The Atlanta Beltline has approved its largest-ever budget, with $265.8 million funding the city’s emerald necklace as it speeds to a 2030 completion goal. The budget represents the Beltline’s final stretch, as it gears up to build out the most complicated section of trail.

Finishing the City’s Crown Jewel

This year’s budget has one key focus: design and construction. The largest chunk of funds will go to actually finishing the 22-mile trail in time for the 2030 goal — $128 million, or roughly 48 percent — up 30 percent from last year’s budget.

Atlanta Beltline, Inc. CEO Clyde Higgs called it a “tremendous year” for the Beltline. Annually, the trail sees 2.5 million visitors. He said over 60 percent are locals.

Pushing the Transit Issue

Other areas received still sizable chunks of funding. The Beltline set aside $13 million for economic development, through projects like Atlanta Beltline Marketplace and more. Another $2.6 million went towards planning, engagement and art.

Transit received a relatively small chunk of funding. As one of the Beltline’s touchstone issues, the future of transportation on the trail has been a fraught debate. In February, the Beltline hired a ‘Transit Innovation’ Vice President to handle the design and delivery of a multimodal transportation network.

The $6.7 million set aside for FY27 will fund MARTA elevator improvements and transit studies, according to a budget fact sheet. The work will “shape a playbook for future transit investments.” Notably, the money will not fund any light rail transit.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.