Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Atlanta

Atlanta Beltline, Still in Its Infancy, Already Boosting Business

It's working. The Atlanta Beltline, still in its most formative stages, is already boosting business and promoting development, according to this report from a local news station.

The Beltline -- which will eventually consist of a rail and trail loop encircling Atlanta -- recently marked the completion of a new park/trail segment on the city's northeast side. That investment alone, even without the rail portion, has spurred hiring and walkable infill development nearby.

The full Beltline transit plan suffered a setback last year when voters in the Atlanta region rejected a transportation tax hike that would have provided $600 million in funding. But the project continues to move forward, currently focused on trail and park development, using revenues from a special tax district around its perimeter.

Project spokesperson Jenny Odom reports that about four parks have been built, reclaimed from industrial and rail land, on the northeast and southwest sides of the city. That includes 5.5 miles of paved walking and biking paths and 6.5 miles of unpaved "interim" paths.

The Beltline remains one of the most visionary transportation projects in the country, with the potential to change the way people think about development and mobility in the Atlanta region.

Hat tip: @T4America.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Money for Something: Funding OK’d, But Details Missing For ‘Dept. Of Sustainable Delivery’

The mayor got the Council to sign off on $6.1 million for the long-awaited “Department of Sustainable Delivery." But what's it mean? No one is talking.

July 1, 2025

Incoming Albany Mayor Could Help Safe Streets Movement Statewide

The state capital is built for the car and that is how it is experienced by our lawmakers. But could that change under a new mayor? Here's hoping.

July 1, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Another Child Sacrificed to the SUV Edition

Stop de kindermoord! An 8-year-old boy killed by an SUV driver is the latest victim of America's obsession with big cars. Plus other news.

July 1, 2025

DOT Testimony: Removing Bedford Ave. Bike Lane Will ‘Reduce Safety’

"Removing the protected bike lane won’t remove cyclists — it will only make the street less safe," the DOT said. "The city risks legal liability for knowingly reducing safety on a Vision Zero priority corridor."

June 30, 2025

Hochul Signs Speed Camera Reauthorization, Enforcement Continues Through 2030

Stating a clear fact that scores of state legislators reject, Hochul said, "Speed cameras save lives and keep New Yorkers safe."

June 30, 2025

Cyclists Tell Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo: The Bedford Ave. Bike Lane is a Lifesaver

A judge will decide the fate of the Bedford Avenue bike lane on Tuesday. Streetsblog offers some user affidavits.

June 30, 2025
See all posts