Many Atlantans will get their first glimpse of the new streetcar this week as daytime testing and training for operators begins.
Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists will also have to start sharing the road with the 96,500-pound behemoths. Atlanta Streetcar officials still have not announced a date for beginning service, except to say that it will be sometime before the end of this year.
The training hours will vary so that operators can become comfortable in all traffic situations. This week, the streetcars will be out between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. Monday and Tuesday; from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Adhere to the following tips to stay safe around the streetcars:
Be alert. The Atlanta Streetcars are electric and quiet. Please stop, look and listen for streetcars before crossing the tracks.
Keep a safe distance from the streetcars.
Do not walk or play on tracks.
Bicyclists should use caution when riding near the tracks and cross them at a 90-degree angle.
Motorists should check for approaching streetcars before opening vehicle doors.
Vehicles along the streetcar route should be parked fully within the white lines of the parking spaces. Double-parking is not allowed. Illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed.
The streetcar will operate every 15 minutes along a 2.7-mile loop from Centennial Olympic Park to King Center.
After a three-month introductory period during which people will be able to ride free, a one-way trip will cost a dollar. A one-day pass will run $3. A five-day visitor pass will be $10, a weekly pass, $11, and a monthly pass, $40.
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