Citywide Poll Shows Most Voters Believe a Streetcar Will Damage the BeltLine & Greenspace
Higher Transportation Needs Across City Should be Addressed
A citywide poll taken last month showed that Atlantans believe that a streetcar on the BeltLine will take away what they most love about the BeltLine - green trails, existing trees, and meadows.
Although a streetcar is conceptually popular, most voters think the focus should be on transportation priorities that are needed now in other parts of the city.
The poll was conducted by Global Strategies Group on October 3-9 for Better Atlanta Transit. 600 Atlanta registered voters were polled with a margin of error of 4%.
Among the poll findings:
53% of voters would prefer MARTA upgrade its current services rather than expand rail on the east side. 43% disagree.
By 50%, voters support using the space designated for rail instead be used to widen and relieve congestion on the trail by becoming a designated lane for bikers and other small-wheel vehicles. 24% disagree.
63% of voters believe that putting a streetcar on the BeltLine will harm the local environment by creating pollution and removing most existing meadows and thousands of trees. 33% disagree.
60% of voters believe putting a streetcar on the BeltLine will cause safety concerns on the eastside trail and will take much-needed space for pedestrians and bikers. 35% disagree.
53% of voters believe putting rail on the BeltLine will damage the BeltLine as we know it by running through some of the city’s most beloved green spaces and destroying trees and common spaces, while not actually addressing the pressing improvement needs.
In short, putting a streetcar on the BeltLine is a solution to a problem that does not exist.
Now is not the time to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on a street project. Instead of making an unwise commitment that will take decades to build, voters prefer we wait until the construction of the entire pedestrian loop is finished in a few years and then evaluate what kinds of transit, if any, should be added.
Voters want MARTA to first prioritize, upgrade, and improve its current services. They want our leaders to address the immediate transportation needs we have throughout the city in the southwest, west side, Clifton Corridor, and other places rather than spending that money now on a streetcar for the east side.
For further information, please contact Billy Linville at blinville@lexiconstrategies.com.
