Atlanta Beltline Launches ATL Spoke Pilot, the City's First Autonomous Transit Shuttle, Expanding Free Last-Mile Transit in Southwest AtlantaAtlanta Beltline Launches ATL Spoke Pilot, the City's First Autonomous Transit Shuttle, Expanding Free Last-Mile Transit in Southwest Atlanta

 The Atlanta Beltline launched ATL Spoke, a new free autonomous community shuttle pilot service connecting the West End MARTA Station, the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail, and destinations throughout the Lee + White district. This 12-month pilot marks Atlanta’s first autonomous public transit shuttle deployment in the City of Atlanta.

ATL Spoke will complement existing MARTA service, improve the linkage between MARTA rail and the Beltline, and fill a key last-mile gap in the city's transit network. 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 rail and trail infrastructure.

The project is a learning opportunity, designed to test the technology, the form factor of the vehicle, and the service provider 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.

“As we seek to create an integrated and connected transportation network, ATL Spoke showcases the way innovative thinking can solve the first-mile last-mile connectivity challenges when we work with partners like MARTA, the Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority, and Beep,” said Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “This project is piloting the future of neighborhood mobility in a way that improves access to transit and opportunity.”

The initial route will have 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. Phase 2 of the route will extend north to the Atlanta University Center in time for the fall semester. 

Service operates seven days a week from noon to 10 p.m., with a shuttle arriving every 12 to 15 minutes. Rides are free and open to the public.  More information on the operations can be found at www.atlspoke.com.

“ATL Spoke reflects exactly the kind of innovative, community-centered mobility solution we want to support in Atlanta. By helping connect residents and visitors to the Beltline corridor and MARTA rail, this pilot is a meaningful step toward building a more accessible and connected city for everyone,” said Commissioner Solomon Caviness of ATLDOT.

ATL Spoke marks the first time the Karsan Autonomous e-JEST vehicle has been deployed for public transit use in the United States.

“Atlanta is a forward-thinking community and a great place for this pilot project. It’s an important step in demonstrating what autonomous transit can look like at scale for cities across the country and world,” said Clayton Tino, President and Chief Operating Officer of Beep.

The vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and sensors to safely navigate along the designated route and are operated through Beep's operations control center. Each vehicle has passed the Federal Transit Administration's bus testing program and is fully compliant with federal motor vehicle safety and accessibility requirements. 

“Everything we learn from this pilot project will inform how innovative first-and-last-mile service can complement the full range of transit options we're building along the Beltline corridor,” said Joe Iacobucci, VP of Transit Innovation of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “We’ll be collecting data on ridership and getting community feedback during the 12-month project to learn how the rest of our city can benefit from transit projects like these.”

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.

The 12-month pilot project, funded 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.

For routes, stops, schedules and more information, visit atlspoke.com.

Media assets available here.