Atlanta — Construction Begins

February 2012

Leading the groundbreaking for Atlanta's $94 million streetcar project were U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed according to the Associated Press. They cited the project's potential to inspire economic development and job creation in the downtown tourism district. The hope is that new businesses will locate in areas that have been the victim of a long economic decline.

The route will total 2.6 miles passing major downtown attractions such as the Georgia Acquarium, the CNN Center, the World of Coca Cola and Martin Luther King's birthplace.

The project's backers promote the project as the first part of a network that could eventually cover the city and the region.