Atlanta has come too far to stray from the proven choice that will connect 45 neighborhoods with high capacity transit.
This is part six 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 |
I fully believe Beltline Rail will serve as the missing link toward making car-lite lifestyles a reality for 1000s of Atlantans. However, beyond just laying track and saying go, there are steps we need to take. We need to strengthen connections between Downtown and the Beltline. We also need to improve the current streetcar line.
Steps to Success
- Improve low-stress non-vehicular networks between Downtown and the Beltline. This includes upgrading segments of the Freedom Park Trail to have grade separations at Boulevard and the Downtown Connector Ramps. The plan also involves adding a new overlook plaza. Additionally, it focuses on creating a grid of bike lanes.
- Identify opportunities for infill development on underutilized parcels between Downtown and the Beltline.
- Mitigate impacts of the Downtown Connector by simplifying ramps at Freedom Pkwy and beautifying streets under the Connector.
- Invest in placemaking and beautification elements along the existing streetcar line.
- Modify the existing roadway network along the current streetcar line. This change improves operations by separating vehicular traffic from the streetcar, as seen in image one in red the red segments below. Changes shown below would happen within the existing curbs new areas would move the streetcar to the edge and reconstruct the street.
Stay tuned for further details and refinements to many of the above sketches!
Beltline rail is a project that will pay dividends for generations to come. We can not afford to allow the opportunity to connect so many people and places pass us by.
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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