ARC’s Livable Centers Initiative Awards $1.4 Million to Fund Planning Studies in 11 Metro Atlanta Communities

May 15,2020

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) today announced that it has awarded $1.4 million in Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grants to fund planning studies in 11 metro Atlanta communities.

The grants are designed to help communities become more vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide improved access to jobs and services. Upon completion of the studies, communities will be eligible to apply for federal transportation funding for projects such as sidewalks, multi-use trails, and smart corridor improvements that help implement their plans.

“Since 2000, LCI grants have empowered communities across metro Atlanta to become more livable, walkable, and sustainable,” said Sam Shenbaga, Manager, Community Development Group at ARC. “The 2020 LCI grants are sure to spark innovation and creative thinking to foster an improved quality of life for residents.”

The LCI program was created to allocate federal transportation dollars for planning in local communities. Once the plans have been created, local governments can apply for federal funding to assist in bringing their plans into reality.  Recipients were selected by ARC along with a diverse committee of partner organizations and planning professionals from around the region.

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Central Atlanta Progress
Grant amount: $120,000
Central Atlanta Progress in partnership with the City of Atlanta will develop the Multi-Modal Corridor Study: Courtland Street, Peachtree Center, and Piedmont Avenue. This study will explore potential improvements for these corridors, including new bus-only lanes, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and new lane configurations.