Good transit news for Atlanta?  Is this some sort of bizarro world?

According to the AJC, Representative John Lewis and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed have stated that Atlanta will be awarded $47 million in grant money to build a streetcar line from Centennial Olympic Park to the King Center.  The grant is $9 million less than the original $56 million that was originally requested by the city, but still seen as a major victory for Atlanta after the absolute failure to get any money for a Peachtree streetcar the last time grant money was doled out.

What we changed is, I followed the plan to Washington,” [Atlanta Mayor] Reed said. “I don’t want to say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but the squeaky wheel gets grease.” Franklin congratulated him and others in an e-mail she titled “EUREKA!” — and noted that he “picked up the baton.”

Reed said the project would transform downtown. His office has estimated the project would create 5,200 jobs over 20 years and would not only help ease downtown traffic problems but also help the city compete for more tourism and convention business.

Map courtesy of the City of Atlanta via the AJC