Atlanta eyes 1st new MARTA heavy-rail station in decades

Why it matters: If built, the Murphy Crossing infill station along the Southwest Trail could be the first rail station that connects with the Beltline trail and the long-debated rail line envisioned for it.

Zoom in: The proposed station would be built between MARTA's West End and Oakland City stations and near the Beltline's planned 20-acre Murphy Crossing redevelopment of a former state farmers market property.

How it works: Beltline principal engineer Shaun Green told residents at an Oct. 29 meeting not far from the proposed station's site that planners are evaluating five concepts.

• Options include building platforms alongside existing elevated MARTA tracks and rerouting the tracks to accommodate a new station. All would be significant construction projects.

Yes, but: The area under consideration features a busy state highway, a city street, active freight lines and elevated MARTA train lines. Underneath the congested corridor there's the popular Beltline trail.

• "There's no way to fit this into the existing area without there being some [impacts]," Green said.
• Atlanta Beltline Inc., the nonprofit planning and building the Beltline, is spending approximately $800,000 to $900,000 to study the infill proposal, Green said.

Flashback: In 2024, Mayor Andre Dickens announced plans to build new infill stations near the Beltline to help bring more people to the project.

• In addition to Murphy Crossing, other infill station locations include areas near Krog Street/Hulsey Yard, Joseph E. Boone Drive and Armour Yards.

What's next: Beltline officials are collecting public feedback through a virtual open house until Nov. 30. The study schedule calls for planners to recommend a preferred concept by next summer.