The BeltLine is a planned loop of parks, trails, transit, and affordable housing that circles the City of Atlanta. Built mostly in abandoned railway corridors, it will include 33 miles of multi-use trails, 22 miles of light rail transit, 1,300 acres of new greenspace, and 1,100 acres of remediated brownfields. The 8.75 miles of open trails are lined with public art installations and a linear arboretum. The parks and trails are home to hundreds of free fitness classes. The Atlanta BeltLine will ultimately connect 45 in-town neighborhoods, provide first and last mile connectivity for regional transportation initiatives, and put Atlanta on a path to 21st century growth and sustainability.
| Infrastructure Type | Railway |
| Status | Open / Ongoing |
| Opening | October 2008 Anticipated completion in 2030 |
| Size | 22 miles |
| Design Team | Perkins + Will, Kimley Horn |
| Management | Managed and operated by Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, and Invest Atlanta |
| Project Leader | Clyde Higgs |
Steering Committee Member
A derelict rail line is being reimagined as a linear park, like Manhattan’s High Line. But in a borough that lacks both green space and transportation, locals wonder whether its best use would be the original one.
Op-Ed: Two new incubators for Black-owned businesses in Atlanta show how to revitalize our downtowns while putting equity at the forefront.
Washington has a consensus: American infrastructure is overdue for capital improvements and maintenance. The most fervent debates on this topic have focused on how much funding should be allocated. But the most important discussion, even when it comes to hard infrastructure (e.g., rail, bridges, roads, and sidewalks), should be about how funding should be spent.
