A vision for a world-class boulevard


The vision is this: Transform 16.5 miles of Peachtree, from Club Drive in the north down to Lee Street in the south, into a world-class boulevard.

This boulevard would move people better, make businesses stronger, draw more residents – and give Atlantans a far more enjoyable experience in their city.

Think of the transformation of Peachtree as part streetscape, part streetcar:

  • The streetscape aspect involves making Atlanta a far more walkable city along Peachtree, with wider sidewalks, new parks, and more inviting public places where people can interact.

  • The streetcar component calls for bringing to Peachtree the proven success of modern-day streetcars in other major cities, all to help residents and visitors take short trips without the use of cars.

The people of Atlanta would benefit from the proposed Peachtree Corridor in many ways. These benefits can be grouped in three categories:

  1. Greater mobility. The next 20 years will bring a far busier Peachtree. That’s because Peachtree is drawing more residents from the suburbs; more visitors to new attractions; and more employees for newly opened office space. As a result, the city must act today to accommodate more people tomorrow. Because no single solution can improve traffic flow by itself, Atlanta must employ a number of approaches. The Peachtree Corridor project does just that by adding bike lanes to segments … improving pedestrian traffic … and providing a streetcar so Atlantans can make short trips without a car – and move more quickly from public transit to the workplace or other destinations.

  2. Economic growth. While no formal study has attached a dollar value to the Corridor’s economic impact, there is no denying that the proposed Peachtree Corridor will be a powerful driver of economic growth. For one, it will give Atlanta a “destination street” on par with Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, Manhattan’s Broadway or Paris’ Champs Elysees. Moreover, the Corridor will enhance access to offices, restaurants and retail businesses – first by offering speed and convenience through mobility improvements and also by making the errand experience more enjoyable. Peachtree’s visitors and residents will have less of a need or a desire to go elsewhere.

  3. Quality of life. The Peachtree Corridor is much more than a large-scale public works project. It’s a way of connecting Atlantans to their city – and to each other – through a higher quality of life. It represents a way for us to become the city we wish to become – a city where people enjoy more greenspace, take more walks or bicycle rides, and appreciate more public art. The Peachtree Corridor will help define Atlanta as a better place to be.

Transforming the Peachtree Corridor is fundamental to Atlanta’s future. By the year 2020, just 13 years from now…

  • Commercial office and retail space is expected to increase from 59 million to 75 million square feet

  • Housing units are projected to more than double, from 22,300 to 49,000, with more than 80 percent expected to be owner-occupied

  • The number of people living along the Corridor is expected to double, from 37,000 to more than 75,000 – and this projection may be significantly underestimated. A public opinion survey by Ayres McHenry, Inc. revealed that one out of five metro Atlanta adults living outside Atlanta are either “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to move inside the city limits in the next few years.

  • The number of people working along the Corridor is projected to leap from 156,000 to more than 202,000

  • The market value of the Corridor will reach an astonishing $33 billion.

These statistics support what is obvious to any local observer: Growth throughout the Corridor is dramatic and is not slowing down.

So the challenge today is to make sure this growth is managed well. As more people move to Atlanta, congestion and density will increase. The Peachtree Corridor project can ensure that more people can enjoy an environment that’s well-planned, mobile, aesthetic, comfortable … and memorable.

In this section, you’ll find:

  • Recommendations of the Peachtree Corridor Task Force: In all, the group’s eight subcommittees issued 33 high-level recommendations from the eight subcommittees of the Peachtree Corridor Task Force. (Note: Individual committee reports are available for download in the Reports & Resources area.)

  • Information on the seven Corridor segments: The segments span the 14.5 miles of Peachtree from north to south as well as a 2-plus mile loop east-west at Auburn Avenue. Each segment page offers downloadable maps and an animated preview of how the Corridor would enhance life.

  • Actions needed to achieve the vision: These actions begin with an important vote by the Atlanta City Council to approve a Special Tax District for some of the segments, a move that would generate revenue to begin the transformation.