Phil Veasley is a Professional Engineer and CNU accredited member 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.
Atlanta has come too far to stray from the proven choice that will connect 45 neighborhoods with high capacity transit.
This is part five 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.
2.8 Billion Dollars. Yes, it’s a ton of money. It’s over 100 Million Dollars a mile. At the end of the day, it’s what we voted for. This is the cost of providing quality high-capacity transit. We need to have a serious conversation about how much infrastructure costs to build in America these days.
Let’s take a look at the cost of some other major projects in Georgia:
GA 400 Express Lanes: 4.6 Billion Dollars
I-285 Top End Express Lanes: 9 Billion Dollars
I-20 / I-285 West Interchange Reconstruction: 1.2 Billion Dollars
I-85 / North Druid Hills Interchange: 79 Million Dollars
While these may technically move more people, they will not provide the direct economic benefits. They do not provide people-centered movement. They also do not enhance connectivity within the City.
Charlotte’s Rail Trail
Construction costs are still rising. Waiting any longer will just lead to a higher bill. Meanwhile, our peer cities continue to pass us by. We have spent millions on repeated studies. We have already put infrastructure in place with mass grading, wider bridges, and utilities.
Once finished, Beltline rail will become the linchpin to the entire MARTA network. It will link all of the major lines and connect thousands of Atlantans to jobs and services. This will transform the network from the hub and spoke model to a well-rounded system.
Atlantans within 1/2 mile of current systemAtlantans within 1/2 mile of current system + planned BRTAtlantans within 1/2 mile of current system, BRT, and Beltline Rail
If we pivot to starting with another segment, we’d be hard press to find another two mile stretch (if we’re trying to start with a similar cost) that would have anywhere near the same impact as the Eastside extension. Also, we’d be setting back the start of revenue service at least six to ten years. The Eastside extension is nearly shovel ready. We can’t afford to spin our wheels in the mud any longer – it’s already cost us enough. We must advance the designs of the next segments. This should happen as soon as the Beltline Transit Study wraps up next year.
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.
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.
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!
Ponce City Market’s retail courtyard
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.
Density along the Eastside Beltline: GoogleEarth
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.
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 is a Professional Engineer and CNU accredited member 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.
Atlanta has come too far to stray from the proven choice that will connect 45 neighborhoods with high capacity transit.
This is part three of a five part series on why I believe Beltline Rail and in particular starting with the Streetcar East extension is crucial for the city’s future.
It doesn’t matter if you’re walking, jogging, rolling, or biking – you won’t be able to do so with any sort of pace and will have your head on a swivel. Listen, it’s a great thing! There’s a reason Atlanta is one of the of the most active cities in the Country.
While some other ideas such as pods, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), and separating the path into bike and pedestrian zones will not provide the safe, accessible, equitable, high capacity transit that rail will.
Pods will only be able to move 6-12 people at a time and will not be able to navigate the trail at peak times unless another paved path is provided. They are also often times not accessible.
BRT will require a fully paved dedicated guideway and would transform the Beltline from a trail to a suburban feeling road with a side path. While a great option for many of our urban roadway corridors, it’s not a good fit for the Beltline.
Separating the Beltline into two paths – one of bikes and one for peds seems like a good idea at the surface, but does nothing connect more people to more places and still requires more pavement.
Many of the arguments against Beltline Rail are about having to pave over the landscaped area which is ironically what just about any of the alternatives have to also do. At the end of the day, rail will have less of an impact than the other floated options and can utilize grass tracks.
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 is a Professional Engineer and CNU accredited member 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.
Atlanta has come too far to stray from the proven choice that will connect 45 neighborhoods with high capacity transit.
This is part two 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.
A region is only as good as it’s core. Currently, Atlanta is a city of nodal development and one dominated by it’s suburbs. With under 10% of the total metropolitan area living within the City of Atlanta, efforts to densify the core have accelerated in the past decade. Many of those advances have been along the Beltline. While we have made many great strides in Midtown, Buckhead, and now even Downtown, things can said to be “dartboard” in nature.
Downtown Atlanta from the Beltline
While things have been slow to evolve along the current Streetcar line, providing a direct link between Downtown and the boom of the Eastside Beltline will benefit both districts and help fill the gap quicker.
Eastside Trail (Blue) in relation to current streetcar (Green) and future extension (Blue)
Today, there are only a few subpar options to get between Downtown and the Eastside Trail outside of a car.
Take the current streetcar and walk 1/2 mile from the closest stop
Take MARTA and walk 3/4 mile from King Memorial or Inman Park stations
Bike the semi-protected, often blocked by deliveries and illegal parking Edgewood / Auburn Ave bike lanes
Freedom Park Trail
Slip lane and crossing conditions at Freedom Pkwy / Blvd
In conjunction with increased bike infrastructure, upgrades to the existing streetcar line, infill potential (all of which will be explored later further in part six), and the North Ave BRT project, a safe cohesive connection between arguably the two most important parts of the City will lead us toward the all important goal of having a seamless urban environment.
Further more, when combined with potential infill stations, the complete loop of Beltline rail will seamlessly connect 45 neighborhoods providing unparalleled access to jobs, services and unlock the full potential of our MARTA network.
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 is a Professional Engineer and CNU accredited member 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.
Atlanta has come too far to stray from the proven choice that will connect 45 neighborhoods with high capacity transit.
This is part one 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.
Transit follows density. Right now, the area around the Eastside trail has the number one ingredient for transit success – density.
2004201620202024
The land use straddling the Eastside Trail in 2004, 2016, 2020, and 2024 – Google Earth
Over the past decade, 1000s of homes, 1000s of jobs, and 100s of shops and restaurants have decided to call the Eastside Trail home and there’s no sign of slowing down. These have combined to create one of the most vibrant districts not just in the South, but the entire country.
The only piece of the puzzle missing is high capacity transit – which Beltline Rail will bring. Starting with the Streetcar East extension will be a fail proof method that Beltline Rail will work along the entire 22 mile stretch.
Idea for increased density along the Eastside Beltline
While 1000s of units are in the works for the Southside and Westside trails, it will take a bit longer to reach the level of density and employment base that is seen now on the Eastside.
There’s a perfect example of how rail can work with trail and accelerate density with our neighbors up in Charlotte.
Phil Veasley is a Professional Engineer and CNU accredited member 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 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, 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 