Atlanta might be about to try something that feels like a glimpse of a better, less car-clogged future. And if you've ever been stuck in Atlanta traffic you know this is a welcome change.

South Metro Atlanta is hosting the world’s first public pilot of an “Automated Transit Network” from California company, Glydways. Instead of buses stuck in traffic or rail projects that take a decade to build, this system uses small autonomous electric pods running on their own dedicated guideway, about the width of a bike path. Riders would request a trip through an app, hop into a private or group pod, and travel directly from point A to point B with no stops in between.

The initial pilot is short, just a half-mile loop connecting the ATL SkyTrain at the Georgia International Convention Center to the Gateway Center Arena. It’s scheduled to open as a free public test in December 2026.

The big promise is capacity without chaos: Glydways claims a scaled version could move up to 10,000 passengers per hour, similar to light rail, but faster and cheaper to deploy. With no drivers, electric vehicles, and controlled lanes, the company believes it could eventually operate at bus-fare prices.

The real question is whether this is a smarter new model for cities… or just another futuristic transit idea that looks better on paper than in real life. Atlanta will be the proving ground.

_{Cover image courtesy of Glydways.}