Atlanta has come too far to stray from the proven choice that will connect 45 neighborhoods with high capacity transit.
This is part four of a six part series on why I believe Beltline Rail and in particular starting with the Streetcar East extension is crucial for the city’s future.
| Part One | Density |
| Part Two | Connectivity |
| Part Three | Congestion |
| Part Four | Equity |
| Part Five | Timeline and Economics |
| Part Six | Ensuring Success |
Why are we starting with the richest side? Shouldn’t we should start with the South or West side? It’s a common and well intentioned question. This does not mean that any other section of Beltline rail is not equitable. It means that there are positive equity points to be made about starting with the Eastside Streetcar extension. A deep dive into equity surrounding Beltline rail as a whole will come at a later date!
The Eastside is the richest segment of the Beltline in terms of household income. However, it also contains the highest density of shops and restaurants employing service workers.
Despite recent efforts to build more attainable housing in the Eastside, most workers are forced to commute in from other parts of the city. Currently, most are forced to drive and park or ride the bus to one of the closest cross-street’s stations.
While we’re making strides in affordable housing requirements along the Beltline, providing high capacity transit is another step we can take. Beltline rail will unlock a safe, accessible, weather proof ride for thousands of area workers. It will also directly connect more people and neighborhoods to employment and entertainment bases.
Starting where a large chunk of the jobs is a huge step in the right direction towards implementing future phases. It will provide proof of concept that the Beltline is a viable rail corridor. For a truly equitable Atlanta, where residents can travel among all it’s neighborhoods safely, all 22 miles of Beltline rail must be constructed.
Come back tomorrow for part five!
To learn more about Transit on the Beltline visit: https://beltline.org/learn/progress-planning/transit/beltline-transit-study/
To support the fight for Beltline Rail visit: https://beltlinerailnow.com/
To read all my Atlanta articles visit: https://philveasley.com/atlanta-articles/
Phil Veasley is a Professional Engineer working to design safer multimodal infrastructure in cities throughout the US.
My goal is to create cities that are safe and effective for all people to move about outside of cars. To achieve that we have to focus on creating equitable, dense, and vibrant cities full of walkable neighborhoods with a various mix of housing choices, schools, restaurants, transit, and services. We cannot have safe multimodal infrastructure without the density to support it and we cannot have equitable density without safe multimodal infrastructure. Outside of designing safe streets, my passions are sketching ideas for infill neighborhoods, floor plans, urban photography, and exploring our cities on foot or bike. Please check out the menus above for all of my ideas and also check out my YouTube, Instagram, BlueSky Social, and Twitter accounts.
Opinions and insights are my own and are not representative of my employer or any organization.
Phil Veasley 
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