advertisement

---

Yesterday, the Federal Transit Administration announced that $47.6 million in TIGER II grant funding is now available so that work can begin on the Atlanta streetcar project. The city was awarded the grant in October 2010.

The streetcar will run 2.6 miles through Atlanta’s downtown business, tourism and convention corridor. It will connect with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s system. The project is expected to spur new development in an economically distressed area, FTA officials said in a prepared statement.

“In addition to providing safe, clean and affordable transportation options, this project will create jobs, reduce congestion downtown and connect university and hospital resources to public transit stations,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

The project was among 75 projects in 40 states that shared $600 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER II grant program.