Atlanta Streetcar

This article is about the modern streetcar system in Atlanta. For the first-generation 19th and 20th century streetcar system in Atlanta, see Streetcars in Atlanta.

Atlanta Streetcar
Overview
OwnerMARTA
LocaleAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Transit typeStreetcar
Number of lines1
Number of stations12
Daily ridership1,100 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1]
Annual ridership184,500 (2023)[2]
Operation
Began operationDecember 30, 2014; 9 years ago (2014-12-30)
CharacterAt-grade street running
Rolling stock4 × Siemens S70
Train length1 car
Headway15 minutes (planned avg.)
Technical
System length2.7 mi (4.3 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 750 V DC[3]
System map
Map Atlanta Streetcar highlighted in black
Legend
 Centennial Olympic Park
Carnegie at Spring
Luckie at Cone
Peachtree Center
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Red
Gold
Woodruff Park
Park Place
Hurt Park
Auburn at Piedmont
Sweet Auburn Market
Dobbs Plaza
I-75.svgI-85.svg I-75 /
I-85
Downtown Connector
vehicle
maintenance facility
 Edgewood at Hilliard
King Historic District
 
East Extension
to the BeltLine (2028)
 
to the BeltLine (2028)
 
Edgewood at Boulevard
Auburn at Irwin
BeltLine Eastside Trail
 Freedom-Highland
Ralph McGill
Ponce de Leon
BeltLine Eastside Trail
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible
This diagram:
A streetcar turning onto Auburn Avenue from Jackson Street, approaching the King Historic District stop, in 2017

The Atlanta Streetcar (also known as the Downtown Loop) is a streetcar line in Atlanta, Georgia. Testing on the line began in summer 2014[4] with passenger service beginning as scheduled on December 30, 2014.[5][6][7][8][9] In 2023, the line had 184,500 rides, or about 1,100 per weekday in the third quarter of 2024.

The Downtown Loop is the Phase 1 of the Atlanta Streetcar project, which is planning to expand onto the BeltLine surrounding central Atlanta. The project is the first regular passenger streetcar service in Atlanta since the original Atlanta streetcars were phased out in 1949.

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Schield, Aubrey (August 1, 2014). "What to expect on an Atlanta Streetcar ride". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Revenue service update". Atlanta Streetcar. June 23, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  5. ^ David Wickert (December 30, 2014). "Atlanta streetcar takes first trip". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  6. ^ Thomas Wheatley (December 23, 2014). "Atlanta Streetcar to start passenger service on Tuesday". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  7. ^ Keith Laing (December 23, 2014). "Fed-supported Atlanta streetcar to open Dec. 30". The Hill. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "Atlanta Streetcar Enters Service". Passenger Transport. American Public Transportation Association. January 9, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  9. ^ "Atlanta meets New Year deadline: Streetcars return to the streets of Georgia after a 65-year break". Tramways & Urban Transit. UK: LRTA Publishing. February 2015. p. 53.