The Atlanta street car will be operational on December 30, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has confirmed to the AJC, reviving a form of public transit not seen in Atlanta since 1949.
The $98 million, four-car system will take its first passengers on Tuesday. It will be free to riders for the first three months. After then, it will cost riders $1 to travel its 2.7-mile loop around downtown, from Centennial Olympic Park to the King Center.
Reed had set a Dec. 31 deadline for the streetcar’s debut after the system experienced several delays. The project, which broke ground in 2012, was originally planned to open in April or May 2013.
In November, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution exclusively reported that the Federal Transit Administration warned the city of ongoing safety concerns — such as inadequate signage and pavement markings — and delayed the day Reed hoped that the streetcar could begin taking passengers. Reed says all of the safety issues have been addressed.
“We were focused on getting this right. Now we’re ready to go,” Reed said.
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