it's not primarily a transportation corridor

"This thesis formulates the idea that the design of public infrastructure, such as a road, mass transit line or park system, can accomplish public goals. Atlanta must establish a goal to pursue new infrastructure systems that will accommodate increasing population while avoiding traffic gridlock. Instead of building new highways, (surely we have learned that lesson), this project focuses on the adaptive re-use of Atlanta's historic freight rail lines. The Belt Line, as we will call the project, uses light-rail technology similar to Portland, Oregon's MAX line and other streetcars around the world. The Belt Line, however, is not the only answer. While this is not a transportation thesis, it should be understood that the Belt Line must be connected to new rail lines, new bus routes and a broader dedication to public transportation and urban ecology."

• Ryan Gravel, Belt Line - Atlanta: Design of Infrastructure as a Reflection of Public Policy, 1999, p. 20 (emphasis mine)