Confused by what's happening Thursday at the MARTA Board Meeting?
You might have the impression that MARTA is trying to decide whether to extend the Atlanta Streetcar, and finally introduce transit to the BeltLine. It may look that way to some. But anyone who’s been following the project’s progress knows that’s not really what’s happening. That decision was made after extensive public engagement back in 2018. Work to confirm and/or support that decision has been going on ever since.
Yes, MARTA is extending the streetcar onto the BeltLine corridor. But that’s just the beginning. The corridor is 22-miles. And this is just the first 1.4 miles. And, yes, there is room. It’s tight in some parts of the corridor, but the planners knew that from the start.
It’s always been MARTA’s plan to start implementing transit on the BeltLine’s east side. It’s always been MARTA’s plan to pay for the Streetcar East Extension (SCE) entirely with local tax funds. It’s considered too small a project to go after federal rail funds. Find additional details to FAQs on our website.
So, what is happening this Thursday?
The MARTA Board is expected to officially hire a highly respected firm to do the final design work on the SCE. If all goes well, that firm will make recommendations to ensure the project is smart, beautiful & (both literally & figuratively) protects the environment. It’s a big deal. It’s definitely a reason to celebrate. The City is one step closer to having a more reliable transit network. There’s still a lot to do, but it’s good to celebrate progress. So, please join us at MARTA HQ if you can.
The July MARTA Board meeting will be held in person at MARTA headquarters and virtually on YouTube on Thursday, July 13. Please join us and show your support for the Streetcar East Extension project. At 10:30 am, we’ll be on the MARTA HQ sidewalk. At 1 pm, we’ll be signing up to speak at the 1:30 pm meeting.
WHAT: July meeting of the MARTA Board of Directors
Agendas: https://www.itsmarta.com/board-documents.aspx
WHEN: Thursday, July 13
10:30 a.m. - BRN gathering of support outside
12:00 p.m. - Work session
1:30 p.m. - Board meeting
WHERE: MARTA Headquarters
6th floor board room
VIRTUAL: YouTube livestream: https://bit.ly/MARTAPublicStream
RSVP: Please let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below.