Want to learn more about LCI? Check out our 2021 guidebook.
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Creating Vibrant, Walkable Communities
Created as a way to reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve air quality, 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 $253 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, to bring those visions to life. The ARC board has allocated $343 million over the next 29 years for transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies.
The LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars. The grants cover 80% of the cost of each study or transportation project, with the recipient making a 20% 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,
- Provide 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,
- 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,
- Encourage mixed-income residential neighborhoods, employment, shopping, and recreation options.
Current Studies
Our 2021-2022 LCI studies are currently underway. Please visit their project websites to participate and learn more about their LCI study.
New 2021 Studies
- City of Alpharetta
Grant Amount: $160,000
The Alpharetta-South Main Street Creative Placemaking and Economic Strategy will take place along South Main Street (Hwy 9), from the Town Center, south to the city limits. This plan seeks to develop opportunities for safe walking and biking while promoting transit ridership. It also aims to examine opportunities for redevelopment that promote creative placemaking and the continued success of the Downtown Alpharetta LCI.
- City of Douglasville
Grant Amount: $160,000
The Douglasville Town Center Implementation Strategy will update the Douglasville LCI to stitch together several existing projects to streamline them and set out plans of action, including the housing strategy work currently underway through ARC’s Community Development Assistance Program, a planned town green, creative placemaking, and upgraded connections to the Northside area.
- City of Grantville
Grant Amount: $100,000
The Grantville LCI Plan will create a new study area within the City of Grantville, a small city on the southern border of Coweta County, as it looks to develop a transit connection to the Xpress commuter bus system and a revitalize its downtown.
- Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District
Grant Amount: $220,000
The Gwinnett Place Mall Revitalization Strategy will advance a bold development plan for Gwinnett Place Mall that will explore how to integrate a potential county bus rapid transit route into a planned significant expansion of the Gwinnett Place Transit Center. The Transit Center is located on mall property and set for an upgrade to become the county transit system’s main hub. The LCI study’s goal is to support transit, cars, and pedestrians, improving both transportation and quality of life in the area.
- Gwinnett County
Grant Amount: $100,000
The Sugarloaf Transit Enhancement and Future Station Planning Study will further examine a planned BRT station stop at Sugarloaf Mall and multimodal connection to the Infinite Energy Center. The study will also explore short-term transit enhancements at the existing Park and Ride location near Sugarloaf Mall.
- City of Hampton
Grant Amount: $80,000
The City of Hampton King, George, and Daniel Streets Revitalization Strategy will examine this set of streets near Downtown Hampton as the city looks to revitalize the area and improve transportation safety without displacing existing residents. This strategy will examine different so-called “missing middle” housing options that could be applied in this area.
- City of South Fulton
Grant Amount: $120,000
The Old National Highway LCI Study Update will explore new transportation options and develop an economic development strategy for the corridor that includes creative placemaking.
- Lilburn Community Improvement District
Grant Amount: $120,000
The Lilburn LCI Plan Update will focus on developing a walkable and vibrant downtown by updating its existing LCI Plan within the Old Towne Lilburn and the Downtown Development Zone to promote creative placemaking and diversity of housing options.
- In 2021, ARC is piloting two new study types, focusing on (1) bus stop pedestrian safety and creative placemaking, and (2) LCI Scoping Assistance to prepare communities for a future LCI study. This year, there are three grant recipients in these areas:
- Upper Westside CID
Grant Amount: $64,000
This grant will allow the City of Atlanta’s Upper Westside CID to examine pedestrian safety and incorporate creative placemaking at existing transit stops along Huff Road and Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard.
- Midtown Alliance
Grant Amount: $80,000
With this grant, Midtown Alliance will examine pedestrian safety and incorporate creative placemaking at existing transit stops along West Peachtree and Spring Streets.
- In addition, ARC staff will assist the City of South Fulton on visioning of elements for its future town center.
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.
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
Search LCI Database
Search our database of LCI studies and plan updates completed by LCI Recipients.
Search LCI Study Database
LCI GIS Data and Information
ARC Open Data – LCI
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!
Launch LCI Interactive Map
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.
