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ARC Awards $1.6 Million in LCI Grants to Help Foster More Walkable, Connected Places

Posted on: May 09, 2019

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) today announced that it has awarded $1.6 million in Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study grants to help 10 metro Atlanta communities develop plans and polices to create more vibrant, walkable, and connected places.

Once the planning studies are complete, these communities will become eligible to receive federal transportation funding for projects, such as sidewalks, multi-use trails, and intersection improvements, to bring their visions to life.

“The LCI program is an innovative way to help transform communities and improve quality of life across the Atlanta region,” said ARC Executive Director Doug Hooker. “So many of us today want to live and work in dynamic, lively places where you can walk or bike to get your errands done, grab a meal, or visit with friends. These investments will help foster these kinds of spaces throughout metro Atlanta.”

The 2019 LCI study grant recipients are:

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.
Contact:  Vince Edwards Vince.Edwards@gwinnettcounty.com  770.822.7452

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”.
Contact: Kirsten Mote kmote@aerocids.com 404.349.2211

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.
Contact:  Kathi Cook kcook@alpharetta.ga.us  678.297.6073

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.
Contact: Alisha Smith  678-350-5061  alisha@towncentercid.org

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.
Contact: Robin Cailloux rcailloux@peachtree-city.org 770.487.5731

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.
Contact: Walter Brown wbrown@gsprop.comw 678.793.0457

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.
Contact: Alex Mitchem amitchem@cityofauburn-ga.org 770.963.4002

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.
Contact: Kendall Smith mksmith@dallas-ga.gov 770.443.8110

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.
Contact: Beth Ganga  beth@tuckernorthlakecid.com 770-938-5217

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.
Contact: Kaipo Awana 770-945-6716  Kawana@cityofsugarhill.com

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, walkable places that increase mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide easy 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. The ARC board has allocated $314 million over the next 15 years for transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies.

LCI program goals include:

  • 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

To learn more about the LCI program and the impact it has had on the Atlanta region, visit atlantaregional.com/lci.

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 73  other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues.

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