The Tortoise and the Hare, v2

Atlanta BeltLine Inc. has picked up the pace on trail construction. Now it's MARTA's turn.

Good news! Atlanta BeltLine Inc. is giving the people what they want by expediting BeltLine trail construction. Sadly, it’s still unclear whether transit is up to the task.

Having simply punted the issue to MARTA long ago, our elected leaders don’t seem to have an answer to the question BeltLine Rail Now has been asking since 2018. 

Who or what is keeping Atlanta from getting the transit it needs and deserves?

If BeltLine rail – already more than 10 years behind schedule - isn’t a critical part of Atlanta’s plans to accommodate a massive population increase, what is? 

That’s a question every candidate in this year’s election - whether an incumbent or new to the scene - needs to explain to the people of our city struggling to get around.

Naturally, transit will never have enough money to keep up with demand. That’s true everywhere.  But money isn’t the biggest obstacle. How many times do our leaders need to hear the people of Atlanta demand that the rail get built?

Folks, we have an accountability problem. 

In 2016, Atlanta voters overwhelmingly supported a tax increase they believed would build BeltLine rail. Those hopes were dashed by MARTA two years later, when budget and scheduling sent a clear message this wasn’t a high priority.

We want it. We need it. We said we’d pay for it. What’s the hold-up? Why isn’t BeltLine transit being expedited as well?

Atlantans: Are you ready to make our tortoise pick up the pace?