ARC Adopts Public Participation Plan Update Designed to Drive Improved Community Engagement

Atlanta — Nov 12, 2025

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Board today adopted  an update to the region’s Public Participation Plan, which outlines ARC’s policies and procedures for public participation in the region’s transportation planning process.

The plan provides a set of recommended tactics and related tools designed to improve public participation efforts in the Atlanta region. This includes blog posts, e-newsletters, community presentations, surveys, open houses, advisory committees, focus groups, and partnerships with local governments and community-based organizations.

The plan also suggests ARC explore innovative ways of reaching members of the community, such as providing childcare and food at in-person meetings, collecting stories through video diaries and interviews, compensating community-based organizations for providing expertise, and funding micro-grants for neighborhood-scale projects.

“Public engagement is absolutely essential to the development of an effective regional planning process,” said Anna Roach, ARC’s Executive Director & CEO. “This plan provides the strategies and related tactics that are needed to drive meaningful public participation, from all parts of our region.”

The recommended tools are aligned with a framework developed by the International Association of Public Participation that categories different levels of participation: Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate, and Empower.

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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 75 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission’s mission is to foster thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.

Contact Name: Paul Donsky