Atlanta — Streetcar Expansion Plan Approved

December 2015

The AJC.com site reports that Atlanta BeltLine in early December secured approval of the first long-range public transit plan for the city of Atlanta. The plan defines a large role for streetcars, with five routes across town in addition to service along the Beltline.

The Atlanta City Council has approved a new Atlanta Streetcar System Plan, including five crosstown routes along with 22 miles of streetcar service along the Beltline.

In total, the plan calls for a 50-plus mile streetcar system throughout the city. The document will serve as the basis for a potential Fulton County referendum in 2016 seeking approval from voters for an additional penny or fractional penny sales tax to fund transportation projects. Having the plan in place also enables the city to apply for major federal transportation funding. Development of the plan stretched over a number of years including considerable public input.