Everyone seems to like MARTA infill stations

Mayor Andre Dickens at Monday’s State of the City Address. Image: Sylvia McAfee/Office of the Mayor

And now for something we can all agree on: New MARTA stations serving the Beltline!

Mayor Andre Dickens announced in Monday’s State of the City address that his administration is collaborating with MARTA to build four new in-town, infill stations for the transit agency’s heavy-rail lines.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive – even among the two camps in the Beltline streetcar debate. Shortly after Dickens’ announcement, Better Atlanta Transit tweeted that it’s “a step in the right direction.” That afternoon, Beltline Rail Now piped in: “We’re excited about this positive development.”

Details remain sparse. For example, the mayor only mentioned the location of one infill station – Murphy Crossing, where the south line intersects the Beltline.

But three infill stations on the More MARTA transit project list are at other points on the Beltline compass: in the east at Krog Street, in the west on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and to the north near Armour Drive. And it seems a good bet that at least a couple more of the infill sites will connect MARTA rail to the Beltline.

“The Beltline is obviously a very hot piece of property,” MARTA CEO Greenwood told Atlanta City Council members Wednesday. “This linear park has the potential to maintain Atlanta’s status on the national map if not elevate it. And if you can give more people access to that wonderful project, why wouldn’t you?”

Greenwood happened to be presenting the MARTA quarterly briefing to the council’s Transportation Committee. In an update on the More MARTA program, he drew attention to planning and design progress for the Campbellton Road bus rapid transit line, the Cleveland Avenue and Metropolitan Avenue arterial rapid transit routes, and the Five Points MARTA station, as well as the start of construction on the Summerhill BRT. 

Council members’ expressed happiness that More MARTA projects finally seem to be moving along. But most of their questions and comments were about the infill stations.

“Is the infill station in addition to Streetcar East? Or [do] the infill stations have the potential to crowd out Streetcar East [extension onto the Beltline] because of funding,” Council President Doug Shipman asked.

“They are both in right now,” Greenwood answered. “We are progressing both projects.”

MARTA and its design contractor are currently reviewing whether features desired by streetcar supporters are feasible. That involves evaluating the Atlanta Streetcar’s existing route, exploring the possibility of running a streetcar with no wires and considering a grass (rather than concrete) bed for the tracks along the Beltline.

The infill stations are at a much earlier step.

“MARTA’s going to continue to explore funding opportunities through local, state and federal partners, as well as transit-oriented development to make this go,” Greenwood said. “But we’re excited because the establishment of infill stations at key nodes along the Beltline holds great potential. It allows us to leverage MARTA’s existing heavy rail system, bring mobility and accessibility to a wider population, and support regional growth.”

Council members seemed as enthusiastic as the public about the prospect of the new stations.

Marci Collier Overstreet called it “phenomenal” and praised it as “something that is current and is useful today.” Antonio Lewis, whose district is home to the Murphy Crossing site, argued that it was a step toward equity.

Alex Wan, who represents parts of Midtown and northeast Atlanta, used the opportunity to pitch the Armour Road station site. Wan noted that it “elevates the dynamic” for an ongoing project that’s important to his constituents: Clifton Corridor bus rapid transit line.

He and later Greenwood appeared to be alluding to the fact that the Armour Yard station might allow MARTA to shorten the Clifton Corridor BRT because the new station could serve as the start of the route rather than the existing Lindbergh station. That in itself would be a cost savings.

When asked the location of the other three stations, however, Greenwood cautioned that the other three stations wouldn’t necessarily be those from the More MARTA list. 

"We're not ruling anything out, but I would say we're not beholden strictly to what has been said in the past," said Greenwood, referring to previous ideas for infill stations. "There were a lot of decisions made in the past based on the conditions available at that time. It's 2024. Let's take a second look."