The number of riders using the Atlanta Streetcar has tumbled since the introduction of a $1 fare on Jan. 1, according to a report from WSB-TV.
The streetcar reported 21,818 riders during the month of January, which is a 66 percent drop in ridership from last year. That means the system took in less than $10,000 in revenue – a fraction of the annual $5 million operating and maintenance costs.
Mayor Kasim Reed said the January numbers were preliminary and unaudited. The 2.7 mile streetcar ,which runs from Centennial Olympic Park to the King Center, was free to ride during all of 2015. The city is hoping to extend the streetcar line east to connect to the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside’s Trail.