Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Atlanta

Atlanta Beltline, Still in Its Infancy, Already Boosting Business

2:08 PM EDT on July 17, 2013

It's working. The Atlanta Beltline, still in its most formative stages, is already boosting business and promoting development, according to this report from a local news station.

The Beltline -- which will eventually consist of a rail and trail loop encircling Atlanta -- recently marked the completion of a new park/trail segment on the city's northeast side. That investment alone, even without the rail portion, has spurred hiring and walkable infill development nearby.

The full Beltline transit plan suffered a setback last year when voters in the Atlanta region rejected a transportation tax hike that would have provided $600 million in funding. But the project continues to move forward, currently focused on trail and park development, using revenues from a special tax district around its perimeter.

Project spokesperson Jenny Odom reports that about four parks have been built, reclaimed from industrial and rail land, on the northeast and southwest sides of the city. That includes 5.5 miles of paved walking and biking paths and 6.5 miles of unpaved "interim" paths.

The Beltline remains one of the most visionary transportation projects in the country, with the potential to change the way people think about development and mobility in the Atlanta region.

Hat tip: @T4America.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Are Tired Out

Whether it's from degradation or the dust resulting from wear and tear, it's becoming increasingly clear that tire and brake emissions are harmful, perhaps even exceeding tailpipe emissions.

September 22, 2023

Study: What Road Diets Mean For Older Drivers

"After a road diet, all motorists seem to drive at a rate that feels comfortable to a mildly-impaired older adult."

September 22, 2023

Op-Ed: Why Is Fare Evasion Punished More Severely than Speeding?

A.B. 819 offers California the opportunity to decriminalize fare evasion and replace punitive measures with more equitable approaches.

September 21, 2023

Talking Headways Podcast: Local Culture and Development

We chat with Tim Sprague from Phoenix about supporting local culture through development projects and the importance of sustainable development and transportation.

September 21, 2023

City of Yes Yes Yes! Adams Calls for Elimination of Parking Mandates on ALL New Housing

Mayor Adams today announced the historic end to one of the city’s most antiquated — and despised — zoning laws requiring the construction of parking with every new development.

September 21, 2023
See all posts