Mayor Andre Dickens has changed course on Beltline rail, scrapping support for MARTA's streetcar expansion to the Eastside Trail in the near future. Why it matters: The surprise announcement at yesterday's MARTA board meeting marks a major inflection point in the development of the wildly popular linear park system and Atlanta's future growth.

Mayor Andre Dickens withdrew his support for beginning phase one of the Beltline light rail project on the eastside, instead pushing for streetcar expansion to the southside.

The mayor is opposed to starting the build-out of a Beltline rail network with the proposed streetcar extension that would run along the Eastside Trail.

Mayor Andre Dickens said Thursday he no longer wants the first phase of Beltline light rail to go alongside the Eastside Trail, backing off plans he supported during his

Former Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young, and late former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson Jason Carter are among those expected to attend.