Atlanta Beltline, Still in Its Infancy, Already Boosting Business

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.