Beltline Rail — Connectivity, Opportunity, Serendipity!
— Rail Writer Nina Rubin
Nina Rubin has lived in Inman Park near the Beltline since 2011. Photo credit: Nina Rubin
I was already in my early 50’s when I moved from New York to Atlanta, but decades of commuting to Manhattan by subway and rail conditioned me to champion mass transit. An undergraduate degree in Urban Planning only amplified it.
When I arrived in 2003, the steelwork for the 17th Street bridge had just been erected to connect Midtown to the Westside and create Atlantic Station. In 2006 Mayor Shirley Franklin greenlighted Ryan Gravel’s vision for the Beltline, and by 2007 the vision of a 22-mile loop around Atlanta connecting roughly 46 neighborhoods became real. As the old railroad beds were cleared and van tours of the proposed route were launched, the promise of the Beltline was revealed.
I wasn’t sure any of it would be completed in my lifetime, but by 2011 the Eastside trail was a reality. Ponce City Market had broken ground, and new parks were completed in the Old Fourth Ward Park and at D.H. Stanton.
Eventually, I was lucky to move to Inman Park, two blocks from the Beltline, and one block from MARTA. The urbanist in me was very proud to have walkability, transit, and a home in a multi-family apartment building that planners call the “missing middle.”
You cannot truly understand the power of an idea until it becomes real. Over the next decade the Eastside Trail became my shortcut to Piedmont Park, my fitness regimen, my pathway to shopping, dining, and people-watching. And MARTA became my express route to the airport, the Capitol, and Decatur Square.
The Streetcar East Extension has 1.4 miles of Beltline rail and 3 stops. It’s paused in final design but the 2.25 mile project connecting the downtown streetcar to Ponce City Market and could deliver passengers by 2028. Image: MARTA
Still, I remained doubtful that Beltline rail would happen in my lifetime. But here we are, with a spectacular opportunity to connect the Streetcar with the Eastside trail. Just this week, Mayor Dickens reaffirmed his commitment to Beltline rail and our investment in the Streetcar. He said that “all types of transit” are on the table – light rail, shuttles, bus-rapid transit, and even self-driving pods.
A rendering of green, pedestrian -friendly transit alongside the Eastside Trail. Adequate space for transit exists and has been part of Beltline planning all along. Photo by Atlanta Beltline Inc 2024
Transit brings connectivity, opportunity, and unexpected moments of human serendipity as we encounter each other traversing the city. Transit injects momentum and creativity into our ecosystem. It accelerates the creation of new businesses and neighborhoods.
Yes, of course, we must prioritize housing and economic equity along every segment of the Beltline. Yes, I have questions about routes, budgets, and equipment. But we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of progress. And we cannot miss the moment.
Inman Park’s history of engagement and activism around community issues is rare. We don’t always agree on things, including Beltline rail, but we debate civilly and with respect. It’s a joy to be part of this dynamic.
Beltline rail will be an important way to navigate the city, enjoy the parks, and participate in civic life. Growing up in New York, I found a robust public transportation system wonderful. It fostered curiosity and independence. I want all those things as I age in place.
Ryan Gravel’s dream has exceeded anything I could have imagined. Beltline rail, in my lifetime. That’s a wow.
Nina Rubin is a writer and content specialist who loves cities. She studied and worked in the Urban Planning field before and after moving here from her native New York in 2003.
