Atlanta Beltline Expands ATL Spoke Pilot, the City's First Autonomous Transit Shuttle, Connecting to the Atlanta University CenterAtlanta Beltline Expands ATL Spoke Pilot, the City's First Autonomous Transit Shuttle, Connecting to the Atlanta University Center

 Today, the Atlanta Beltline is expanding ATL Spoke, the city's first autonomous transit shuttle, to include the Atlanta University Center, some of the city’s most vibrant educational communities. The expanded route provides an additional connection to the already established service between the West End MARTA Station, the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail and the Lee + White commercial district. The expanded route creates a new connection for AUC students, faculty and staff, as well as residents and visitors, ahead of the fall semester.

With the expanded route, ATL Spoke makes it easier to connect to the Atlanta Beltline, MARTA, campuses, places of employment, local businesses and parks. The service is designed to help close first-and last-mile gaps and improve connections between existing transit, trail and community destinations in Southwest Atlanta. The expansion reflects Atlanta Beltline’s broader approach to connecting transportation infrastructure with access to education, employment, economic opportunity and community destinations.

“ATL Spoke is an example of how we can bring together transit, trails, institutions, businesses and neighborhoods to make our communities more connected and accessible. As we think about the future of equitable urban development, we have to focus on how we connect people to opportunity,” said Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “By extending this pilot to the Atlanta University Center, we are not only expanding mobility options for students, faculty, staff and visitors—we are testing a model that Atlanta and other cities can learn from as they work to build more equitable, connected and opportunity-rich communities.”

ATL Spoke launched in June 2026 as a free autonomous transit service that provides safe, sustainable, and convenient first-and last-mile connection between Atlanta Beltline and MARTA. Rides are free and open to the public, with service operating seven days a week from noon to 10 p.m. and shuttles arriving every 12 to 15 minutes. 

Each ATL Spoke shuttle is staffed by a dedicated onboard attendant trained to answer questions, ensure a smooth experience, and manually operate the vehicle if necessary. All four vehicles in the fleet are ADA accessible and carry up to 12 passengers.

This innovative transit project will make it easier for residents, students, trail users, and visitors to move throughout southwest Atlanta while supporting a more connected, inclusive, and forward-thinking transportation future for all Atlantans. It will also help evaluate how autonomous transit technology can support flexible, cost-effective neighborhood circulation and strengthen connections to existing transit and trail infrastructure.

“Expanding ATL Spoke gives us an opportunity to learn how autonomous transit can serve a broader range of riders and destinations,” said Joe Iacobucci, VP of Transit Innovation of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “As the pilot continues, we’ll use ridership data and community feedback to understand how this type of service can complement MARTA and other transit options and inform future neighborhood mobility solutions.” 

 The project is a learning opportunity, designed to test the technology, the application to public transit under real-world operating conditions in Southwest Atlanta. Safety is central to the project, and each vehicle will be staffed with an attendant at all times with additional oversight.

The 12-month pilot project, supported by a $1.75 million grant from the Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority (GTEA) (formerly Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority) and delivered by Beep, an autonomous mobility service provider, runs approximately two miles along public streets in Southwest Atlanta.

The initial route included stops at MARTA West End Station, Joseph E. Lowery Blvd at Beecher Street, and two stops within the Lee + White district: the Food Hall on the west and Boxcar/Wild Heaven on the east. For routes, stops, and more information, visit atlspoke.com.

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