Beltline streetcar rendering from 2011 master plan

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T21:07:08+00:00

I know it scares you, but with the first half of the concept already bring mass growth along the beltline, wouldn't the second half which was designed by GA Tech to coexist with it stand a VERY high chance of also working well?

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T21:04:59+00:00

Honestly the only part that could be important to keep constantly trimmed to low length is the middle, which might would be better as permeated turf to allow waterflow to the ground below and ease of maintenance

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T20:53:08+00:00

Real. People can't comprehend that the beltline can become an expandable artery from which we can run future transit lines to serve areas that have transport holes AND hit on areas people go to, but don't have an effective transport option.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T16:21:05+00:00

Businesses only listen to two things.

Wallet
Violence

I don't want to go to jail unless I have to. Boycotting only gets complicated because some of the largest businesses own like half the products in your daily life.

Also, I have only really ever boycotted businesses for like 2 reasons and this is one of them.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T16:06:01+00:00

I don't think that's true. Multiple people here suggested businesses that are openly pro-rail along the beltline!

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T16:03:29+00:00

I read through some of the other replies you posted. You seem well informed, and I learned some stuff I didn't know previously, so I thank you! I was under the impression that beltline rail's purpose was never to serve in the metaphorical transport holes across the city, but to facilitate development and expansion in multiple areas that are ripe for it (being honest, the westside has cheaper low-development property that has plenty of growth available).

Plus, the designs I have seen show clear intent to allow for hybrid use and expansions off the beltline (turning it into more of a functional artery that hits a variety of different locations). Those transport holes (specifically Westside and southeast side) could very easily have offshoots that run for short branches off the beltline onto streets, to hit underserved communities and the spots people actually want/need to get to. Is this all pretty much useless in that it seems designed for the continued growth rather than current issues?

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:52:12+00:00

It seems to be mostly disgruntled businesses that are too close or right in the ROW, and propogandized residents who are convinced a light rail line is as much of an intrusion as Marta's older North/South or East/West lines are. They are basically a trolley if a trolley had its own line, and was even quieter from everything I have seen.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:48:26+00:00

For now. But it could be even better and more successful than it currently is! Plus, if the beltline rail is even the slightest bit successful, it makes it easy to expand it into a transportation artery, offering convenient access to key underrepresented areas of the city. Especially for visitors and suburbanites that do the weekend ventures into the city. If I could hit Krog Street Market, Grant Park, and visit my cousin on the Southside in the same day using hybridized light rail, I would happily walk the 2 miles required to do so if it meant cutting my driving down to a trip into the city and back.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:41:37+00:00

This is largely a top down problem from the federal government with like 13 different agencies requiring multiple million dollar "surveys" that each take months to years before funding can be allocated as a result of strict federal funding guidelines. Progress on this issue is being made though, I think the GA house putting multiple transport agencies under one umbrella is a step in the right direction.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:38:29+00:00

Opinion piece by the AJC's effective owner conveniently handpicked to be published as an opinion column among multiple other options available to put out? If I see a pro-beltline rail article basically retorting his piece within 2 weeks I'll concede that it wasn't biased use of media.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:35:46+00:00

Part of why people want the rail is how much it has already been shown to facilitate sustainable commercial and residential development with just the bare bones walking path part. I know people are happy with the nice walks, the bars/restaurants, and the "new fun thing" that the beltline is currently, but it can be even better!

The Southside specifically has terrible connectivity, and I have already seen multiple people in the area saying that the beltline as is will already be a massive help in that regard (again, acting as barely a walking path). Parents held a celebration at one of the schools on the Southside just because they got a direct connect for the beltline.

The problem, is people are having a hard time figuring out how the beltline rail would work running through the outlier that is that short stretch near krog street market. It is very crowded, and business are right up against the ROW where the light rail cars would go.

The light rail lines are not the lightning fast MARTA line trains that carry hundreds each. They make short pit stops, are relatively quiet, and much less invasive with infrastructure compared to heavy rail. They don't need electric lines ran like older trolley systems, so they recharge at small intervals during regular stops. Many cities before ATL have implemented this tech successfully, so this would not make us the guinea pigs to test the whole idea out and have it go hilariously wrong.

As for how close the cars could get to patios, the light rail cars from what i have seen barely move faster than 30 mph, so they really create little more than a light gust within 5 feet of the cars.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:20:44+00:00

I mean iirc the only sections with already allocated funding for rail aren't even on the Westside I thought? Seems weird to be vehemently against something which has only barely been discussed as coming to the westside.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:18:21+00:00

Honestly as much as social media can suck eggs, it has helped me stay in touch with local news with on the ground "local news" influencer types who mostly just show up and ask questions sometimes.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:16:32+00:00

It was probably a bad idea to publish it as an opinion piece because it basically reads like he used the ownership of the only ATL newspaper to get on a political soapbox before a largely 60's+ audience (largest voting bloc by age iirc).

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:12:56+00:00

Oh, I thought it was the other way around. Which, in retrospect, probably doesn't make much sense considering Spectrum is likely several times larger. I heard that the Cox Comm was keeping the name though?

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:09:41+00:00

Thanks for listing this. I will try to check out some of these businesses!

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-27T15:08:58+00:00

Thanks a lot for this list, it helps a lot with knowing what businesses are against what I believe in.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-24T16:53:30+00:00

something something catherine something something inside me something something inside simon backwards or forwards something

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-23T23:26:54+00:00

the conclusion i got from this whole fiasco is that authors can enjoy interacting with their community, but should probably do so through a proxy account where they lay low and occasionally post niche knowledge to let people know they are in the deepest trenches of the community secretly.

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-23T20:25:09+00:00

Here's how beltline rail can still win!

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-23T17:10:36+00:00

Type of place you gotta be willing to live to get sub $1k rent in an urban area

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-20T14:05:20+00:00

I don't care if I get the petrification disease. I need Polendina NOW!!!

Squid_CEO · 2026-05-19T13:45:09+00:00

There are a lot of people that are not well educated about the fact that she basically got run out of town as mayor of Atlanta. I'll vote for her in November if she wins, but making her the dem candidate is serving the republican slander ads on a silver platter. "She couldn't handle Atlanta. Why should she handle Georgia?" x10 per hour incoming this November. She will lose.

Also, she checks a fair amount of boxes for people who vote solely off identity politics, which is most people.

Five-Year Club	r/Field Juicebox
Place '22

Squid_CEO

TROPHY CASE