Atlanta — May 16, 2022
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) today announced that it has awarded Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grants to fund nine planning studies in metro Atlanta communities, allocating a total of $1.9 million in federal transportation funds.
The grants are designed to help communities become more vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide improved access to jobs and services. Upon completion of the studies, communities will be eligible to apply for federal transportation funding for projects such as sidewalks, multi-use trails, and smart corridor improvements that help implement their visions.
“For over twenty years, the LCI program has helped communities throughout the metro area establish vibrant cores that improve the region’s air quality by reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles,” said Sam Shenbaga, Managing Director of the Community Development group at ARC. “We are excited to continue this important work in 2022 by helping the nine recipients this year realize their community-driven vision.”
NOTE: Specific grant allocations are subject to increase or decrease based on changes made by the LCI sponsor.
The City of Senoia Town Center Catalytic Study will focus on connecting Senoia’s successful downtown to surrounding neighborhoods. The study will include the development of a network of multimodal connections to the town center from the rest of the city through multi-use paths and innovative street design and revised development guidelines.
Clayton County’s Tara Gateway Study aims to improve pedestrian safety, access to bus routes, and catalyze development at three locations along Tara Boulevard: Upper Riverdale Road, the City of Jonesboro and the City of Lovejoy. The goal is a re-imagined corridor that becomes a true gateway for Clayton County.
The Norcross LCI Plan Update will examine the development of a pedestrian-safe crossing along Buford Highway and the possible introduction of an electric vehicle charging into the downtown core of Norcross.
The Riverdale LCI Plan Update will support the development of bus rapid transit within the City of Riverdale by furthering the work that MARTA has conducted. The plan update will provide a revised economic development strategy, transportation recommendations and an implementation plan.
Cobb County’s Town Center Electrification Study will develop a pilot electric vehicle infrastructure plan for the Town Center LCI area, including a toolkit and recommendations for implementation.
The Clarkston Greenway Study will develop plans for a 2-mile trail along the US 78 corridor or the South Fork Peachtree Creek. The proposed trail will connect to other regional trails and provide transportation options to an area where community connectivity has been more limited.
The Woodstock Downtown Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek Trail plan will evaluate options for developing a trail loop linking the Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek trails, providing east-west connections between the existing trails that will promote pedestrian connectivity throughout downtown Woodstock.
The Ralph David Abernathy Great Streets Study will develop a multimodal transportation plan for the Ralph David Abernathy corridor to connect the West End MARTA Station, West End Mall, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Stone Mountain Trail Land Use Visioning Plan will include ARC, DeKalb County, and cities working together to evaluate the Stone Mountain Trail area and determine next steps for scoping a future study.
About the Livable Centers Initiative:
Created as a way to reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve air quality, ARC’s Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) is a grant program that incentivizes local jurisdictions to re-envision their communities as vibrant, pedestrian-friendly places that increase mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide easy access to jobs and services.
Since 2000, the LCI program has invested $312 million in more than 120 communities throughout the Atlanta region, helping pay for planning studies and the construction of transportation projects, such as sidewalks and intersection improvements. The ARC board has allocated $296 million over the next 28 years for transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies. This is a $600 million investment in creating livable communities within the Atlanta region.
Recipients are selected by ARC with input from a diverse committee of partner organizations and planning professionals from around the region.
The LCI program goals include:
To learn more about the LCI program and the impact it has had on the Atlanta region, visit atlantaregional.com/lci.
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The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 74 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention, and planning resources on key regional issues.
Contact Name: Olivia Haas
Contact Phone: 470-378-1516
Contact Email: ohaas@atlantaregional.org
ARC’s Strategic Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta. Their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year. Learn more.
