The Atlanta BeltLine is one of the largest economic drivers in the city generating well over $4 billion in private investment. This powerful project is praised for the way it has already enhanced the lives of Atlantans. BUT the BeltLine began in 2003 as a transit-oriented project. So far it has no transit component.

In November of 2016, 71% of voters in the City of Atlanta approved a measure to increase sales tax by a 1/2 penny to expand and enhance the rapid transit system within the City of Atlanta. Light rail around the entire BeltLine was consistently mentioned first in the list of possible projects to get people out to vote.

The new tax is expected to generate $2.5B over the next 40 years which can be leveraged with potential federal funding. The tax began on April 1st, 2017.