The first steps to a world-class street

The transformation of Peachtree is more of a process than a project, a series of many steps to be taken over a time frame that could span 20 years or longer.

The Peachtree Corridor Partnership has proposed the first of these steps: An initial phase of implementation that would add a modern streetcar to Peachtree in Downtown and Midtown Atlanta. Those two areas were chosen because of their potential for high ridership and financial support.

According to the Partnership's proposal:

  • The streetcar's Downtown route would run along Peachtree from Lee Street at the BeltLine (just south of the Garnett MARTA station) all the way to North Avenue. A Downtown Circulator Loop would connect major tourist attractions from the BeltLine just east of Sweet Auburn to Centennial Olympic Park. Download map
  • In Midtown, the streetcar would run along Peachtree from North Avenue in the south to 16th Street in the north.

The cost of this first phase of implementation is approximately $190 million, and the Partnership is recommending a combination of funding mechanisms to fund the implementation:

  • the creation of special assessment districts that extend roughly one-quarter mile from the streetcar routes Downtown and Midtown. Property owners in these districts would pay between two and three mills in additional taxes, an amount equivalent to less than $1 a day for the owner of property assessed at $300,000. The funds would help support capital costs for the streetcar system;
  • a City of Atlanta contribution from sources it identifies as optimal for supporting capital costs for the streetcar system;
  • a parking tax in the city to help cover operating costs for the initial streetcar system and to help fund expansion of the system.

Next steps

While the Partnership's recommendations are born from the involvement and input of many stakeholders, it will hold a series of public forums on its proposal. The dates, times and locations of the forums are:

Tuesday, January 8, 8-10 a.m.
Troutman Sanders Conference Facility
Bank of America Plaza, 600 Peachtree Street
52nd Floor, Suite 5200
Troutman Sanders: (404) 885-3000

Tuesday, January 8, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
(Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association Meeting)
Central Library Meeting Room
1 Margaret Mitchell Square, Downtown
Library: (404) 730-1700

Wednesday, January 16, 6-8 p.m.
AT&T Midtown 2 Building
725 West Peachtree Street
AT&T: (404) 888-0349

Tuesday, January 22, 6-8 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
1328 Peachtree Street, N.E.
First Presbyterian: (404) 892-8461

Following these forums, the Atlanta City Council must adopt enabling legislation on the proposed special assessment districts and the governance of the streetcar. And the Georgia General Assembly must approve legislation to authorize the City of Atlanta to issue the parking tax to cover operating costs.

A key part of this process is collaboration: To realize the vision, Atlanta is forging a true working partnership among city government, the business community, and key organizations throughout the Corridor, such as community improvement districts.