In Support of Atlanta’s Streetcar Proposal

Yesterday, we featured a post from Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic about Atlanta's decision to put a streetcar project in line for federal TIGER funds before another local transit proposal known as the Beltline. Yonah argued that the Beltline -- a ring of recreational amenities and transit features that would circle the city -- was the more innovative of the two projects. He questioned whether the city would be able to move forward with such an ambitious idea while simultaneously pouring resources into a streetcar downtown.

An artist's rendering of a streetcar in Atlanta. Image: SkyScraperPage forum

Today, we offer a counterpoint from CCTgirl at MARTA Rocks!, who thinks the streetcar project is the right choice. CCTgirl doesn't oppose the Beltway, but says the concept is simply not advanced enough to be a compelling candidate for federal funding right now:

Thanks to both bloggers for highlighting the arguments for two important transit proposals. In the end, the biggest lingering question may be whether we'd be having this debate if federal investment in transit was more robust.

Elsewhere on the Network today, Indigo Country, White City breaks down the media reaction to the death of a cycling advocate in South Carolina; Sprawled Out looks at a new study linking sprawl to the loss of social capital; and PA Walks & Bikes celebrates the news that walking and biking projects will be spared from transportation cuts caused by the loss of federal funding in Pennsylvania.