ON NOV 30, LET’S FINISH WHAT WE’VE STARTED.

Fellow BeltLine rail supporters,

We are two weeks from an historic municipal runoff in the city of Atlanta. Looking at the results of the Nov. 2 general election, and looking ahead to the runoff, we see huge gains ahead for the delivery and timeline of light rail on the BeltLine. 

Candidates who expressed explicit and passionate support for BeltLine rail, as well as the other light rail and bus rapid transit programs included in the More MARTA program, either won or are in runoff races. Both mayoral candidates have been outspoken proponents of light rail on the BeltLine, and have made public commitments to that effect.

The airtime and attention that transit and BeltLine rail in particular have received from candidates came after a sustained effort this year to make it a top issue in the campaign. BeltLine Rail Now co-sponsored candidate forums, sent a detailed survey to all candidates that resulted in a candidate transit scorecard, and co-hosted three of the top mayoral candidates in the October 6th Mayoral forum, with Thomas Wheatley of Axios moderating.

We have said that the key to the delivery of BeltLine rail and the acceleration of its timeline sits with the next mayor of this city. Both runoff candidates scored well on BeltLine Rail Now’s candidate survey. Council President Felicia Moore scored an 86, and Councilman Andre Dickens scored a 98. Both have called for building rail faster. Both have pledged to review the city’s three MARTA Board appointments and have said that the entire More MARTA program needs to be implemented faster than MARTA currently plans. The question before voters is who is the better of the two to lead on the issue and succeed in making BeltLine rail a reality. BRN will continue to look for more detail on this front over the next two weeks, and share what we learn.

In addition to the mayoral runoff, candidates who support BeltLine rail and other transit programs as a vehicle to the more equitable, affordable, sustainable and car-free Atlanta either won or are in run-off races in these key districts:

• Council President    Doug Shipman - RO - 102 pts (on the BRN Scorecard)

• Council President    Natalyn Archibong - RO - 96 pts

• At-Large Post 1       Michael Julian Bond - W - 87 pts

• At-Large Post 3       Keisha Sean Waites - RO - 81 pts

• District 1                  Nathan Clubb - RO - 109 pts

• District 1                  Jason Winston - RO - 98 pts

• District 3                  Erika Estrada - RO - 93 pts

• District 4                  Jason Dozier - RO - 91 pts

• District 5                  Liliana Bakhtiari - RO - 108 pts

• District 6                  Alex Wan - W - 97 pts

RO= candidate in Nov 30 runoff election

W= candidate won election on Nov 2

Those who live, work, and play here in Atlanta are seeing candidates who are advocates, even champions, for BeltLine rail, and we at BRN see the potential that in the next four years, there will be a significant start on this project. This is a real victory in the making and your vote on Nov 30 will help to deliver it.

During the next two weeks, look for BRN to amplify the positive impacts of BeltLine rail, and to highlight what the candidates have said and are saying as we move to election day.  What can you do? Follow, share, and most importantly, vote again on November 30th. We have the good fortune of many great people seeking public office in the City of Atlanta. 

Sincerely,

Matthew Rao, Chair

BeltLine Rail Now!