Post 1 candidate Matt Rinker on transit

Matt Rinker has taken on quite a challenge: He’s trying to unseat Michael Julian Bond — an eight-term, at-large member of Atlanta City Council.

This is one of seven Q&As with Council candidates that we’re publishing in advance of early voting (Oct. 14-31).  BAT’s positions on many of the issues raised by the candidates are well known.  But we’re committed to publishing their answers here in a neutral, objective fashion.

Rinker shared his positions on transit and mobility by answering Better Atlanta Transit’s questionnaire on the topic.  Neither Bond’s campaign and nor Juan Mendoza, another candidate for the Post 1 citywide seat, responded to multiple invitations to participate.

Stay tuned on the BAT Blog, sign up for our occasional newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook to gain an in-depth understanding of the candidates’ positions on these issues.

1.      Atlantans often complain about traffic, our over-dependence on automobiles and a shortage of viable alternatives. They want to see more walkable, people-friendly neighborhoods and developments. How will you as a Council member work to improve the situation?  Is anything that the City or MARTA has done starting to make a difference?

Matt Rinker:  Atlanta's traffic and car dependence are symptoms of a city that hasn't invested enough in real alternatives. We need to make sidewalks, bike lanes, and safe crossings standard infrastructure, not afterthoughts. That means tying every new housing development and commercial project to walkability and transit access, so we're building complete neighborhoods instead of car-dependent islands.

MARTA's bus network redesign and early bus rapid transit projects, like the Summerhill BRT, are a start, but we can't stop at pilot projects. Rail extensions, frequent bus service on key corridors, and protected infrastructure for walking and biking must all move forward together. The City can help by streamlining permitting for transit projects, coordinating street design with MARTA, and ensuring federal funding is captured for rail and bus improvements whenever possible (though in the current environment those funding streams are rare).

The truth is, Atlantans want choices. They want to live in neighborhoods where they can walk to the store, bike to the park, and take transit to work. With the right leadership, we can shift from being a car-first city to one where people come first.

2. There are limited funds available for transit and an endless number of proposed improvements. How would you prioritize the following five solutions? Please rank them 1 through 5. Then, explain your rankings and how you hope to accomplish this.

● Add bus rapid transit lines

● Improve bus service

● Improve existing rail service and stations

● Add infill MARTA rail stations

● Expand the Atlanta Streetcar

Rinker

1) Expand the Atlanta Streetcar:  The streetcar should connect the Beltline and Midtown.  It finally will tie together our core activity centers and prove a commitment to permanent, high capacity transit that sparks even more private investment and make a more walkable and transit-oriented city.  This project is ready to go.

2) Add Bus Rapid Transit lines: As someone who lives along the under-construction Summerhill BRT I know the positive change they can bring.  True BRT lines with dedicated lanes, signal priority and frequent service can be delivered quickly and provide meaningful access in currently unconnected corridors.

3) Improve Bus Service: Most MARTA riders depend on bus services, specifically in our southwest and southeast neighborhoods.  Investing in reliability, frequency, and safety will help to deliver equity and mobility.  Riders need reliable service so they aren't waiting 30 minutes to ride to work or school.

4) Improve existing rail service and stations: Updating current stations with better lighting, ADA Access, and real time train information improves the rider experience and builds confidence in the system - this also includes a functioning mobile app with real time train/bus locations.  A more welcoming and reliable system will help grow ridership which has still not fully recovered back to pre-pandemic levels.

5) Add InFill MARTA rail stations:  Funding for these stations has not been determined and require major capital dollars and long timelines.  With limited resources, Atlanta must focus on projects that can bring immediate impact to ridership and transit.

3. The TrailsATL plan approved by the City Council envisions 535 miles of bike and pedestrian improvements. The first phase would add 35 miles by 2037. Do you agree with that pace? If not, how would you go about enhancing the program’s funding and shortening its timeline? Are there other steps we need to take to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians?

Rinker: I do not agree that adding only 35 miles of trails over the next decade is enough. Atlantans are asking for safe, walkable, and bike-friendly neighborhoods now—not 12 years from now. We need to accelerate the TrailsATL plan by committing more local funding, pursuing federal infrastructure grants, and building stronger public-private partnerships to deliver miles faster.

We can shorten the timeline by bundling trail and sidewalk construction into every major street resurfacing or utility project, which cuts costs and avoids tearing up the same streets twice (for example Juniper Street). We should also use value-capture tools like tax allocation districts near trail corridors, and partner with foundations and nonprofits that have already shown willingness to invest in Beltline and PATH projects.

Beyond speed, safety has to come first. That means protected bike lanes, raised crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, lower speed limits on dangerous corridors, and consistent enforcement of traffic laws. But most importantly, we have to design streets that naturally slow cars and prioritize people over vehicles.

If we want Atlanta to be a city where families can walk, bike, or roll safely, we need urgency and accountability. A safe, connected trail network is not just about recreation, it's about equity, economic mobility, and quality of life.

4. Broadly speaking, what is your vision of the future of transit and mobility within the city? How would you go about making Atlanta less car dependent and more human scaled?

Rinker:  My vision is an Atlanta where you don't need a car to live a full life. To get there, we must build complete streets, tie new housing and development to transit access, and accelerate projects like TrailsATL and the Streetcar extension. A more human-scaled Atlanta is one where families can walk to a park, seniors can safely reach a bus stop, and small businesses thrive in walkable districts.

Atlanta's future depends on putting people first—not cars.