OPINION: Streetcar extension not a good fit for Beltline
The Beltline is Atlanta’s jewel. Adding a streetcar extension right next to it would irreparably tarnish its brilliance.
The Beltline provides a vital footpath for commuters, exercise seekers and those strolling through a park setting, avoiding our infamous street grid. Users come from all over.
Diversity? Here, it is on full display.
Alas, the problem is that it is too popular, bursting at the seams. We need more, not less, space to preserve this environmentally sustainable transportation solution.
Unfortunately, streetcar supporters are bent on removing hundreds of trees and flowering fields to put down a 40-foot wide, concrete and steel eyesore. Construction is slated to begin in 2025! With unsightly fences and restricted crossings, the Beltline’s experience would not survive – and access to its thriving businesses would be threatened.
Instead of uniting the city as its proponents claim, the extension would have the opposite effect.
Yes, we need a thoughtful, equitable plan for actual ridership needs in Atlanta. The streetcar extension, however, is not that.
JAY MILLER, ATLANTA
