Photo by Jade Johnson | The Signal
Even though the Atlanta Streetcar is set to be free for the rest of the year, riders can expect to pay a fare in the future, according to the Streetcar’s Director of Marketing and Communication Scheree Rawles.
Rawles said the streetcar became free for the remainder of the year to help Atlanta residents become more accustomed to using the system and the streetcar’s fare collection system, which is similar to MARTA Breeze Card reloading stations.
“The fare collection system should be easy for commuters and visitors, and in this case, we can do better,” she said. “We want the Atlanta Streetcar to be a habit for Atlanta’s residents and visitors, and streamlining the fare process will benefit our riders.”
She didn’t comment on when rides will be charged but she said a fare will help fund the streetcar.
“The fare has been set at $1 since the streetcar’s inception, as we receive no funds from the general fund of the city budget,” she said.
In the meantime, the financial implications of free rides will be resolved, according to Rawles.
“The original budget projected $304,000 in ticket revenue,” she said. “Private, philanthropic support and operational savings will offset these funds.”
However, representatives of the Atlanta Streetcar are unsure if they will receive private and philanthropic support, according to Rawles.
“I am not sure about the private and philanthropic support at this time, we are still working to make that happen through outreach,” she said. “That will be announced at a later date.”
Although Atlanta Streetcar representatives are attempting to expand outreach, some Georgia State students feel the streetcar will not be helpful.
Taylor Dials, a Georgia State film student, said she thinks the streetcar isn’t useful and that free rides wouldn’t make a difference in student’s lives.
“I think it’s great but I think the streetcar [is] pointless. It doesn’t go far enough,” she said.
The streetcar will expand to connect to the King Historic District, along the Eastern and Western lines of the Atlanta Beltline, and Centennial Olympic Park, according to Rawles.
Other students feel the streetcar is personally beneficial, but only so long as rides are free. Katie Greene, a Georgia State art student, said she doesn’t use the streetcar but is hopeful in its development.
“I took the streetcar once because it was free and I figured, why not?” she said. “Don’t know if I will need to ride it again since most of where it goes is walking distance. But maybe tourists will still pay for it.”
Georgia State political science student Clarissia Bourdeau said the free rides are a beneficial development.
“It’s an efficient way to get to places and it’s a nice touch [the free rides],” she said. “Thank Georgia State for being in a great location.”
The streetcar provides a transportation option to tourists visiting different attractions in downtown Atlanta, according to Rawles.
She also said the streetcar has brought benefits to the city and local businesses.
“Businesses along the route have reported experiencing between 20 to 40 percent increase in revenue since the Atlanta Streetcar began operations,” she said.“That’s $840 million by year’s end.”
