Belt Line Feasibility Study: Final Report

Abstract

The overall objective of this study is to assist the Atlanta City Council and URS in determining the feasibility of implementing a light rail system proposal to help alleviate Atlanta’s traffic and pollution problems and stimulate redevelopment. This feasibility study examines a mostly abandoned rail line, the Belt Line, that roughly circles downtown Atlanta in a twenty-mile loop. Determining if the Belt Line is feasible largely involves determining if enough customers will use the system. To analyze ridership, three main areas were investigated. Public opinion was evaluated to determine what residents of Atlanta would like to use the system for and what they would be most concerned about. Developers were surveyed to gauge the redevelopment potential along the line. Finally, a simulation model of the system was created to gauge how the system will react both in performance and cost as the ridership of the Belt Line varies.