The metro Atlanta region has a lot at stake in the upcoming July 31 vote on the Transportation Referendum. Today, we examine how the Referendum would expand the 2.6 mile Atlanta Streetcar project, now underway, to connect to more key regional destinations. The western extension of the Atlanta Streetcar would connect the heart of downtown to Midtown and eventually, the west Atlanta BeltLine.
The 2.6 mile segment now under construction will connect to the Peachtree Center MARTA station, creating a vital link to the regional rail system. The Atlanta Streetcar extension to the west would begin at Andrew Young International Boulevard and Centennial Olympic Park using the same modern streetcar technology, allowing for a seamless expansion. A left onto Baker Street or across Centennial Olympic Park will take riders to the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Imagine It Children’s Museum. A right onto Luckie Street will tie riders into the culinary delights of Marietta Street while also traveling right by Centennial Place Elementary School. Just beyond this educational facility, one reaches one of the most prominent universities in the southeast – Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech fans and visitors will practically be dropped off at the doorstep of Bobby Dodd Stadium and students will have easy access to dorms.
In just a few short blocks in between Centennial Park and Georgia Tech, transit access will now be available to the following riders who previously had to drive:
- Employees and volunteers of the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Imagine It Children’s Museum, and Centennial Park
- Parents and kids going to play in the Fountain of Rings in Centennial Park, at the children’s museum, at the aquarium, or at the World of Coke
- Servers, chefs and managers of the surrounding restaurants
- Teachers and staff of Centennial Place Elementary School
- Professors, students, and staff of Georgia Tech
- Attendees of sporting events of all kinds at Georgia Tech
- Diners of the fine restaurants around Lucky and Marietta Streets
- Tourists
This is just one extension of an evolving transit network to be funded by the Regional Transportation Referendum. Riders would get to this section of streetcar from anywhere that MARTA travels as well as from the Atlanta BeltLine, meaning they could come from intown Atlanta or surrounding communities.
Stay tuned as we delve into the other segments of Atlanta BeltLine transit: the crosstown connection and the western and eastern segments of the Atlanta BeltLine. Learn more at transit.beltline.org.
