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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 $254 million in over 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 $345 million through 2050 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.
Program Goals
- Encourage a diversity of housing, employment, commercial, shopping and recreation land uses at the transit station, local and regional center level accessible by people of all ages, abilities and income levels;
- Enhance access to a range of travel modes including transit, roadways, walking and biking and increase roadway connectivity to provide optimal access to all uses within the study area; and,
- Foster public-private partnerships and sustained community support through an outreach process that promotes the involvement of all stakeholders, including those historically underserved or underrepresented.
Current Studies
Our 2019-2020 LCI studies are currently underway. Please visit their project websites to participate and learn more about their LCI study.
New 2020 Studies
- City of Villa Rica
Grant amount: $100,000
The Villa Rica Downtown Master Plan will make land use recommendations to support the revitalization of the city’s downtown district, the surrounding residential and mixed-use district, and the historic Fullerville community. The study will recommend and identify opportunities to improve connectivity, multi-modal access to city parks, historic attractions, and cultural sites. - City of Fairburn
Grant amount: $100,000
The Fairburn Downtown Master Plan Update will update the current LCI plan to provide a strategically focused, goal-driven blueprint for the growth and development of Fairburn’s historic downtown. - City of Lawrenceville
Grant amount: $150,000
The Lawrenceville Downtown Master Plan Update will build on an existing Lawrenceville LCI study, extending its boundaries to capture more redevelopment opportunities, examining parking and transportation issues within downtown Lawrenceville and will integrate Smart City solutions. - Town of Tyrone
Grant amount: $160,000
The Tyrone Town Center Master Plan will focus on projects that promote people-oriented improvements, including a streetscape plan, Town Center property/facilities assessment, a Town Center park study, and a traffic/parking plan. - Central Atlanta Progress
Grant amount: $120,000
Central Atlanta Progress in partnership with the City of Atlanta will develop the Multi-Modal Corridor Study: Courtland Street, Peachtree Center, and Piedmont Avenue. This study will explore potential improvements for these corridors, including new bus-only lanes, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and new lane configurations. - City of Austell
Grant amount: $120,000
The Austell Downtown Master Plan Update will update current LCI plan to provide a blueprint for the rejuvenation of downtown Austell, looking at improvements to transportation, zoning and the development of economic development strategies. - Town Center Community Improvement District
Grant amount: $160,000
The Bells Ferry Road Corridor Smart Mobility Study will provide recommendations to improve the transportation options for all users of Bells Ferry Road using smart technologies and green infrastructure. - City of Suwanee
Grant amount: $160,000
The Suwanee Pedestrian and Bicycle Loop Study will develop a concept for a continuous pedestrian and bicycle loop trail around Suwanee. The Loop will connect Suwanee neighborhoods to the Suwanee Greenway and downtown Suwanee, as well as connect the downtown to other planned regional trails. - City of Forest Park
Grant amount: $120,000
The Forest Park Downtown Master Plan Update will include a five-year development and implementation strategy that capitalizes on the city’s vacant properties and creating access to retail, residential, and commercial development and the city’s proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. - City of Fayetteville
Grant amount: $100,000
The Fayetteville Downtown Design Guidelines Plan will provide the city with a framework for new development and improvements to the roadway and streetscape networks. - City of Woodstock
Grant Amount: $140,000
The Downtown Woodstock Master Plan Update will build upon the existing Downtown Woodstock and Highway 92 LCI studies to provide an updated blueprint for the growth and development of Downtown Woodstock.
2019 Studies
- Alpharetta: AlphaLoop Trail Connectivity Feasibility Study Plan
City of Alpharetta - AeroCID: Greenway Plan
Atlanta Aerotropolis CIDs - Gwinnett: Jimmy Carter Boulevard-Sugarloaf Parkway BRT Corridor Study
Gwinnett County - L5P Mobility Study
Little 5 CIDs - Tucker Alleyways Development
Tucker Northlake CID - Auburn: Town Center New LCI Study
City of Auburn - Peachtree City LCI Study
City of Peachtree City - Sugar Hill: Downtown Greenway Extension
City of Sugar Hill - Town Center: Chastain Road Study
Town Center CID - Downtown Dallas LCI Study
City of Dallas - Smart Woodstock Study
City of Woodstock - Milton Walking School Bus Project
City of Milton
LCI Transportation
Communities that have completed an LCI study are eligible to apply for funding for transportation projects that support the goals of their study and the program as a whole. Funding for LCI transportation projects comes through ARC’s Transportation Improvement Program.
Explore LCI Transportation Projects
Resources
2019 Ideas Exchange Agenda and Presentations:
- Agenda
- College Park Airport City Overview
- 20 Years of Planning-The Impact of LCI
- Emerging Trends in LCI Plans:
- LCI Transportation Call and Update
Search LCI Database
Search our database of LCI studies and plan updates completed by LCI Recipients.
LCI GIS Data and Information
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!
Contract Guidance and Requirements
Please see the ARC Contract Guidance and Requirements for further information on receiving federal funds, including procurement procedures and subcontracting requirements.