Atlanta BeltLine Inc. received $11 million in federal funding to assist with the completion of two of the remaining unfinished sections of trail: the Southside Trail, which will receive $6 million, and the Northeast Trail, which will receive $5 million.
The funding was allocated by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) through its regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) call for projects.
“We appreciate the continued support for the Atlanta BeltLine from the Atlanta Regional Commission,” Atlanta BeltLine President and CEO Clyde Higgs said in a press release. “The completion of the Southside and Northeast trails will exemplify true connectivity and provide more and better access to jobs, affordable housing and transit options.”
A portion of the TIP funding will go directly toward construction of the Southside Trail’s segments 2 and 3, which run from Pittsburgh Yards to Boulevard. This allocation brings Atlanta BeltLine to 80% in federal funding for the Southside Trail, the maximum amount allowed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The remaining amount will be funded by non-federal match sources. Work on segments 2 and 3 is set to be bid for construction in September.
The other portion of funding will directly fund construction of the Northeast Trail’s Segment 3, which will run from the Northeast Trail at Mayson Street, through the Armour-Ottley commercial district, to the Northwest Trail at Peachtree Creek. Work on Segment 3 is expected to begin in 2024.
As the central core of the Atlanta Regional Trail network, each segment of completed Atlanta BeltLine has a multiplier effect by closing gaps in the transportation network, connecting with both regional and local trails and improving transportation options, the BeltLine said.
“The Atlanta BeltLine is a truly transformational project that is connecting communities, catalyzing economic development and creating vibrant places to live, work and play,” ARC Executive Director Anna Roach said. “It’s a model that has inspired communities across the Atlanta region.”
Southside Trail below the intersection of University Avenue, Hank Aaron Drive and McDonough Boulevard, bypassing roads and freight rail above. Photo by Erin Sintos. Courtesy of Atlanta BeltLine Inc.