Mayor Andre Dickens laid out his Administration’s vision for the City of Atlanta and MARTA’s partnership moving forward so that Atlanta communities live equitable, connected and healthy lives—ultimately making the city the best place in the country to raise a child.
“A thriving transit system is more than just buses and trains—it is about creating walkable, connected communities where people can live, work and play near high-quality transit. MARTA has a substantial amount of high-value real estate holdings that can be leveraged to accomplish this,” said Mayor Dickens. “We need to ensure that our stations serve as hubs of economic activity, housing and retail that benefit all Atlantans—particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods.”
At Thursday’s meeting of MARTA’s Board of Directors, Mayor Dickens and members of his senior leadership team provided the Board and members of the public with how the Administration can work with MARTA to build an equitable economy that works for all Atlantans. The roadmap includes forward-thinking approaches to reducing poverty, improving graduation rates, increasing access to affordable housing, increasing MARTA ridership and more.
“As the Chairwoman of the MARTA board, I was excited to hear the Mayor’s plan to create equitable transit solutions throughout the city. By building transit-oriented communities, we can connect our neighbors across the city and secure MARTA’s future as a world-class transit agency,” said MARTA Board of Directors Chair Jennifer Ide.
“Reliable public transit is essential for transit-dependent communities in Atlanta, providing a critical link to jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services. Many residents, particularly in historically underserved areas, rely on MARTA and other transit options as their primary means of transportation. Without frequent, accessible, and affordable transit, these communities face significant barriers to economic mobility and daily necessities,” said Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs. “The Southside of Atlanta has long been underserved when it comes to transit investment, despite being home to many residents who depend on public transportation the most. Prioritizing transit expansion and improvements in South Atlanta is not just a matter of mobility, it is a matter of equity. By enhancing transit infrastructure in these neighborhoods, we can better connect people to opportunity, reduce economic disparities, and support sustainable growth.”
The Administration’s roadmap for transit is part of the Mayor’s “North Star” holistic vision and forward-thinking strategic plan to reduce poverty, improve graduation rates, increase access to affordable housing and expand public transportation.
“Just last week, Atlanta was once again ranked dead last for income equality. Sustained inequity is bad for people, bad for business, and jeopardizes the future health of the City. By bringing rail to Atlanta’s Southside trail, we connect transit dependent riders to the necessary amenities they need to live choice filled lives, while simultaneously reduce car dependency, increase MARTA’s ridership, and leverage the Beltline’s transformative power to reconnect our neighborhoods,” said Chief Policy Officer and Senior Advisor to the Mayor Courtney English.
The plan outlines what could be the first phase of an evolution of transit in Atlanta. While heavily debated current public transit plans call for extending the Atlanta Streetcar onto the Eastside Beltline, the Dickens Administration on Thursday said it would reprioritize BeltLine rail construction on the Southside corridor. The City said it also wants to concentrate resources on improving services on the existing streetcar and have it eventually serve the southside portion of the Beltline, connecting to Murphy Crossing.
“Investing in transit on the Southside section of the Beltline also helps address broader regional challenges, including traffic congestion, air quality, and workforce accessibility. A more connected Atlanta strengthens the entire city, creating a more inclusive and resilient transportation network that benefits all Atlantans,” continued Higgs. “By prioritizing transit expansion in transit-dependent communities, especially in the Southside Trail of the Beltline we ensure that growth and opportunity are shared equitably, reinforcing Atlanta’s commitment to inclusive development and mobility for all.”
The Administration looks forward to engaging with the public in the coming months as we seek to implement this plan, which includes:
- Finally connecting Downtown to the Beltline via the Streetcar East Extension via the Streetcar East Extension at grade at Irwin St NE in Phase I of streetcar/light rail construction.
- Advancing the Streetcar West Extension to connect Downtown to AUC and/or Georgia Tech in Phase II.
- Utilizing dedicated ROW on the Southside Trail to connect Southwest and Southeast Atlanta with world-class streetcar/light-rail service. -accelerating the construction of previous release announced infill stations.