Creating Vibrant, Walkable Communities
The Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) is a grant program that incentivizes local jurisdictions to re-envision their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services.
Since 2000, the LCI program has invested $231 million in 120 communities throughout the Atlanta region, helping pay for planning studies and the construction of transportation projects, such as sidewalks and intersection improvements, to bring those visions to life. The ARC board has allocated $314 million through 2030 to fund transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies.
The LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars. The grants cover 80 percent of the cost of each study or transportation project, with the recipient making a 20 percent match.
LCI: Transforming Communities
The LCI program is paying dividends. The creation of more vibrant, walkable communities means fewer vehicles on the road and cleaner air for all of us. Since the program began in 2000, vehicle miles traveled per capita each day has dropped 13 percent. At the same time, communities are re-imagining their public spaces. Public parks have been established in more than half of LCI areas, while public art has been installed in one-third of LCI areas.
And the program has also helped spark economic development. LCI communities cover less than 4 percent of metro Atlanta’s land area but contain 7 percent of the region’s residential development, 29 percent of its commercial development and 69 percent of its office development.
LCI Program Goals
- Providing access to a variety of travel modes including transit, roadways, walking and biking
- Encouraging mixed-income residential neighborhoods, employment, shopping and recreation options
- Developing an outreach process that promotes the involvement of all stakeholders
2019 LCI Planning Grant Recipients
Gwinnett County
Grant amount: $400,000
Gwinnett County, in cooperation with the Gateway85 CID, Gwinnett Place CID, and Sugarloaf CID, will use its LCI grant to develop land use and development implications of potential bus rapid transit service connecting Jimmy Carter Boulevard to Sugarloaf Parkway.
Aerotropolis Atlanta Community Improvement Districts
Grant amount: $350,000
The Aerotropolis Atlanta CIDs in cooperation with the cities of East Point, Forest Park, Hapeville, South Fulton, and Union City, and Clayton County will continue the work of the Aerotropolis Greenway Plan by developing concepts within the jurisdictions to implement their “Model Miles”.
City of Alpharetta
Grant amount: $150,000
The city of Alpharetta will develop a concept study to connect the Alpha Loop Trail to the Big Creek Greenway with linkages to the planned North Point bus rapid transit station.
Town Center CID
Grant amount: $150,000
This study will focus on creating a walkable entertainment area along the Chastain Road corridor, including consideration of multi-use trail connections, alternative transportation opportunities, traffic calming, last mile connectivity, and sense of place.
City of Peachtree City
Grant amount: $128,000
The city of Peachtree City, one of the first recipients of LCI funds in 1999, will update its LCI plan to study the potential redevelopment of the City Hall area and nearby Aberdeen Village commercial district into more walkable, connected places.
Little Five Points Community Improvement District
Grant amount: $100,000
The Little Five Points CID, in cooperation with the city of Atlanta, will develop a plan to redesign Euclid Avenue through the area’s commercial district from Austin Avenue to Moreland Avenue, focusing on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, wayfinding, greenspace and green infrastructure, technology-based parking management, and other smart city technologies.
City of Auburn
Grant amount: $96,000
The city of Auburn will use its LCI grant to create a blueprint for development within its downtown area to attract new jobs and residents.
City of Dallas
Grant amount: $96,000
This major plan update to the Downtown Dallas LCI study will establish new goals for the area and ensure that development regulations are aligned with the LCI plan.
Tucker-Northlake CID
Grant Amount: $80,000
The project will focus on recreating the historic grid in downtown Tucker by prioritizing segments necessary to complete the grid, examining possible funding strategies, and addressing potential zoning issues.
City of Sugar Hill
Grant amount: $70,000
The city will design an extension of the Sugar Hill Greenway and perform a feasibility analysis of a crossing over State Route 20 to improve connections from residential areas to the city’s downtown. Sugar Hill will also examine pedestrian safety along the highway.
Search LCI Database
Search our database of LCI studies and plan updates completed by LCI Recipients.
LCI Boundaries Available for Google Earth
Download LCI Boundaries in Google Earth (KMZ – Google Earth file)
Download Google Earth
LCI Interactive Map
Click the button below to launch the LCI Interactive Map. Through the interactive map you can view where LCI communities are located throughout the region. By clicking on an LCI area you can view all funding information pertaining to that study area, as well as study documents and transportation project information. Use the tools of the top of the page to get started!