First BeltLine Trail with Direct MARTA Access Gets Visual Preview

The Oakland City MARTA station connector trail is taking shape, and it's going to be a game changer for transit access. This 1.31-mile branch will be the first direct link between the BeltLine and a MARTA station. The connector will branch off near Lee + White and serve Oakland City and Capitol View neighborhoods, finally giving folks a car-free way to hop between the trail and rail.

After years of waiting, we're finally seeing what the BeltLine's first direct MARTA connection will actually look like. The Oakland + Murphy Connector Trail will span 1.31 miles, branching off the Southside Trail near Allene Avenue (you know, down by Lee + White where Wild Heaven just reopened EATS).

This isn't just another pretty trail segment. It's potentially transformative for how people move around the city without cars. The connector will serve Oakland City and Capitol View, neighborhoods that have been watching the development boom happen elsewhere while waiting for their turn. With all the new construction happening in those blocks, this transit link couldn't come at a better time.

The timing matters too. As the BeltLine fills in around Ponce City Market and the eastside, having this western connection to MARTA's heavy rail system creates a true network instead of just a scenic jogging path. For anyone who's tried to get from the BeltLine to a MARTA station on foot, you know how awkward that connection has been. This fixes that.