The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is a long-range blueprint that details the investments that will be made through 2050 to ensure metro Atlanta’s future success and improve the region’s quality of life.
The current MTP, approved by the ARC Board in February 2024, programs $168 billion in federal, state, and local transportation funding through 2050. The investments include:
Maintenance & Modernization (63%)
Major System Expansion – Roads, Transit, Bike-Ped (21%)
City, county & state agency operations (11%)
Demand management (6%)
2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) – Executive Summary
As the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Atlanta region, ARC coordinates the MTP in close collaboration with the state of Georgia, 20 counties, the region’s transit agencies, the City of Atlanta, dozens of smaller cities, and other government and nonprofit organizations.
The transportation planning process includes two main elements:
The long-range MTP (through 2050)
And the short-range Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which directs funds and identifies priorities for projects that will be undertaken during the next four years.
The MTP and TIP includes significant road and transit expansion projects as well as any project that intends to utilize federal transportation dollars.
The MTP is designed to accommodate significant growth that is expected to occur over the next three decades. ARC’s latest forecast shows the Atlanta region will add 1.8 million people by 2050, bringing the metro area’s total population to 7.9 million. The investments will also help the Atlanta region meet more stringent state and federal air quality standards through 2050 by reducing emissions that cause air pollution.
The MTP is revised on a regular basis to reflect shifting needs and funding allocations, with major updates conducted at least every four years. Projects included in the MTP must be “fiscally constrained” – meaning funding is reasonably anticipated to be available within the time period.
The TIP is amended more frequently and modified as needed to reflect changes in cost, schedule or scope of short-range projects. The TIP is the mechanism by which federal funds are formally released and used on projects as they move from planning to implementation.
The MTP and TIP cover all of part of 20 counties that are included in the Atlanta MPO.
Map of the 20-county metro Atlanta
The development of the MTP and TIP are driven by the data to meet the following regional goals:
Foster the development of healthy, safe, livable communities.
Strategically invest in infrastructure to provide an equitable, accessible, and safe transportation network and improve the region’s resiliency.
Build a competitive economy that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient, with a highly educated and skilled workforce able to meet the needs of present and future employers.
Ensure community needs are met through stakeholder participation.
