Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recently announced that the city of Atlanta has acquired the railroad corridor needed to complete the Atlanta BeltLine’s Southside Trail, connecting the Eastside and Westside Trails for approximately 14 contiguous miles of the Atlanta BeltLine corridor. The purchase is the single-largest remaining land acquisition for Atlanta BeltLine Inc. representing more than four miles and 63 acres of the Atlanta BeltLine’s planned 22-mile transit and trail loop, according to a press release.
The corridor was purchased in a $26 million transaction with CSX, who operated rail on this corridor until 2014. Design of the Southside Trail is underway, funded by a $2.4 million grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission. Community engagement commenced in 2016 and will continue throughout the design process, establishing trail alignment, access points, vertical connections, and preparation for future transit.
ABI hopes to open the trail in an interim state within the year. The corridor will remain closed while CSX works to remove the rails and the Kimley-Horn design team begins detailed engineering and site investigations.
This purchase of the Southside Trail extends from University Avenue on the west side to Glenwood Avenue on the east side, running adjacent to several neighborhoods including Pittsburgh, Capitol View Manor, High Point, South Atlanta, Peoplestown, Chosewood Park, Grant Park, Boulevard Heights, Ormewood Park and Summerhill. The trail will support developments such as Pittsburgh Yards, catalyzing economic growth and equitable access for jobs, transit, and other opportunities.
Information: beltline.org
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