Transportation & Mobility Overview

MARTA and 400

Improving Mobility in the Atlanta Region

Mobility is critical to the Atlanta region’s economy and quality of life. The challenge of maintaining and expanding our region’s transportation system is greater than ever, as metro Atlanta’s population is expected to reach 8.6 million by the year 2050.

Our region is home to four interstate highways, the nation’s 9th-largest public transit system and a growing network of bicycle and pedestrian trails. It’s also one of the nation’s most important freight hubs. 

Regional Transportation Planning

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), as the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), works with state and local transportation agencies and local governments to develop and manage a long-range transportation plan, known as the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).

The plan, developed with robust public input, includes $172.6 billion of investments to maintain and expand the region’s network of roads, transit and pedestrian facilities through 2050.

Transportation in the Atlanta Region

  • Transit – Mass transit services in the Atlanta region, including bus, rail and streetcar, play a major role in alleviating congestion and improving air quality, while promoting regional land use and development goals.
  • Bicycle & Pedestrian – The Atlanta Regional Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan envisions the completion of a regional-scale trail network along with community-scale walking and bicycling networks.
  • Roads & Highways – Metro Atlanta sits at the intersection of three major interstate highways and serves as major logistics hub. ARC and its partner agencies are working on a number of fronts to address expected growth in order to reduce congestion and increase transportation options, while improving safety and air quality.
  • Air Quality Clean air is vital to our health and our quality of life. ARC works with state and federal agencies to ensure that the region is on the path to meeting federal standards.
  • Freight – Metro Atlanta was born a transportation hub and continues to be critical for the movement of goods in the Southeast and the nation. ARC works with the public and private sector to help keep freight moving through and around the region.
  • Funding – Funding for transportation projects comes from a variety of sources, local, state and federal. ARC works to prioritize spending on projects that most benefit the region.
  • Maintenance & Safety – New technologies and designs make transportation more reliable and safer than ever. The Atlanta Region’s Plan calls for intersection improvements, signal upgrades and other features that keep us safe while we travel.

The RTP is updated every four years and is the transportation component of the Atlanta Region’s Plan, metro Atlanta’s comprehensive, long-range plan that incorporates all of ARC’s planning areas.

The short-term portion of the RTP, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), allocates federal funds for the region’s highest-priority transportation projects. Projects in the TIP must be fully funded.

Community Engagement

ARC values community participation and public input in all areas of its planning work.  The agency strives to provide resources to help community members understand key issues and challenges facing the Atlanta region, as well as its important assets.

In order to properly hear from interested persons and respond to their comments, ARC requests that citizens follow the ARC Policy for Citizen Input (PDF).

It’s critical that ARC engages with a diverse group of residents and stakeholders. There are many ways to engage with ARC and have your voice heard:

Transportation Planning Resources

Powered by ARC
33°n
CDAP
Community Planning Academy
ConnectA
Empowerline
Georgia Commute Options
Green Communities
LCI
LINK
MARC
Metro Atlanta Speaks
MNG Water Planning District
RLI
State of the Region
UASI
WorkSource GA
33°n
CDAP
Community Planning Academy
ConnectA
Empowerline
Georgia Commute Options
Green Communities
LCI
LINK
MARC
Metro Atlanta Speaks
MNG Water Planning District
RLI
State of the Region
UASI
WorkSource GA