The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority Board of Directors adopted the ATL Regional Transit Plan (ARTP) at its meeting on Dec. 13.
With 192 projects costing a whopping $27 billion, the ARTP serves as a critical first step for transit investment in the region. It is the primary source for transit projects to be considered by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) for inclusion in the federally required short-range Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).
The ARTP contains a list of transit projects from which the transit board may select and recommend to the state for potential state bond funding each year. Some of those projects include the proposed Clifton Corridor that would link MARTA’s Lindbergh station to the Emory University and CDC campus, extending MARTA to Stonecrest, and an extension to Gwinnett County where a multimodal transit hub would be built at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85.
“This is a watershed moment for mobility in our region. The ARTP will allow the ATL to make data-driven, objective recommendations on critical transit projects for state and federal investment,” stated Charlie Sutlive, Board Chairman. “This approach will allow the region to be more competitive on the national level in drawing down federal funding for projects.”
“We believe that the level of impact that this $27 billion dollar portfolio of projects provides will better prepare us to address the mobility challenges we’ll face with the additional 2.9 million people expected to descend on the Atlanta region in the coming years,” stated Chris Tomlinson, Executive Director. “Moreover, our process of engaging citizens and key regional stakeholders gave us a greater understanding of how we can help improve mobility and promote seamless connectivity in their communities.
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