BeltLine back on track!

Good news for Atlanta's BeltLine project. Atlanta BeltLine Inc, the City of Atlanta, GDOT, Amtrak and MARTA have come to an agreement that will preserve the future Decatur Belt for light rail and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Here's Liz Coyle of the citizen group keeping an eye on BeltLine progress: "As a result of the work performed by the Technical and Executive Review Committees over the last 30 days, GDOT and Amtrak intend to withdraw their challenges to the abandonment of the Decatur Belt. As noted in the statement, the involved parties will inform the STB of these plans today and ask for a 15-day extension of the abeyance period to allow the parties time to document the consensus reached, finalize agreements and secure any necessary board approvals to withdraw the abandonment challenges before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB)."

"As encouraging as the official statement is, I was even more encouraged by the cooperative tone set by representatives from GDOT, Atlanta BeltLine and the City in their presentations to the Fulton Delegation of the House of Representatives earlier today. While the 30-day delay in abandonment proceedings was frustrating, it appears to have resulted in a productive, forward-thinking, cooperative relationship among the agencies that can ultimately bring an integrated rail transit system to the City and State! I am excited by what I saw and heard today, not only for the BeltLine, but other rail transit projects critically important to the region’s healthy growth."