This is such a win for not just the practical usefulness but also the comprehensibility and emotional dependability of MARTA’s bus system. If I’d known I could count on the 107 (now 21/22) every 15 min or better when I lived in Atlanta I would have been a regular rider.
For this new episode, we chat with Andrew Pofahl, a MARTA Project Manager, and Andy McBurney, a MARTA Service Manager, about what this weekend's new MARTA bus system redesign means for riders (and why some of us are pretty nervous about changes).
open.spotify.com/episode/7k9v...
Meet the Phoenix Line: a proposed rail transit line that converts existing, underutilized freight tracks into a high-capacity passenger transit corridor for Atlanta. Thanks much to Nick Durham for sharing this fascinating concept through a new guest post!
www.threadatl.org/blog/hiding-...
April 11th Connections Metropolitan Church 6pm
Join us this Saturday for a discussion about the data centers coming to Atlanta, with a group of independent experts moderated by King Williams.
6pm at Connections Metropolitan Church
Trip planner
Using the MARTA Tracker & Trip Planner, you can now set your departure time for a trip as April 18th (or later) and see what your trips will be like when the new bus system goes into effect on that date.
tracker.itsmarta.com
Making better use of our limited transit routes is important. Until someone figures out a way to get state and federal funding for expanding rapid transit lines across the metro, adding new homes where transit exists is crucial.
3/3
The tiny little purple areas on the map are the few where even the most modest level of density is allowed. As Kronberg notes, much more purple is needed, particularly near transit lines, so that the city can grow in a way that matches new housing with transit access.
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Map shows the tiny amount of land zoned for growth in Atlanta's zoning rewrite
Local architect & builder Eric Kronberg is sharing smart criticisms of Atlanta's concerning new zoning rewrite.
Most residential areas are maintaining their suburban-style restrictions (large lot sizes, no new density). That's not good.
More on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/posts/eric-k...
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Metro Atlanta communities must reform zoning to create more affordable housing
"Only 8% of the zoned land in metro Atlanta allows housing to be located alongside non-residential uses. People can’t walk down the street to grab a coffee or stop into the office. They have to get into their cars to do virtually everything."
GIFT link:
www.ajc.com/opinion/2026...
"So essentially, the backbone of mobility in the state's largest metropolitan area has to figure out how to do things mostly on its own. While also still being regulated by the state that does not provide any substantial operating funding for it."
/End
"That's not the norm for how any major or even minor public transit systems operate in the Western Hemisphere. Most major transit systems get state funding. Georgia's lack of funding...it kind of artificially constrains the service that MARTA has been able to provide."
Patrick:
"The biggest policy change that the state can make is starting to provide operating funding for MARTA...the largest transit agency not only in the U.S., but on the North American continent that does not receive substantial operating expenses from the state to support their operations."
Patrick King
On a new ThreadATL Podcast episode, Patrick King of the Natural Resources Defense Council shares wisdom on transportation & environmental-justice issues in Atlanta.
open.spotify.com/episode/5tKG...
The big question: will they get the funding needed for pulling it off, given the huge cost of turning offices into residences?
"Georgia-Pacific will begin pursuing debt and equity partners this summer, in addition to public incentives from the city."
/end
"30% of the planned 400 residential units across the tower’s uppermost floors will be reserved at monthly rents between 50% and 80% of the area median income."
GP announced in 2024 that the tower would become a mix of residential, office, and retail.
2/
The transformation of the Georgia-Pacific office tower in Downtown will include more than 130 apartments rented at below-market prices; that's according to a new AJC article (paywalled):
1/
www.ajc.com/business/202...
Years worth of studies for a potential MARTA line on the I-20 corridor have resulted in nothing but frustration for its under-served communities. An analysis of those ideas, spearheaded by Zachary Starbuck, aims to help turn studies into projects that get built.
www.threadatl.org/blog/i20corr...
So yes, this is a success story. But it's possible to celebrate it and learn from it without claiming that abundance is a singular solution for all needs. Cities still need to also use public resources in targeted ways to provide affordable homes for the lowest income earners!
/end
84% of AMI is still on the high side. For comparison: based on 2022-23 data, a 1-bedroom apartment at 80% AMI in Atlanta rents for approximately $1,430 to $1,713 per month.
Housing advocates have been clear that the biggest affordability need is for 50% AMI (and less) earners.
4/
The Pew study is clear about the limits of the benefits:
"In 2017, the city’s median rent for a one-bedroom unit was affordable to a single-person household earning 95% of the area median income (AMI). Seven years later, that number had declined to 84%."
3/
"The efforts worked. From 2015 to 2024, Austin added 120,000 units to its housing stock—an increase of 30%, more than three times the overall rate of growth in the United States (9%). Rents fell."
It's wonderful to see policy changes having this good effect on housing. But...
2/
The high costs of rents came down in Austin, TX after the city:
> Tweaked zoning to allow large apartment buildings near jobs & transit
> Used a $250 million bond to repair affordable housing
> Reformed permitting processes to speed development and reduce costs.
1/
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Higher loan payments, insurance, gas, & maintenance have boosted the cost of owning a vehicle by a whopping 40% since 2020.
Yes, building rail is expensive & creating walkable density is hard. But don't pretend that car-dependent urban design is cheap.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/b...
Atlanta DSA seems to be the only org with guts to speak out *against* Atlanta mayor’s proposal to extend all (old) tax increment financing districts (TADs) until 2055.
Most of the tax base in TADs has been growing for years.
Will just divert $ from schools & basic services.
Sighs in AtlantaWay
If you'd like a sample from the book, Morrison was kind enough to let us publish a passage from it several years ago:
www.threadatl.org/blog/2018/10...
Nice choice! Atlanta City Studio has picked "Atlanta Underground: History from Below" by Jeffrey Morrison for its March 2026 Book Club meeting.
Monday, March 16, 6:30pm - 8pm
Location info and registration at the link:
www.eventbrite.com/e/march-2026...
The hosts of the popular "War on Cars" podcast will talk about their new book, "Life After Cars," at the Plaza Theater on Friday, March 13 at 8 PM, along with special guests. Tickets are $30. Presented by Propel ATL.
givebutter.com/lifeaftercars
Thanks to all who showed up to support this, and to the City staff who also sent in a recommendation for the project prior to the meeting!
The room was packed with supporters, far beyond what you usually see in a ZRB meeting. Which shows how tired people are of neighbors fighting good proposals.
Good news! Despite pushback from people in the neighborhood, a Kirkwood church's effort to use its property for 47 units of affordable housing for seniors was approved last night by Atlanta's Zoning Review Board!
The proposal goes next to City Council.
www.wsbtv.com/news/local/a...
This was approved by the Zoning Review Board tonight!! That's great news.
Next it goes to a Council committee for a vote, then to Full Council.