The [Uncensored] BRN Backstory
WHY ARE WE SO FIRED UP FOR LIGHT RAIL ON THE BELTLINE? BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT ATLANTA WAS PROMISED.
It’s no secret: BeltLine Rail Now (BRN) passionately supports the construction of light rail on the Atlanta BeltLine. BRN supports light rail for the BeltLine because that's what was decided by record volumes of public input and subject matter experts long ago. There are numerous well-documented reasons why light rail was selected as the ideal type of transit for the BeltLine. (And assuming you follow BRN social media, you know that there are a million reasons why the construction of light rail on the BeltLine should be accelerated.)
Yet somewhere over the past two decades, a stream of events has caused our city’s incredible transit vision to fade into the background. The Great Recession occurred. The Pokemon app was unleashed. MARTA leadership took some seriously dubious steps to prioritize Emory over the entire city of Atlanta. A global pandemic rages on.
Amid the sound and the fury, our public officials gradually stopped talking about the transit aspect of the BeltLine. And let’s face it: we citizens stopped holding them accountable to build it.
And like Athena bursting from the head of a comatose Zeus, BeltLine Rail Now was created in 2018 - official torchbearer for the BeltLine’s transit component as originally defined, and enthusiastic demander of accountability by our public officials on this specific project.
Is BRN in blind support of light rail? Of course not. We are open to new and better ideas. What we do NOT want - and what our city cannot afford - is more excuses to delay delivery of transit that's long overdue. The experts and the public have weighed in. What we need is accountability and implementation.
Does BRN support other transit projects beyond the BeltLine? ABSOLUTELY. We are supportive of many aspects of good urbanism, and we have gone on record many times in support of all of the More MARTA projects. However, BRN does not agree with the current More MARTA prioritization and timeline. Light rail on the BeltLine must be accelerated. (And we feel very strongly that Emory and Dekalb County should provide significant financial support to the Emory Clifton Corridor light rail project).
Here’s the fuel for the fire in our belly: The original vision of the BeltLine becomes more difficult to implement with each passing day. The mad rush of BeltLine development already underway creates a built environment that treats transit as an afterthought. The continued lack of momentum breeds even more inactivity, and emboldens Elon Muskovites who espouse flying vehicles in ALL CAPS on Twitter. The fully approved plan for improved transit options, improved mobility, and fewer cars on the road continues to fade away into the exhaust fumes...until it’s gone forever.
We hope this info lights the fire in YOUR belly to join the fight for a brighter future - a future that’s already been articulated - and approved. That future is literally waiting for us... and MARTA holds the key. Can they do it? Will MARTA build it? It’s up to us.
That’s what the municipal elections are all about… at least for BRN. And hopefully for you.