The Candidates and BeltLine Transit: What's Your Plan?
SPOILER ALERT: WE HAVE YET TO FIND ONE.
In less than three short months, Atlanta will have a new city government-elect. Many of these leaders will be largely new to the offices they hold. And while it’s heartening to see so many new faces in the races for city offices, one thing is certain: a review of the candidates’ websites suggest that, with precious few exceptions, candidates are aiming abysmally low on issues related to transit - and in particular, BeltLine rail.
Why haven't the candidates outlined their solutions to traffic, mobility, greenhouse gases or transit equity? The public deserves to know what the future will look like when each candidate is elected. The population of metro Atlanta will double in the next 25 years. The absence of leadership on these issues has already caused profound harm to the city and its people. Keep in mind that Atlanta received NONE of the $13.5 billion of the Biden administration’s 2022 dollars for mass transit construction. Not one dollar.
With the qualifying deadline of Aug. 20th rapidly approaching, now is the time for candidates to get serious and reveal more detailed policy positions on transit, and particularly BeltLine rail.
To help make it easier for voters to understand where candidates stand and what they’re willing to fight for, BeltLine Rail Now has partnered with numerous advocacy groups in the “What’s Your Plan?” candidate forum series. These livestreamed Q & A events will focus on affordable housing and transit in Atlanta, and will also be available to watch on demand. You can learn more about our partners: Neighbors for More Neighbors, Housing Justice League, ThreadATL, and the Partnership for Southern Equity.
We’re going even further than candidate forums. In a few days, BRN will send in-depth surveys to Atlanta’s Council and Mayoral candidates, in hopes that we can learn more about their plans and positions on critical transit matters. Responses will be shared with the public and media, and used to tabulate a BeltLine Rail Now Candidate Scorecard. All candidates will receive helpful background material that we think you’ll also enjoy - click here to view.
Stay tuned as we work in collaboration with our partners to stand up the microphone, turn up the volume, and listen to which candidates are ready to talk about transit!