ARC Board Adopts Major Update to Regional Freight Mobility Plan

Atlanta — Mar 12, 2025

The Atlanta Regional Commission Board today adopted a major update to the Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan, a comprehensive resource designed to help local communities better accommodate the freight traffic that drives metro Atlanta’s economy.

Metro Atlanta is one of the nation’s largest and most important logistics hubs, with direct connections by highway and rail to the Port of Savannah, the nation’s fourth-busiest container port. Freight volumes are expected to rise sharply over the next 25 years, fueled by growth in the region’s population and at the state’s ports, as well as a rise in e-commerce.

The plan includes important resources to assist local jurisdictions, policymakers, and business leaders, including:

Freight design guidelines that local governments may incorporate to shape new developments, focusing on industrial areas, downtowns and small regional centers, and major activity centers. The guidelines, which cover freight-related infrastructure such as roadway and intersection design, curb management, loading docks, and alleys, aim to enhance efficiency and safety while mitigating negative impacts of freight activity.
County-level factsheets for the 20 counties in ARC’s transportation planning area. The factsheets provide a snapshot of each county’s freight traffic flows and freight-related employment and are designed as resource for planners, engineers, and public and private sector leaders.
An interactive freight dashboard that provides stakeholders with the data needed to make informed decisions on issues and plans related to freight.
A model truck parking zoning ordinance and related guidance to encourage the development of freight parking facilities. A lack of truck parking in the Atlanta region has been identified as a major challenge for both the trucking industry and local communities.
A list of 147 recommended transportation projects that will improve freight mobility and safety in the region. These include bridge improvements or replacements, additional roadway capacity, new highway interchanges, and grade separations at rail crossings.

“The Regional Freight Mobility Plan provides a roadmap to help metro Atlanta accommodate ever-increasing freight traffic volumes while enhancing safety, boosting the economy, and preserving our quality of life,” said ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach. “The plan is a critical tool that will guide investments and inform decision-making over the next several decades.”

Freight plays a critical role in the Atlanta region’s economy. Nearly one in three jobs are tied to the sector, and the Atlanta region ranks fifth nationally and No. 1 in the Southeast for total industrial development, a category that includes warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities.

Freight traffic in the region could more than double by 2050. The plan developed two freight growth scenarios: a “low-growth scenario” of 69% and a “high-growth scenario” of 118%.

ARC’s freight planning efforts will continue in the coming years. This includes developing additional Freight Cluster Plans in areas with significant industrial development that focus on facilitating movement of goods, reducing traffic congestion, and improving safety, mobility, and access for all roadway users.

Metro Atlanta Freight By-the-Numbers:

Total freight volume (2019): 231 million tons (84% by truck, 16% by rail, 0.3% by air)
Total value of freight (2019): $398.5 billion
Share of jobs that are freight-related: 31%
Rank in industrial development (2024): 5 in U.S., No. 1 in Southeast
Freight volume inbound: 49%
Freight volume outbound: 23%
Freight shipped within region: 28%
Top freight origins: Rest of Georgia (23%); rest of U.S. (75%); outside U.S. (2%)
Top freight destination: Rest of Georgia (22%); rest of U.S. (77%); outside U.S. (2%)

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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
Contact Phone: 470-626-3869
Contact Email: pdonsky@atlantaregional.org