MARTA expansion: Atlanta Mayor Dickens announces new stations, more during speech

ATLANTA - The mayor of Atlanta gave a State of the City address Monday morning that highlighted advancements in affordable housing, engaging our youth and decreasing crime.

The Mayor was upbeat with HIGH energy as he talked about wanting Atlanta to be the best city in the nation to raise a family.

Mayor Andre Dickens took the stage with the Usher hit "Yeah" hyping the crowd.

The 61st mayor of Atlanta started by reporting the city has a strong AA-plus credit rating and has expanded 5,000 acres of parkland as the ATL has grown to be the 6th largest metro Area in the nation, with violent crime decreasing.

"We've made tremendous strides in public safety, with Major Crimes against people down by over 15% and homicides down by 21% in 2023," Mayor Andre Dickens announced.

As a few protesters demonstrated against the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center outside, Mayor Dickens announced that facility will open before the end of the year.

On another subject, the mayor thanked corporations and partners that invested in his 2023 year of the youth, where 30,000 young people received jobs last year.

"Stand up if you hired someone, stand up if you mentored someone," Dickens told the crowd.

"My goal is to make Atlanta the best place in the nation to raise a child and so, every year is the year of the youth," the mayor proclaimed.

Affordable housing continues to be a top priority with the Melody Rapid Housing Shipping Container Project and #2 Peachtree coming online.

"Affordable housing is my love language. With the help of public, private and nonprofit partners just like you, we're on our way to accomplishing our goals. With over 9000 units already built, funded or currently under development in Atlanta."

The mayor made a couple of surprise announcements. He said a new MARTA station is opening up on the southside, as well as a market that sells fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved communities.  

The new "Murphy Crossing" MARTA station will add a stop between the West End and Oakland City stations on the BeltLine's Westside Trail, connecting MARTA rail to the BeltLine for the first time.

MARTA will also build three new infield stations where people need trains the most, the mayor said.

Lastly, the mayor says the city will be ready for FIFA 2026!

Atlanta crime is down

According to the city's COBRA report for the week ending March 9, homicides were down 42% city-wide from four weeks prior but up 29% from the previous year to date.

"We've made tremendous strides in public safety, with major crimes against people down by over 15% and homicides down by 21% in 2023," Dickens announced.  

Last month, Dickens spoke after four students were shot in a parking lot during a reported fight at Atlanta's Benjamin E. Mays High School.

The mayor said he was "shocked and heartbroken" by the violence.

"This is the place where I spent four years of my life as a student and I climbed this hill every day, going to class," the mayor said. "I feel sorry for the young people that have been impacted by this, both directly that have been shot, and those indirectly that were around to witness that, and those right now that are being inconvenienced."

Dickens also reminded parents of the city's Year of the Youth program, which he announced at the 2023 State of the City. The program was designed to be a collaboration between nonprofits, government agencies, and companies to help young people in Atlanta reach their full potential.

"Stand-up if you hired someone, stand up if you mentored someone. My goal is to make Atlanta the best place in the nation to raise a child and so every year is the year of the youth," the mayor proclaimed. 

Last week, Dickens attended a Brotherhood Summit focusing on personal and professional development at Mays High School.

"There are so many young people able to have after-school programs and summer jobs and scholarships," the mayor said. "So now we want to do that all over again."

Dickens also set a goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing across Atlanta by 2030.

According to the city, more than 3,000 units have been delivered and nearly 5,000 are in development since 2022. The city also recently unveiled its first transitional housing site for individuals experiencing homelessness on Forsyth Street.

"Affordable housing is my love language. With the help of public, private and non-profit partners just like you, we're on our way to accomplishing our goals. With over 9000 units already built, funded or currently under development in Atlanta," the mayor said. 

RELATED: Mayor Dickens signs executive order worth millions to end homelessness in Atlanta

Dickens has been called upon to deal with several challenges as mayor, including the Buckhead city movement, the closure of WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, the controversy surrounding the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and the attention that is surrounding the Georgia election interference case.

This year will be a pivotal one for the mayor. Last month, he confirmed that would seek reelection in 2025.