BeltLine rail advocates and opponents left waiting for answers following Mayor Dickens’ address

Hans Klein, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Matthew Rao, the chairperson for BeltLine Rail Now, discussed their opposing views about light rail on Atlanta’s Beltline. (LaShawn Hudson/WABE)

Omar Vega / Invision/AP

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered the 2025 State of the City Address on Tuesday night. During his address, Dickens stressed the importance of connecting neighborhoods. Among his points, he briefly mentioned that in less than 18 months, people will be able to take trails from the Beltline to the Chattahoochee River.

However, people, both for and against light rail on the Beltline, were left searching for more details and are now wondering what’s next.

On Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look,”  Matthew Rao, the chairperson for BeltLine Rail Now, and Hans Klein, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology, spoke with show host Rose Scott about their opposing visions for the Beltline.