After more than a year of effort, Atlanta finally has its first formal comprehensive transportation plan.
The estimated $6 billion plan, called Connect Atlanta, identifies transportation projects for the region and potential financing options through 2030. The City Council unanimously approved the plan Monday.
In addition to tax-exempt bonding, the plan identifies such possible funding sources as a dedicated sales tax, a parking surcharge, traffic fines, new or increased impact fees, and tolling.
Authority to use some funding options would require approval of the Georgia legislature. Previous efforts to obtain such funding have often failed because there was no coordinated, comprehensive regional plan.
Adoption of Connect Atlanta this week is an important step, a city official said, because regional and state transportation officials are already discussing possible legislation for next year.
Connect Atlanta brings clearly identified projects to the table, according to Heather Alhadeff, assistant director of the planning bureau in the city's Department of Planning and Community Development.
"When you have a dialogue [about funding], it's critical that you know what projects you're spending funds on," Alhadeff said. "We really needed to have this vision and very clear action plan."
The plan includes an estimated 230 roadway projects and 17 transit projects as well as sidewalks, crosswalks, and projects required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The plan considers projections about the city's growth and future transportation needs. For example, Atlanta's population is projected to grow to 780,000 people in 2030 from 480,000 in 2006. Jobs are anticipated to grow to 570,000 in 2030 from 395,000 in 2006, according to information on the city's Web site at www.connectatlantaplan.com.
Although new funding sources are identified, the final price tag to the city depends on the availability and amount of state and federal funds. Alhadeff said public-private partnerships and special districts could also be used for some projects.
The region's Metropolitan Planning Organization provided $1 million to fund the comprehensive transportation plan, while Atlanta provided $250,000 of the cost. The planning effort was coordinated with various surrounding jurisdictions.
The plan was developed with a lead consulting team called the Atlanta Transportation Planning Group, a joint venture between transportation engineers Grice & Associates Inc., planners Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Inc., and civil engineering firm Jordan, Jones & Goulding.
Also working on the plan were the economic consulting firms EuQuant and CRA International; real estate consultants DW & Associates Inc.; John Peponis, an architecture professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology; transport consultants Steer Davies Gleave; and Earth Tech, an engineering and construction consulant.
