For Atlanta to be great, city must invest in infrastructure beyond the Beltline
Atlanta Journal Constitution
June 20, 2025

In her recent AJC editorial, Candler Park resident and ThreadATL co-founder Lauren Welsh argues against paving the Beltline transit corridor as a path for wheeled devices. We agree with Lauren that the trail’s popularity isn’t a sign of success but a symptom of Atlanta’s city-wide lack of safe sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit options everywhere else. By treating the Beltline as a standalone “emerald necklace” park rather than a multi-modal corridor including the planned light rail transit and the path, some city leaders are thinking in silos and diverting attention (and scarce resources) away from the broader investments the city desperately needs. Lauren also rightly asserts that prioritizing the mayor’s latest whim, to pursue unfunded Southside rail planning over completing the Streetcar East Extension, only delays any meaningful transit progress citywide. Without integrated planning that weaves parks, the intended light rail transit, housing, and commerce together, the Beltline is becoming just a disconnected sidewalk amid massive parking garages.

Shuttling FIFA fans, no driver needed
Axios Atlanta
May 13, 2025

Redirecting focus of service away from Eastside Trail along Beltline would be a major setback, costing millions
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
May 4, 2025

"Halting this progress now would waste millions of dollars and set the project back significantly. Redirecting the focus to a different corridor would require another decade of study and design before construction could begin — essentially delaying any transit construction on the Beltline by 10-plus years.”- Beth McMillan, Director of Engagement Atlanta Beltline Inc 2007-2022 in Sunday's AJC. There is almost no major engagement effort that ABI undertook during the years it was designing the Beltline that did not involve Beth McMillan at its center. You can't fool her.

McMillan spoke out in the city's paper of record to call attention to what the Beltline has always been, what has been readied through decades and investment of millions of dollars, and what she believes is the key to the City's future-Beltline rail around ALL 22 MILES of the corridor.

We won't make progress if we stop where we are and throw all we've done away, according to McMillan. She urged Mayor Dickens to continue forward and not make a mistake with devastating consequences and to build Streetcar East to PCM AND the rest of Beltline transit as soon as we can.

Atlanta mayor reaffirms commitment to Beltline rail
Urbanize Atlanta
February 12, 2025

Beltline Rail? A Conversation Between Walter Brown and Matthew Rao
Georgia State University Law Review
October 1, 2024

Beltline light rail proponents press Dickens for support
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
August 17, 2024

Atlanta BeltLine’s proposed rail is at a crossroads
Atlanta Magazine - Josh Green
February 29, 2024

BeltLine rail and trail on the Westside. (Rendering courtesy ABI.)

South side of the Beltline lined by new development // Photo by Arden Davis

A MARTA train waits at an Atlanta underground station. The agency recently told the City Council that it would only actively pursue 9 of the 17 capital projects on its priority list. (ReanC/Shutterstock)

Atlanta’s Incredible Shrinking Transit Plan
Governing.com
March 14, 2023

Where the streetcar would deposit passengers at PCM's The Shed, returning the outdoor facility to its original rail-focused uses. Kimley-Horn/MARTA 2040; via Vimeo

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Mayoral candidates to discuss Atlanta Beltline Wednesday
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oct 5, 2021

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MARTA contracts for feasibility study of BeltLine rail
Reporter Newspapers
April 12, 2021

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MARTA’s Atlanta Beltline study worries transit supporters
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 25, 2021

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BELTLINE RAIL NOW unveils $2.5 billion Beltline transit plan
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
January 27, 2021

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MARTA’s budget crisis alarms Atlanta Beltline supporters
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
April 17, 2020

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