$1 Billion Midtown-to-Downtown Line Recommended

A $1 billion light-rail line connecting Midtown to downtown along the BeltLine corridor was part of a larger, $3.26-billion list of projects unanimously recommended by the Atlanta City Council on Wednesday.

The projects could be funded if metro Atlanta voters approve a one-percent sales tax referendum next year. Atlanta's overall list of projects include $920 million to repair roads, bridges and sidewalks in the city; and $1 billion for capital investments to bring MARTA into a state of good repair.

The final alignment of the light-rail line will be determined by Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

Several second-tier projects didn't make the final list, including a $635-million light-rail line between Midtown and South DeKalb Mall via the North Avenue corridor and the BeltLine corridor.

Elected officials in each of the state's 12 regions have been asked to develop a list of projects to be funded by a one-percent sales tax. Once all local governments’ lists are submitted, a roundtable group of 21 elected leaders from the 10-county metro area will choose what projects make the final list for voters. The Atlanta Regional Roundtable includes local city and county officials from Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties.

Should the tax pass in a region, all revenue collected there would stay in that region. Local governments would share 15 percent of the revenues to be spent on any projects they choose. The other 85 percent will be used to fund the list of projects created by each region's transportation roundtable.