OCTOBER 10, 2017 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | Expo Daily | 7
Community
Development
Through Infrastructure
he Atlanta BeltLine is working to
enhance the vison of transit in the
city, to transform the city of Atlanta
into a more livable community.
Atlanta BeltLine Inc. is the entity
overseeing the planning and
execution of the Atlanta BeltLine.
Th e ABI staff works closely with city of
Atlanta departments to defi ne details
of the plan, secure funding and ensure
that members of the community are informed
about each step of the project.
Th e ABI also serves as the project management
offi ce for the construction of
trails, parks and other key components
that will be included in the transit line.
According to ABI the Atlanta Belt-
Line is the most comprehensive transportation
and economic development
eff ort undertaken in the city of Atlanta
and among the largest, most
wide-ranging urban redevelopment
programs currently underway in the
United States.
“It is in a loop of four railroad corridors.
Th ey were built by diff erent
contractors as a way to bypass Atlanta,
which was so full of freight. Th ese
bypasses were built to get freight
around Atlanta … they were built by
four diff erent operators over time,”
said Heather Hussey-Coker, special
projects manager for ABI.
Th e old railroad tracks have since
been removed and ABI is working to
add the new tracks for the streetcar line.
“Th is is economic development
through mobility,” said Hussey-Coker.
ABI was formed in 2006 by Invest
Atlanta (formerly the Atlanta Development
Authority) for the purpose of
managing the implementation of the
Atlanta BeltLine program. Th rough
work with its partners, it has secured
federal, state and local funding; developing
the construction of parks,
housing and streetscapes; managing
the vendors and suppliers to the line
and have worked to engage the community
throughout the entire process.
City Infrastructure
Th ere was also a partnership that was
bridged with Trees Atlanta, to work
to make the project greener. “Th ey are
advocating to have more trees and protect
them.” Hussey-Coker explained.
Trees Atlanta is working with ABI
to create the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum.
Th e organization has provided
both funding and expertise on the
native plants; planting new trees and
removing invasive ones to restore
Atlanta’s natural landscape. Hussey
Coker added that the trees along
the line will keep riders cool when
waiting for the trolley, in the summer
with high temperatures riders will be
able to wait in shade.
Th e original railroad had been
built as a one track line, in such
spots ABI will have to lay down more
track and retaining walls in certain
sections. Th ere are duct banks that
run beneath sections of the corridor
where they can include wires for the
By Maile Bucher T
ATLANTA BELTLINE
Siemens
The Atlanta BeltLine offers the
city 22 miles of pedestrianfriendly
transit along with 33
miles of multi-use urban trails;
the space allows people to enjoy
Project public art and green spaces.
Highlights
22 miles
of pedestrianfriendly
rail transit
33 miles
of multi-use,
urban trails
1,300 acres
of new greenspace
30,000
jobs
$10-20
billion
in economic
development
5,600
units
of affordable
workforce housing
1,100 acres
of environmental
clean-up
streetcar. Hussey-Coker explained
that the underlying banks allow for
ABI to modernize the line with ease.
Th e Atlanta BeltLine is developing
connections to public spaces and attempting
to bring more green areas to
the community. Some of the notable
stops are at recently added parks that
include features such as skate parks,
water reservoirs to divert from runoff
and public art.
Connecting to the Streetcar
“MARTA maintains the streetcar; it
was developed by the city with MARTA
as a management partner, but now
MARTA manages it. Th e city applied
for a TIGER grant and went forward in
developing it. Th e city then looked to
the BeltLine to further develop transit
in Atlanta,” explained Hussey-Coker.
“Th e streetcar is inteneded to control
the (street) lights. At the moment
it does not. It is something that we are
pushing (the city) to do, so that it doesn’t
get stuck in traffi c,” said Hussey-Coker.
“Th e theme of the BeltLine is connectivity,
which hasn’t been the history
of Atlanta. We’re trying to change that.
Connecting it to more neighborhoods
and bringing investments to more
developments,” said Whitney Fuller,
community engagement manager, ATL.
“Th e key is connectedness.”
