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Rendering courtesy Atlanta Streetcar The 2.7-mile Atlanta Streetcar will provide improved connectivity between existing MARTA heavy rail, express bus services, planned light rail and locations not well-served by transit today. BY JANNA STARCIC, Executive Editor T e Atlanta Streetcar is part of the larger "Con- nect Atlanta" plan, which is intended to in- crease transportation options, promote sus- tainable development and create a better urban environment. T e 2.7-mile line will run along an east-west route with 12 stops/stations using streetcars powered by overhead wire technology. Oper- ational costs for the $92.6 million project will be covered by farebox revenue, advertising, Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), city car rental and hotel/motel taxes, and federal funds. Some of the immediate benef ts of the project, sched- uled to open this year, include its potential to increase rid- ership on connecting transit networks and the enhance- ment of mobility, as far as "last mile" connectivity, to destinations for transit-dependent populations, including residents, tourists, students and senior citizens. Additionally, the streetcar line f lls in circulation links and provides connectivity to existing transit services in Downtown Atlanta, as well as future commuter rail and regional light rail, and reconnects Downtown Atlanta's A t l a n t a R e v i s i t s i t s Atlanta Revisits its S t r e e t c a r ' R o u t e s ' t o Streetcar 'Routes' to H e l p R e v i t a l i z e C i t y Help Revitalize City east-west neighborhoods. T e Atlanta Streetcar is the f rst stage in what is expected to become a major overhaul of the city's transit system, according to Tim Borchers, executive director of the streetcar project. I spoke with him about the project's role as a key part of the Atlanta Beltline plan and the chal- lenges faced during construction. JANNA STARCIC: Why did it take so long for a streetcar system to be developed in Atlanta? BORCHERS: The Atlanta Streetcar was initially envi- sioned as an east-west connection between the Mar- tin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Centen- nial Olympic Park, with a north-south alignment along Peachtree Street. Unfortunately, the project lost out on the opportunity for TIGER I Stimulus. However, in Octo- ber 2010 the City of Atlanta received notice it had been awarded approximately $47.6 million in funds, through the TIGER II federal grant program, which would par- tially fund the originally proposed east-west connection. < m ETRO m AGAZINE APRIL 2014 metro-magazine.com Tim Borchers 20 CONTINUES ON PAGE 22 M E T R O 0 4 1 4 _ S T R E E T C A R . i n d d 2 0 METRO0414_STREETCAR.indd 20 3 / 1 8 / 1 4 2 : 2 1 P M 3/18/14 2:21 PM