Atlanta Beltline shares light-rail transit study findings

The Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile loop of trails, parks and attractions that connects 45 neighborhoods in Atlanta, has shared the final recommendations from a three-and-a-half-year study of future light-rail service along the Beltline corridor.

Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, the Beltline Transit Study (BTS) consolidated years of prior work into a plan for establishing passenger-rail service. Initial findings were presented to the public for feedback and input in 2024; Atlanta Beltline officials continued public engagement, developed service plan assumptions, created ridership projections and developed cost estimates.

The Beltline is divided into four quadrants. As the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is working on transit projects in the northeast quadrant, the BTS identifies preferred routes and stations in the northwest, southwest and southeast quadrants.

In the northwest quadrant, the BTS identified three possible alignments for light rail and recommended the CSX alignment as the preferred alternative for its ability to provide the fastest average speed and lowest travel time, direct service to Piedmont Hospital, lowest capital cost and highest ridership, Atlanta Beltline officials said in a press release. In the southwest and southeast quadrants, the BTS identified 13 potential station locations.

The BTS' final service plan recommendation calls for three light-rail routes with bi-directional service, running from 6 a.m.-12:30 p.m. every day. The three routes would be the Beltline Loop, which would run the entirety of the Beltline, as well as a Northern Loop and a Southern Loop that provide service into downtown Atlanta.

The Atlanta Beltline team used the Federal Transit Administration's "Simplified Trips-on-Project" Software to create ridership models, which conservatively project 4.2 million annual riders. Finally, the BTS projected a capital cost of $3.5 billion, as of 2025, to construct the three-route light-rail system.

Atlanta Beltline is seeking additional feedback on the BTS and proposed next steps. Feedback will be accepted through Nov. 3.