Atlanta wins federal funding for streetcars

Hiroshima, Japan

ATLANTA – Atlanta is receiving $47.6 million in federal funds to build a new streetcar system.

“This will truly transform Atlanta and we are ready to begin construction once the funds are received,” Mayor Kasim Reed said in a news release. The funding covers the cost of construction and the purchase of streetcars.

“The success of this initiative is due to the disciplined and thorough approach of all partners involved – the City of Atlanta, the downtown CID and MARTA,” Atlanta Deputy Chief Operating Officer Luz Borrero said in a news release. “This is a generational and transformative project that will change the look and feel of the city.”

The 2.62-mile streetcar line will connect Peachtree Street and Sweet Auburn Avenue, and a one-way trip is expected to take 10 minutes. The streetcar will connect with MARTA, the grant’s recipient, at the Peachtree Center station.

“In a highly competitive national field, the Atlanta streetcar project will couple regional connectivity with urban mobility while also creating a corridor that will catalyze economic growth in the heart of the city,” Reed said.

The initial system will have 12 stops and four electric streetcars. Officials say the system will result in 3,000 jobs and will shuttle more than 4.7 million tourists and residents annually.

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