Why I Love Atlanta and Why It Needs Beltline Rail

Ivan and his wife located on the Beltline to be able to access arts and culture via transit.

— Ivan Schustak, Rail Writer

My wife and I moved to Atlanta in 2013, and this city has been wonderful for us. Our careers brought us here, and we’ve fallen in love. We have made great friends, advanced professionally, and immersed ourselves in the city’s vibrant arts and culture—whether at the Fox Theatre, 7 Stages, or Terminal West. We've explored the incredible food scene, from Michelin-starred restaurants to beloved mom-and-pop gems. We were fortunate enough to buy our first home—a modest condo on Monroe Drive near the northern tip of Piedmont Park—where we still live. I could write a love letter to this city.

But, like any love story, there are challenges to overcome. One of Atlanta’s biggest obstacles is traffic. We have some of the worst congestion in the country, yet our public transportation options lag behind other cities—both larger and smaller—nationwide. Atlanta is the third fastest-growing metro area in the U.S., which means more people are moving here every day, bringing more cars onto already overburdened streets. Midtown neighborhoods like mine weren’t designed for the level of traffic they now bear, and during rush hour, what should be a short drive can stretch into an hour-long ordeal. Without action, it's only going to get worse.

If the problem is "too many cars on too few streets," then the solution is clear: We must reduce the number of cars on the road by providing real, viable alternatives for people who want to—or have to—travel without driving. That means expanding MARTA connections, supporting multi-modal designs that integrate cyclists, pedestrians, and micromobility, and, most importantly, investing in light rail along the Beltline.

Culdesac Rider’s Guide to Valley Metro Rail; Ikonact, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

I know firsthand how transformative light rail can be. Before Atlanta, we lived in Phoenix. When the city’s light rail opened in 2008, we lived in an apartment right across from one of the stations. At first, construction was disruptive—businesses struggled, traffic snarled, and everyone had to adjust. But as a community, we came together to support local businesses, knowing that the short-term pain would lead to long-term progress. And it did. Almost overnight, our neighborhood changed for the better. My wife no longer had to drive 15 miles each way to Arizona State University—she got rid of her car altogether and switched to biking and public transit plus our single shared car. Our world became more accessible.

Is light rail the only possible solution? Maybe not. But it is the only proven solution. I've experienced it. I've sat in a train car during rush hour, reading a book while cruising past gridlocked traffic, and let me tell you—there is no better feeling.

For much of my life, the idea of driving was out of reach. I have albinism, which impacts my eyesight, and for years, I assumed I’d never be able to get a driver’s license. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I discovered assistive technology—bioptic lenses—that allowed me to drive. Because I grew up believing it was impossible, I understand just how much of a privilege it is to be behind the wheel. But I also know that countless people either cannot or choose not to drive, and our city’s infrastructure must support everyone’s mobility needs—not just those of people in cars.

Metro Phoenix’s first no-car mixed-use development went up directly on the line there, making the elimination of parking possible. Design by Opticos; Rendering by Hugo Render

Atlanta has made progress. We’re seeing more Complete Streets initiatives, a rapidly expanding Beltline, and better support for micromobility. But we can’t stop there. We need more buses, more shelters, more protected dedicated bike lanes, and most importantly, we need to get started on light rail.

Even though I can drive now—a feeling of freedom that I love, even sometimes when I’m stuck in traffic—I still try to walk, bike, or take public transit whenever I can. But it’s not always easy. A few years ago, as I was walking home, I was struck by a hit-and-run driver while crossing Monroe in a marked crosswalk, just a few hundred feet from my front door. With the help of my neighbors—one of whom captured the incident on a security camera—we were able to identify the driver: a high school student driving home from a job at Ansley Mall. Their house was less than half a mile away. This moment solidified something I already knew: We have conditioned generations of Atlantans to see driving as the default, even for trips that could easily be made by foot, bike, or transit. But urban design shapes behavior, and we have a real opportunity to reimagine how future generations navigate our city.

I love Atlanta. It is my home. So much is going on right here, but transit is a major issue we must address. The longer we wait, the harder and more expensive it becomes to implement a real solution. We already know what works—light rail has succeeded in cities across the country and all over the world. The time for studies and delays is over. If we wait, we lose and the traffic wins. We will end up with a snarled mess of packed roads that prevent us from fully enjoying this city while we squander a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally improve our infrastructure. I know that’s not the future I want. I’d love to see us get truly ambitious as a city with this type of large-scale, transformative project. I want us to be bold and grab the positive future that is within reach. The time for action is now. Let’s make it happen. 

Ivan Schustak works in nonprofit communications and fundraising to ensure that everyone has access to arts, culture, and education. On any given evening, you might find him running through Piedmont Park, dragging his wife to a concert, or on his sofa with a book.