at what will be a benefit for the Beltline and the broader region.
Kyle, the rail line will absolutely build a wall between the two sides of the Beltline. you are correct that the “current preserved rial corridor is not used by pedestrians” — yes, they walk on the Beltline. Where they are in danger of being hit by the numerous bikes. The solution is not to ban bikes, of course — the solution is to add a lane for bikes, scooters, etc.
Another huge bonus for improving bike (and ebike and scooter) traffic, by providing a new lane, is that people can use their (e)bike to travel essentially door-to-door. Ride to the Beltline, cruise down the path for bikes, then get off and ride to your final destination. Easy.
Of course, I can hardly take credit for any of these ideas. Millions of people in Europe do this every single day. If you haven’t ridden a bike in The Netherlands, you are due for an eye-opening experience!