Atlanta has placed the Atlanta BeltLine Streetcar System Plan on hold, but the fate of one component of the plan—now occupying low-priority position among the plan’s four phases—reveals a lot about Atlanta’s proposed streetcar network.
Maria Saporta provides detailed analysis of the genesis of Atlanta’s plans to build a broad network of streetcars.
"An initial federal grant to build the entire 'shovel ready' Atlanta Streetcar including Peachtree was turned down, but a second application to begin with just the east-west line was approved. It is now under construction and scheduled to open this summer.
So one would think the next project slated to be built would be the Peachtree Streetcar — connecting downtown to Midtown towards Buckhead to the north and connecting downtown towards Fort McPherson to the south.
But in the last couple of years, the City of Atlanta has turned over its streetcar transportation planning function to the Atlanta BeltLine. That has led to the Peachtree Streetcar being placed at the very bottom of the priority list."
According to the article, the Peachtree Streetcar has now been relegated to the fourth phase of the Atlanta BeltLine Streetcar System Plan.
In examining the plight of the Peachtree Streetcar, Saporta provides a comprehensive list of projects proposed under the Atlanta BeltLine Streetcar System Plan as well as the evaluation methods used to schedule the long-term development plans for the system. According to Nate Conable, director of transit and transportation for the Atlanta Beltline, "each project was evaluated and ranked by using five guiding principles — project readiness, practicality and ridership, equity, financial options and development impact."
In a separate article, Saporta reports that although several committees and the full council had scheduled the Atlanta BeltLine Streetcar System Plan for review during the month of March, but the Atlanta City Council’s Community Development Committee put the proposal on indefinite until construction is complete on the 2.7-mile Atlanta streetcar line.
FULL STORY: Atlanta BeltLine buries Peachtree Streetcar to favor other streetcar lines
Atlanta Streetcar Expansion Still Moving Forward
MARTA has drastically reduced its plans to construct new rail transit, but one project still has political support from the top at City Hall.
Atlanta’s Transit Past, Present, and Future
The city once had an extensive streetcar system. Can it revive public transit once again?
What Should Transit on the BeltLine Look Like?
Supporters of a proposed streetcar extension argue that Atlanta’s popular BeltLine corridor was always meant to include transit, making it more than just a recreational area.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service