Metro Atlanta on the Move with Draft Transportation Plan
Posted: July 5th, 2007
Category: real estate news
This week, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the official Metropolitan Planning Organization for transportation planning, released a new, draft 2030 transportation plan that will invest just over $66 billion to keep the region on the move. The draft regional transportation plan, called Envision6, includes a 25-year, long-range plan, as well as a priority 6-year plan drawn from the larger plan.
“As the fastest growing major metro area in the country since 2000, it’s obvious to everyone that improving our mobility is a top priority,” said Sam Olens, ARC chairman. “With this 25-year plan, we’re doing more with less funding to focus on the most critical congestion challenges and give residents needed relief and greater choices.”
Highlights of the plan include implementation of the region’s first set of managed lanes, where commuters will have the option of traveling in free-flow conditions around the clock for a fee, as well as new transit options including expanded bus service, bus rapid transit systems, the Beltline project, as well as the transit spur from Lindbergh MARTA station to Emory University.
ARC planners are recommending a system of improved arterial roadways that can better connect commuters traveling across and around the region – presently denoted as the Metro Arterial Connector (the MAC). “As envisioned in the plan, the connector would use a system of mostly existing roads encircling the region – but improve and connect them more efficiently to provide cross-regional options for travelers trying to get from, say from Conyers to Fayetteville,” said transportation planning chief, Jane Hayse. “It became apparent in the plan development, that without much new “right of way” and building on our existing system, we could better connect the dots to create this new connector around our growing region.”
This regional transportation plan is the first to rank projects based on recommendations emanating from the Governor’s Congestion Mitigation Task Force. “The recommendations helped us focus investments on the greatest bottlenecks to give residents the most bang for the buck,” said Ms. Hayse.
The plan focuses 60 percent of its funding on managing and optimizing the existing transportation infrastructure and the other 40 percent on system expansion of roads, transit and bike and pedestrian facilities, as well as commuter programs to encourage carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit and teleworking.
“Even though we are working in a more constrained financial environment than ever before, with the help of our local governments and planning partners, I think we have crafted the best set of transportation projects we’ve ever had,” said Chairman Olens. “With limited funding, we have been able to offer more transit options, free-flow travel options in new managed lanes and a new regional connector.”
“We’ve had to make some difficult decisions and put some projects on hold that just don’t score as well as others or don’t have current funding identified. But, ARC has a priority list of some $4 billion in additional projects just waiting in the wings, should additional funding become available from new sources,” said Chairman Olens.
The draft Envision6 Regional Transportation Plan will be available for public comment through August 23. Please consult ARC’s Web site at www.atlantaregional.com for more information.
The Atlanta Regional Commission 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 65 other municipalities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues.
Home Search
Join the Conversation
- Atlanta real estate
- marietta real estate
- woodstock real estate
- holly springs real estate
- canton real estate
- ball ground real estate
- jasper real estate
- ellijay real estate
- alpharetta real estate
- roswell real estate
- waleska real estate
Add New Comment
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment
Trackbacks
(Trackback URL)