Oakland + Murphy Connector Trail Advances Toward Permitting

The Oakland + Murphy Connector Trail along Allene Avenue SW in Oakland City and Capitol View has reached 90 percent design. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is developing the 1.31-mile forked connector with Martin Rickles Studio as design lead and landscape architect. It is the first Beltline connector trail with direct access to a MARTA station.

The Murphy Connector segment runs 0.45 miles; the Oakland City segment runs 0.86 miles. The design calls for a 12-foot concrete multi-use path with 2-foot soft shoulders.

Features include Murphy Plaza with tiered seating and bike parking, a linear park with nature play landscape, and the Dill Avenue Overlook. A protected bike lane underpass will run beneath the MARTA tracks, with upgraded crosswalks, lighting, security cameras, and green infrastructure storm drainage. The design team says 99 percent of the trail will be shaded by tree canopy.

Construction is slated for early 2027, with completion expected mid-2028 and landscaping into winter 2028/2029. The project is funded through design only; construction funding has not been identified.

The trail connects to the Oakland City MARTA station, served by the Red and Gold lines.