Despite the Atlanta Streetcar’s rocky start, officials are moving forward with an ambitious long-term plan for citywide service.
This week, the Atlanta City Council approved a "Streetcar System Plan," a 50-plus mile map that proposes five crosstown routes, connections to multiple MARTA stations and 22 miles of streetcar lines along the proposed Atlanta Beltline circle.
But streetcar fans and critics shouldn’t get too excited, as the plan will take years and billions of dollars to realize. The document, developed by Atlanta Beltline Inc. — the nonprofit overseeing the greenspace project — is the city’s first step toward securing needed funding.
“Approving the plan is essential to getting future funding to expand light rail and streetcar across Atlanta,” said Councilman Andre Dickens, chair of the city’s Community Development & Human Resources committee. “Ultimately the goal is to have people connected across the city and for economic development to occur.”
It remains unclear just how Atlanta plans to pay for the system’s expansion. The Streetcar System Plan, or SSP, is estimated to cost about $5 billion if built today, according to city and Beltline officials. About $1.4 billion of that cost will cover the Beltline’s 22-mile portion.
To learn the funding options under consideration, visit myAJC.com.
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