ATLANTA -- In their most recent issue, Forbes magazine took a close look at what they called the nation's best rapid transportation systems, and as would be expected, cities like New York, San Francisco, and Washington were highly touted.
But what may have surprised many readers, was that not only was MARTA cited as the envy of many cities, but the Atlanta Streetcar was listed as one of the system's high-points.
The Forbes article points out that Atlanta's population "has exploded in the past 20 years."
And the piece goes on, despite what those of us in Atlanta may have heard from naysayers in Nashville and Birmingham in recent years, to recognize that most southeastern cities do not have much of a public transportation infrastructure. Some people in both of those cities have soundly criticized Atlanta in general and MARTA in particular as an option that does not provide a significant resource for local residents or out-of-town visitors.
One thing that the article does point out that might be a little confusing to some locals is the next point it makes, however.
"The most recent transportation option is the Atlanta Streetcar with 12 stops at major locations in the city," the article says. "The prices are also very reasonable to ride the streetcar. Each adult only costs $1 each way."
Yes, the prices are reasonable for the streetcar, but whether or not its 12 stops make the Atlanta Streetcar a significant enough option to warrant inclusion as a major part of one of the best rapid transportation systems in the country could be a matter of debate.
MARTA assumed control of the 2.7-mile east-west loop through parts of downtown Atlanta and the Sweet Auburn neighborhood in July 2018.
A MARTA spokesperson released the following statement:
"We're honored that national media outlets such as Forbes recognize the undeniable value of MARTA and the Streetcar in generating economic development and improving the quality of life for all of us in metro Atlanta. Most of all, we appreciate the public's support and input as we continue working to make our transit system bigger and even better for the future."
