BeltLine Rail Now

10/09/2026

On September 21st, the Atlanta City Council voted 14–0 to reaffirm light rail as a city priority along the Beltline. The resolution calls for rail across the full 22-mile corridor and directs MARTA, ABI, and Mayor Andre Dickens to return to Council by the end of January with a plan and projected funding options.

That changes the conversation.

The question is no longer whether Beltline rail belongs in Atlanta’s transportation future. The Council has made its position clear. The question now is: What is the plan to build it—and when will construction begin?

Mayor Dickens has said a more detailed rail plan is coming this fall. He has also raised questions about the cost and financing of the system. Those are legitimate questions. But after years of discussion, they cannot become reasons for another round of delay.

In our form of city government, it's the mayor who sets the agenda. Everyone else follows. The mayor is the one who can get this project back on track—or derail it forever.

See our blog at https://bit.ly/time-for-answers-on-beltline-rail for more about what's at stake, what happens next and how to stay invovled and connected. 🚊

09/29/2026

Beltline rail supporter and former BRN board member has it right. The Mayor has been given a golden opportunity by council to lead on Beltline rail, a project he says he supports. The appeal from council passing 14-0 CM Kelsea Bond’s resolution is a call for his, MARTA’s and ABI’s leadership.

Writes Goldberg: “Is the mayor so jaded about this city’s transportation agency he doesn’t think it’s capable of operating a light rail system that already has a transit right-of-way in place? “

"All of the financing needn’t be in place to start the project," veteran Atlanta transit advocate stresses

09/23/2026

Yes! It’s a new day for Beltline rail.

By a 14–0 vote on September 21, the Atlanta City Council relaunched the city’s most ambitious infrastructure project more than 20 years after creating the 22-mile Beltline.

The Beltline was always envisioned as a redevelopment loop connecting 45 neighborhoods through transit, trails, parks, and other amenities—and connecting those neighborhoods to MARTA rail. Yesterday’s vote reclaims the initiative to advance Beltline rail after years of inaction by MARTA, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. (ABI), and the mayor.

It also sends a clear message: the Beltline is for everyone. It is not simply a park or bike path. Its transit component is light rail/streetcar, planned within the dedicated transit right-of-way along the full 22 miles.

The unanimous vote is significant. After collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and years of delays to the rail component, the City Council has given Beltline rail a second life.

Councilmember Kelsea Bond’s (D2) resolution survived amendments adding provisions on affordable housing and “line-of-sight” funding plans. Most importantly, the resolution reaffirms that the Beltline is 22 miles—not just a segment—and that delivery of the entire system must be accelerated.

That would not have happened without the broad grassroots support and direct public involvement.

After two hours of public comment, much of it focused on Beltline rail, the Council adopted the resolution with these key commitments:

✓ Yes, we support Beltline rail—all 22 miles.
✓ Yes, it belongs in the dedicated transit right-of-way established for the Beltline.
✓ Yes, it is light rail.
✓ Yes, we expect the Mayor, Atlanta Beltline, Inc., and MARTA to report back by January 27, 2027, with the estimated cost, construction timeline, and funding plan.

What’s next? A lot.

But for the first time in a long time, this train is moving again.

🎉Celebrate THAT today.🎉

Read our press release at https://beltlinerailnow.com/2026-09-21-press-release

09/20/2026

THIS IS IT! The 3rd and final vote on Beltline rail- we're on the final bend heading into the full City Council meeting Monday 9/21. Council will vote on the resolution to move forward with Beltline rail, passed in Community Development Human Services (CDHS) and Transportation last week.

Before the vote, join resolution author CM Kelsea Bond (D2) and a variety of groups and supportive citizens for a PRESS CONFERENCE on the Mitchell St steps of the Atlanta Hall tower at 11:30 AM. All are welcome. Please join to express your support!

It looks good for the resolution- with 14 of the 15 council members on record as co-sponsors or having voted for it in committee. After the Presser, join in solidarity in council to show support. Public comment is welcome, thanking CM Bond and the others for their leadership and support. Wear your BRN shirt to let them know who's in the house!

09/19/2026

We're on the cusp of a major milestone - city council is lighting the way! Join us tonight at the Beltline Lantern Parade, and a huge thank you to Atlanta DSA for creating this fantastic lantern!

09/19/2026

TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO! Beltline rail cleared two important hurdles this week! CM Kelsea Bond’s (D2) pro-Beltline rail resolution passed the Transportation Committee Wednesday in a 5-0-1 vote. With Chair Wan (D6) absent, Vice Chair Worthy (D7) served as chair and added his name as a co-sponsor.

That brings the number of co-sponsors to 12 out of 15 members, with every council member except Wan either co-sponsoring the resolution or voting for it in Transportation or Community Development Human Services (CDHS)! This resolution could pass unanimously at the full Council meeting on Monday, September 21. Go to https://beltlinerailnow.com/upcoming-events for more details.

How did we get here so fast? There are two one-word answers: LEADERSHIP and COURAGE. We thank the Council for taking a stand to demand a plan from Mayor Dickens, ABI, and MARTA to move Beltline rail forward. Most of all, we give a huge shout-out to CM Kelsea Bond for their leadership in advancing accountability, integrity, and responsibility in government.

As they point out, the people and the experts have spoken...many times! The public has paid hundreds of millions of dollars into More MARTA for rail, with no results in 10 years. It’s time to change that.

Join CM Kelsea Bond and BRN along with other groups on the steps Mitchell St. steps of City Hall at 11:30 AM for a press conference and rally before the 1:00 full council meeting Monday, September 21st! 🚊

09/16/2026

Bravo. Now we want the same outcome today in Transportation Committee!

09/15/2026

This land was made for you and me!

Thanks Eric Phillips for this great graphic showing just how much coverage support for Beltline rail has among the City's elected leaders! Look at how much of the city is covered by pro-Beltline rail sentiment.

The Atlanta City Council, led by D2 rep Kelsea Bond, is on the verge of adopting the resolution they introduced to call on the Mayor, ABI, and MARTA to bring their updated plans to design, build, and finance all 22 miles of Beltline rail.

11 City Council members are co-sponsors of the resolution, and we hope more will follow after they hear from their constituents this week in two key committee meetings: Community Development Human Services (CDHS) and Transportation. Every member of CDHS is a co-sponsor, but only 3 on Transportation are.

We call on CM Wan (Chair of TC) D6, CM Worthy (D7), CM Norwood (D8) and CM Boone (D10) to join their fellow districts council members and their 3 At-Large citywide Reps Michael Julian Bond, Matt Westmoreland and Eshé Collins in support. City Council President Overstreet can also sponsor the resolution though she cannot vote on it.

It's time for everyone to get on board to connect this city and all its people to each other and the opportunity that exists in the neighborhoods but can't be reached by all.

A full council vote will take place Monday September 21st at 1:00PM at City Hall. For all the meeting details check our website at https://beltlinerailnow.com/upcoming-events.

09/14/2026

This week is about advancing Beltline rail! The resolution to advance Beltline rail along all 22 miles of the Atlanta Beltline will be heard in council committees CDHS and Transportation. With 10 co-sponsors resolution author CM Kelsea Bond (D2) is leading the way. Public comment especially at the Transportation Committee on Wednesday is important. See our website or linktree for details on the 9.15 and 9.16 meetings and the full council vote on 9.21.

Thanks Kelsea for your leadership and to all the others on council co-sponsoring.

Read Atlanta’s Kelsea Bond on Beltline light rail: ‘We need to get back on track’ by Maria Saporta for SaportaReport here.

09/11/2026

For the first time since it created the Atlanta Beltline more than 20 years ago, the Atlanta City Council is debating a resolution to affirm the plan for all 22 miles of Beltline rail NEXT WEEK. There are now 11 co-sponsors of D2 Rep Kelsea Bond's resolution 26-R-3999 to bring all 22 miles of Beltline rail into final design and construction as soon as possible.

CM Bond and their co-sponsors are calling on the Mayor, ABI, and MARTA to prepare the plans and report to council to implement the People's Project, Beltline rail and to present plans for its funding and a timeline to completion.

We whole-heartedly support this resolution and encourage you to turn out next week to say why you do too. The resolution will be debated and voted on in two committees: Community Development and Human Resources (Chair Matt Westmoreland (D-2 At-Large) who also is a co-sponsor, and Transportation (Chair Alex Wan D-6). See the links to follow at the linktree in our profile and our website for information and updates on who the co-sponsors are! Get there early to sign up for comment that means no later than 15-30 minutes before meeting time.

We want to acknowledge the other co-sponsors and thank them too! A big shout out to our At-Large Council Members who ALL have co-sponsored. That means EVERY ATLANTA CITIZEN is represented by a YES TO BELTLINE RAIL vote!

✅D-1 CM Jason Winston
✅D-2 CM Kelsea Bond
✅D-3 CM Byron Amos
✅D-4 CM Jason Dozier
✅D-5 CM Liliana Bhaktiari
✅D-9 CM Dustin Hillis
✅D-11 CM Wayne Martin
✅D-12 CM Antonio Lewis
✅D-1 At Large CM Michael Julian Bond
✅D-2 At Large CM Matt Westmoreland
✅D-3 At Large CM Eshé Collins