ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilmember Kelsea Bond introduced a resolution Tuesday affirming the City Council’s commitment to building Beltline Rail, a proposed 22-mile light rail transit system along the full loop of the Atlanta Beltline trail.
Bond’s resolution requests that the Atlanta Mayor’s Office, in coordination with MARTA, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. and relevant city departments, presents an implementation plan and timeline for construction by Jan. 26, 2027.
The legislation follows a Sept. 3 presentation by Atlanta Beltline, Inc. reaffirming plans for 22 miles of light rail across the full loop.
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The project faced uncertainty after Mayor Andre Dickens withdrew his support for light rail in early 2025 following pushback from business interests along the Eastside Beltline trail.
Reporting in January 2026 also revealed that MARTA’s Program Governance Committee had voted to halt construction on the Eastside Streetcar Extension, Bond’s office said.
Atlanta City Councilmember Kelsea Bond, who represents District 2, emphasized the importance of expanding public transit to address cost of living and climate challenges in the city.
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“There has never been a more important moment to invest in public transit expansion in Atlanta,” Bond said. “Atlanta is only growing hotter and less affordable by the year. Families are struggling to make ends meet and barriers to transit access continue to exacerbate these struggles. We cannot keep kicking this can down the road. It’s time to make good on our promise to voters and build Beltline Rail.”
Bond, who does not own a car, noted that transportation costs place a heavy financial burden on local residents.
“Alongside housing, health care and child care, transportation continues to be one of the biggest cost burdens for working families,” Bond said. “Not only will light rail expansion reduce car dependency and help save costs, but it will also provide accessible routes to jobs and schools, as well as increase overall mobility across our city.”
Bond said delivering on the project is necessary to maintain public trust following the 2016 More MARTA tax referendum.
“Voters are growing weary of elected officials’ inability or unwillingness to keep their promises on policy,” Bond said. “The public already voted to pay taxes to fund More MARTA. The Beltline, MARTA and elected officials have been promoting light rail on the Beltline for years. To abandon this project simply because of pushback from wealthy business interests on the Beltline is unconscionable.”
Bond said it was the duty of Atlanta leaders to take actions that are in the best interests of the public, not to do what’s best for those who could profit from gentrifying the Atlanta Beltline.
Advocates with the grassroots group Beltline Rail Now! have similarly called on the city to fulfill its original commitment to transit along the corridor.
Cristy Lenz, who is a board member of Beltline Rail Now!, said adding light rail to the Beltline would help to connect communities across the city.
“Let the city that’s too busy to hate get out of our cars and come together on rail. Let’s ride together!” Lenz said.
In addition to the implementation timeline, Bond’s resolution requests quarterly status updates from the Mayor’s Office and relevant city departments regarding light rail along the Beltline.
The resolution also expresses the City Council’s disapproval of any uses of the Beltline right-of-way that would preclude, impair or materially increase the cost or difficulty of building light rail in the future, according to Bond’s office.
The resolution is scheduled to be heard in the City Council’s Community Development and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m., and in the Transportation Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.
Unless it is held in committee, the resolution will go before the full Atlanta City Council for a final vote on Sept. 21.
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