Atlanta Streetcar Gears Up for Two More Trial Runs

The ambitious project to return streetcars to downtown Atlanta is nearing completion, and two more tests of the streetcar systems are planned for this week.

According to Atlanta Intown, a test of the streetcar’s ability to maintain different speeds will begin at 11 p.m. Monday and wrap up during the early morning hours on Tuesday. The streetcar will make five circuits of the nearly three-mile long route between Centennial Olympic Park and Auburn Avenue at 5 mph, 10 mph, 15 mph, 20 mph, and 25 mph.

Atlanta police will escort the streetcar during its rounds and will be enacting rolling street closures to ensure the safety of motorists and test participants. Delays are anticipated, and drivers are cautioned to look for alternate routes if their commutes will be impacted by the test. Any illegally parked car along the route will be ticketed and/or towed.

On Thursday evening, the streetcar’s electric power systems will be put to the test. Three streetcars will be loaded with 28,000 pounds of weight and accelerated to 25 mph. Each of the three cars will then screech to a halt simultaneously.

The tests will occur on Auburn Avenue between Jackson and Courtland streets between 11 p.m. and early Friday morning. The affected portion of Auburn Avenue will be shut down between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., but pedestrians and vehicles will be allowed to use the road during breaks in testing. Emergency vehicles can also use the route at all times.

Last week, project cleared another hurdle when one of its streetcars traveled the length of its route under its own power.