Mayor Kasim Reed announced during this morning’s Central Atlanta Progress annual meeting that the Atlanta Streetcar would remain free to ride through 2015. A $1 fare was expected to begin in April.
According to the AJC, operating the streetcar will cost 50 percent more than the city estimated last year, up to $4.8 million annual from $3.2 million.
According to a media release, the City will take the additional time to review system attributes and determine how the Streetcar’s fare system can best interface with the MARTA Breeze system, while also taking advantage of emerging technology, to ensure that riding the Atlanta Streetcar remains an easy, convenient and green option.
“We have a state-of-the-art Streetcar, built on principles of sustainability that make our lives easier, reduce congestion, reduce our dependence on cars and contribute to cleaner air,” Reed said. “The fare collection system should be easy for commuters and visitors, and in this case, we can do better. We want the Atlanta Streetcar to be a habit for Atlanta’s residents and visitors, and streamlining the fare process will benefit our riders.”
The city is looking at smartphone apps that would include trip-planning tools. In the future, riders should expect to access alerts and schedule information, check real-time arrivals and find information about Streetcar-accessible activities and events.
The original budget projected $304,000 in ticket revenue. Private, philanthropic support and operational savings will offset these funds.
