An article by Rachel Garbus in Atlanta Magazine reminds readers that Atlanta once had a thriving public transportation system. “In the first half of the 20th century, Atlanta's public transit system rivaled even that of major northern cities like Baltimore and Pittsburgh. By 1928, the city's streetcar system was so extensive, you could hop off at East Point and ride as far as North Druid Hills, with Change trains only once.
The article includes historical photographs of the city's former electric tram system and explains how the system evolved and then declined. Initially, the (separate) trams were operated by private companies. “Georgia officials mostly ignored public transportation, pouring public dollars into highways instead. By the time MARTA took charge of transportation as a public agency in 1972, the car had already won the battle for metro Atlanta.
Now, traces of that history remain as opposition to public transit projects faces opposition from “transit skeptics who believe it is a waste of taxpayer money, and homeowners concerned about outsiders coming into their neighborhoods.”
Nicholas Bloom, author The Great American Transit DisasterAtlanta may never reach world-class transit city status — “there has been too much development to reverse-engineer the public transit system,” he says — “but he sees many opportunities to get people out of cars and into other modes of transportation.”
