ATLANTA — Opposition grows against the addition of the MARTA streetcar to the popular Atlanta BeltLine.
A politically connected group is among those questioning the cost of the streetcar line, aiming to derail the project.
“We’re very concerned about the need to protect the Beltline as we know it today,” said Atlanta political strategist Billy Linville, one creator of Better Atlanta Transit.
The streetcar currently runs a loop from downtown to the King Historic District and stays mostly empty.
“The exorbitant cost, well over $3 billion, to finish rail on the Beltline is money that could be used for many other transportation needs around the city,” Linville said.
The project's supporters envision a streetcar line running parallel to the busy BeltLine, used by "micro mobility" users.
According to transportation planners, micro mobility users are those who use electric scooters, electric bikes and hoverboards.
“Many experts believe micro mobility is the future, not rail,” Linville said.
MARTA wants to extend the streetcar line northeast along the BeltLine's eastside trail to Midtown.
Resident Bonnie Watkins uses the BeltLine for exercise and transportation. She added she would welcome a streetcar link on the eastside trail.
“I live around here. So I use it a lot,” Watkins said. “It’s the future for the Beltline ultimately. I’d be excited to use it to get around to midtown and back. That’s where my parents are,” she said.
MARTA has already spent $11.5 million to engineer the design of the streetcar on the popular trail.
According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the eastside rail expansion project could be completed by 2028. It's unclear when MARTA would move to other parts of the BeltLine.