Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Receives $11 Million Grant from Atlanta Regional Commission for Southside Trail and Northeast Trail Construction

Federal funding will contribute to increased mobility in the City of Atlanta

Southside Trail below the intersection of University Avenue, Hank Aaron Drive, and McDonough Boulevard, bypassing the roads and freight rail above. Photo by Erin Sintos.

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) allocated $11 million in federal funding to Atlanta Beltline, Inc. (ABI) through its regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) call for projects. The funding will support construction on two of the Beltline’s multi-use trails. The Southside Trail is slated to receive $6 million and Northeast Trail will receive $5 million.

“We appreciate the continued support for the Atlanta Beltline from the Atlanta Regional Commission,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta Beltline. Inc. “The completion of the Southside and Northeast Trails will exemplify true connectivity and provide more and better access to jobs, affordable housing, and transit options.”

ARC’s TIP programs federal funding for transportation projects across metro Atlanta. As the central core of the Atlanta Regional Trail network, each segment of completed Atlanta Beltline trail has a multiplier effect by closing gaps in the transportation network, connecting with both regional and local trails, and providing viable transportation options.

“The Atlanta Regional Commission is proud to provide ongoing support for the Atlanta Beltline vision,” said Anna Roach, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission. “The Atlanta Beltline is a truly transformational project that is connecting communities, catalyzing economic development, and creating vibrant places to live, work, and play. It’s a model that has inspired communities across the Atlanta region.”

Southside Trail as it shares the old railroad bridge passing over Pryor Road. Photo by Erin Sintos.

A portion of the TIP funding will go directly towards construction on Southside Trail – Segments 2 and 3, which runs from Pittsburgh Yards to Boulevard. This allocation brings ABI to 80 percent in federal funding for the Southside Trail, the maximum amount allowed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The remaining amount will be funded by non-federal match sources. The construction of Segments 2 and 3 is on track to be bid for construction in September 2023.

The other portion will directly fund construction on the Northeast Trail – Segment 3, which will connect from the Northeast Trail at Mayson Street, through the Armour-Ottley commercial district, and to the Northwest Trail at Peachtree Creek. Segment 3 is anticipated to go into construction in 2024.

The southern terminus of Northeast Trail – Segment 3 just north of the Buford Spring Connector and under a MARTA line. Photo by Erin Sintos.

The full list of awarded projects can be viewed on ARC’s TIP webpage. The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and James M. Cox Foundation serve as local match sources for federal trail construction grants. Additionally, the SSD funding advances equity within communities through housing affordability and small business support, job creation, and the increased hiring of Minority Business Enterprises.

Click here for the Atlanta Beltline’s design and construction updates for November. For a list of upcoming and past public meetings, please visit www.beltline.org/meetings.