Atlanta Streetcar

Atlanta Streetcar
Company type	Public transit system
Industry	Transportation
Founded	2003
Founder	Atlanta Streetcar, Inc.
Headquarters	Atlanta, United States
Area served	Downtown Atlanta, Georgia
Products	Streetcar transit service
Parent	Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) (since 2018)

The Atlanta Streetcar, also referred to as the Downtown Loop, is a streetcar system operating within Atlanta, Georgia. Initial testing commenced in the summer of 2014, with public transit service beginning on December 30, 2014. In , the system logged a total of rides, averaging approximately per weekday as of .

This Downtown Loop constitutes the first phase of the broader Atlanta Streetcar initiative, which envisions expansion along the BeltLine that encircles central Atlanta. This project marks the revival of continuous passenger streetcar operations in the city since the original network ceased in 1949.

Route

The Downtown Loop covers an east-west corridor spanning , featuring 12 stops stretching from Centennial Olympic Park to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. The tracks merge at Woodruff Park, and the line provides a connection to heavy rail services at Peachtree Center via MARTA. The maintenance facility for vehicles is situated beneath the I-75/I-85 overpass along Edgewood Avenue.

The route proceeds as follows:

Beginning at the King Historic Site located at Jackson Street and Auburn Avenue, heading west on Auburn Avenue toward Peachtree Street.
Traveling north on Peachtree Street, with a stop at Peachtree Center MARTA station, continuing to Ellis Street.
Moving west along Ellis Street to Carnegie Way.
Proceeding northwest on Carnegie Way to Andrew Young International Boulevard.
Heading west on Andrew Young International Boulevard to Centennial Olympic Park Drive.
Traveling south on Centennial Olympic Park Drive to Luckie Street.
Continuing southeast on Luckie Street, crossing Peachtree Street toward Park Place.
Moving south on Park Place until reaching Edgewood Avenue.
Heading east on Edgewood Avenue to Jackson Street.
Finally, traveling north on Jackson Street back to Auburn Avenue.

Rolling stock

The fleet consists of four Siemens S70 light rail vehicles (LRVs), numbered 1001 through 1004. These cars feature vehicle bodies constructed in Sacramento, California, with key components such as propulsion systems assembled nearby in Alpharetta, close to Atlanta. The deliveries of these vehicles took place in early 2014.

Atlanta Streetcar, Inc.

Founded in 2003, Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. (ASC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring streetcar service within downtown Atlanta. Its board comprises representatives from institutions including Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, MARTA, Georgia World Congress Center, Buckhead Community Improvement District, Buckhead Coalition, Underground Atlanta, Central Atlanta Progress, Woodruff Arts Center, alongside influential figures from the local business community.

Peachtree Corridor Partnership

Established in 2007, the Peachtree Corridor Partnership is a privately funded entity aimed at transforming Peachtree Street into a pedestrian-oriented corridor. A contemporary streetcar system remains a cornerstone of this redevelopment plan. Numerous ASC board members participated in the Peachtree Corridor Task Force, with the partnership ultimately taking over ASC’s advocacy efforts for implementing a streetcar line along Peachtree Street.

In July 2009, funding was authorized by Atlanta’s city council for a feasibility study intended to support an application for federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Nevertheless, some council members later expressed doubts about securing full financing due to economic uncertainties during the recession.

Funding for Downtown Loop Route

In September 2010, Phase I of the Atlanta Streetcar initiative received $47 million through the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) II grant, accounting for 8% of the total TIGER II funds. This financial support was designated for constructing the downtown loop segment, excluding the Peachtree Corridor line, which is now classified as Phase V.

By May 2011, Siemens secured a $17.2 million contract to manufacture four streetcars intended for the Downtown Connector route. These vehicles are derived from Siemens' S70 light rail vehicle platform, with assembly of the cars taking place in Sacramento, California, while key components such as propulsion systems were produced at a Siemens facility near Alpharetta, located roughly north of Atlanta.

The project budget increased from $70 million to $90 million by February 2012 due to several contributing factors:

An allocation of about $9 million for procuring newer streetcars featuring a lifespan extension of two decades compared to originally planned refurbished units
A $4 million grant dedicated to sidewalk and bicycle lane enhancements through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative
Additional expenses related to relocating water and sewer infrastructure managed by the water department

In March 2012, the MARTA Board authorized a design-build agreement with URS Corporation to further advance the Atlanta Streetcar project.

Construction Phase and Launch

Construction officially commenced on February 1, 2012. The line’s opening was initially targeted for May 2013 but encountered delays that postponed the launch until December 2014. The first pair of S70 streetcars arrived in February 2014 and underwent testing during that spring. The completed 2.7-mile loop required an investment of $98 million, exceeding the original budget by nearly $30 million.

The downtown loop began service on December 30, 2014, offering complimentary rides until January 1, 2016.

MARTA Assumes Control

In June 2018, MARTA agreed to take over ownership and management of the streetcar system, with plans to integrate it into a broader light rail network. Operational responsibility shifted to MARTA’s Office of Light Rail Operations on July 1, 2018.

BeltLine Transit Expansion

Atlanta’s 2015 application for TIGER funding aimed at expanding BeltLine transit was unsuccessful.

In November 2016, voters approved a half-penny sales tax increase expected to generate $2.5 billion over four decades for More MARTA initiatives, including bus rapid transit, light rail lines, and infill station projects. From this revenue, $66 million was earmarked for acquiring remaining right-of-way needed for the BeltLine loop. The tax became effective in March 2017.

By October 2018, MARTA’s board endorsed a $570 million investment for a streetcar route spanning 15 miles along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor. This aligns with the BeltLine’s goal of developing a multimodal corridor that integrates light rail transit with urban trail systems. The initial phase—known as the Streetcar East Extension—was planned to commence operations in 2028.

This extension is designed to add two miles of track heading east along Edgewood Avenue, Randolph Street, Auburn Avenue, then turning north along the BeltLine towards Ponce City Market, incorporating five new stations. In June 2023, MARTA selected a design firm for this project; by March 2024, projected costs reached approximately $200 million with construction anticipated to start in 2025.

However, in March 2025, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens withdrew backing for the Streetcar East Extension and shifted focus toward extending streetcar service into the Southside corridor instead. This change drew criticism from BeltLine transit supporters while gaining approval from organizations such as Better Atlanta Transit.

List of streetcar stations

Counter-clockwise route connecting Centennial Olympic Park and King Historic District

Stop	Direction	Notes

Centennial Olympic Park	Southbound	Provides access to Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, Georgia Aquarium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, GWCC, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, State Farm Arena, and World of Coca-Cola End of the line
Luckie at Cone	Eastbound	Serves the Fairlie−Poplar Historic District
Park Place	Southbound	Convenient for Woodruff Park and walking distance to Underground Atlanta
Hurt Park	Eastbound	Provides access to the Georgia State Capitol, Georgia State University, and Hurt Park
Sweet Auburn Market	Eastbound	Island platform located in the center of the street Nearby attractions include Grady Hospital and the Sweet Auburn Curb Market
Edgewood at Hilliard	Eastbound	Close to Selena S. Butler Park
King Historic District	Westbound	Located at Auburn and Jackson Streets Within walking distance of Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Oakland Cemetery
Dobbs Plaza	Westbound	Platform situated beneath the Downtown Connector (I-75/85) Serves Dobbs Plaza and the Sweet Auburn neighborhood
Auburn at Piedmont	Westbound	Access to Calhoun Park
Woodruff Park	Westbound	Serves the area around Woodruff Park
Peachtree Center	Northbound	Offers direct transfer to MARTA rapid transit at the Peachtree Center station Caters to the Peachtree Center business district
Carnegie at Spring	Westbound	Serves the Fairlie−Poplar Historic District Last stop before returning to Centennial Olympic Park terminus

Criticism

Since its inception, the Atlanta Streetcar has encountered criticism regarding its limited route length, safety concerns, management deficiencies, and ridership figures falling short of projections. Advocates argue that up to $2.5 billion in new developments are associated with the streetcar; however, independent evaluations reveal that a significant portion of these projects (at least $323 million) were initiated before the streetcar's introduction, and some developments, such as the College Football Hall of Fame, did not incorporate it into their planning. Despite this, the streetcar has contributed to some economic activity; for instance, Southeast Capital Companies acknowledged it influenced residential construction near Edgewood Avenue, while Atlantic Seafood Market experienced a 10% boost in sales following service commencement.

In September 2015, the Federal Transit Administration expressed concerns related to safety standards, operational management, and failure to comply with accident reporting requirements. In response, Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed alongside MARTA CEO Keith Parker detailed steps intended to rectify these issues.

On May 23, 2016, state authorities cautioned then-mayor Reed and MARTA CEO Parker that unresolved issues identified in audits might result in the suspension of streetcar operations.

External links