Seriously, why is this thing here?
The Simple Answer
The Atlanta Streetcar is a light rail line that serves downtown Atlanta. It runs along the streets and serves 12 stations from Centennial Olympic Park to the King Historic District.
The More Complicated Answer
Many people use it to get around since it serves a pretty wide area east-to-west. Since it has stops at the touristy part of downtown, it is also a bit touristy. It still gets your from point A to point B.
Each ride costs $1. You can get a day pass for $3 if you are going to ride it 3 or more times in a day.
There are no transfers to or from the Atlanta Streetcar. Even if you take the train or bus downtown, you still have to pay $1 to ride it.
It runs from about 8am to 11pm every day with some variations on weekends. Check the schedule for details.
This is a light rail line, which means it’s on, in, or by the street. It follows the same traffic rules as any car (for the most part) and is affected by traffic just as much as a car. If there’s a red light, it stops. If there’s a traffic jam, it sits there in traffic with the the cars.
Just like the MARTA heavy rail, it’s an electric train but run on overhead lines. That means it has a pantograph instead of a third rail. It’s articulated and open, so you can watch the front car bend around the curves. The child in me giggle every time I see it.
The Details
There is a grand plan to extend the Atlanta Streetcar to the east to Ponce City Market. This plan is actually moving forward, and the work should start “soon”. I’m not holding my breath, but it will happen.
In its current state, it is a very viable form of transit. If you’re moving around downtown, this may be the best way to get from one point to another.