Officials overseeing Atlanta's Beltline project must do a better job of engaging the public as they plan the $2.8 billion loop of transit, trails and parks, a citizen advisory committee says.

The committee listed its grievances in an eight-page letter to top political and Beltline officials, including Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Terri Montague, president of Atlanta Beltline Inc., the city's nonprofit arm responsible for the Beltline.

The sharply worded letter says Beltline officials have failed to properly involve the public in the decision-making process. For example, the committee says Beltline leaders have chosen to "inform" and "consult" rather than work in a truly collaborative manner.

Community involvement is critical if the Beltline is to succeed, say leaders of the 38-member advisory panel, known as the Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee. The Beltline would affect dozens of neighborhoods along the 22-mile route, including communities that have not seen much development in decades.

"Ultimately, it's the citizens who are footing the bill for this enterprise," said the committee's chairman, Eugene Bowens, former president of Interfaith Inc., a nonprofit housing development organization.

"And by right and by logic the city and community have a right to have some input, some opportunity to give direction on the decisions that are made."

Montague has acknowledged that dealing with the community has been one of the Beltline's weak points. But she said steps have been taken recently to address the problem, such as boosting the number of people working on community engagement efforts.

"We understand there are many, many factors that are to be balanced and influenced by the community," Montague said. "We want that input to be incorporated into the decisions involving the Beltline."

The criticism follows several controversial decisions involving segments of the future Beltline walking and biking trail that stoked mistrust among some neighborhood residents.

In one example, Beltline officials went against community wishes in recommending that a leg of the trail go through the meadow at Tanyard Creek Park in Buckhead. Neighborhood residents thought they had reached a compromise that would preserve the cherished swath of green space. For some, this has come to symbolize the Beltline's shortcomings.

Montague said she was surprised by the timing of the advisory committee's letter, since it is working on a new community engagement plan. Montague said she expected feedback as part of that process, not a public rebuke

The letter offered a list of recommendations, including adding staff and resources devoted to community engagement, and additional training for Beltline staff members.

Bowens, the advisory panel's chairman, said he was encouraged by some of Montague's recent moves but defends the decision to write the letter to Beltline stakeholders.

"We need to put our heads together and try to revamp this citizen-participation process to make it work more efficiently and effectively," he said.

"If this does not happen then we think the success of the Beltline would in fact be in jeopardy. We have time to do this. What we need first of all is awareness of what the problems are."

Montague said the Beltline's sheer scope and complexity means that difficult decisions will have to be made at times that some neighbors may not like.

"We have to find the right balance between process and results," she said. "These don't have to be at odds with each other, but they will be in tension every step of the way."