The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) on Monday, May 16, 2022 announced that it has awarded Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grants to fund nine planning studies in metro Atlanta communities, allocating a total of $1.9 million in federal transportation funds.
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 visions.
2022 LCI Study Grant Recipients:
City of Senoia
Grant Amount: $250,000
The City of Senoia Town Center Catalytic Study will focus on connecting Senoia’s successful downtown to surrounding neighborhoods. The study will include the development of a network of multimodal connections to the town center from the rest of the city through multi-use paths and innovative street design and revised development guidelines.
Clayton County with the cities of Jonesboro and Lovejoy
Grant Amount: $400,000
Clayton County’s Tara Gateway Study aims to improve pedestrian safety, access to bus routes, and catalyze development at three locations along Tara Boulevard: Upper Riverdale Road, the City of Jonesboro and the City of Lovejoy. The goal is a re-imagined corridor that becomes a true gateway for Clayton County.
City of Norcross
Grant Amount: $200,000
The Norcross LCI Plan Update will examine the development of a pedestrian-safe crossing along Buford Highway and the possible introduction of an electric vehicle charging into the downtown core of Norcross.
City of Riverdale
Grant Amount: $200,000
The Riverdale LCI Plan Update will support the development of bus rapid transit within the City of Riverdale by furthering the work that MARTA has conducted. The plan update will provide a revised economic development strategy, transportation recommendations and an implementation plan.
Town Center CID
Grant Amount: $150,000
Cobb County’s Town Center Electrification Study will develop a pilot electric vehicle infrastructure plan for the Town Center LCI area, including a toolkit and recommendations for implementation.
City of Clarkston
Grant Amount: $340,000
The Clarkston Greenway Study will develop plans for a 2-mile trail along the US 78 corridor or the South Fork Peachtree Creek. The proposed trail will connect to other regional trails and provide transportation options to an area where community connectivity has been more limited.
City of Woodstock
Grant Amount: $200,000
The Woodstock Downtown Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek Trail plan will evaluate options for developing a trail loop linking the Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek trails, providing east-west connections between the existing trails that will promote pedestrian connectivity throughout downtown Woodstock.
West End CID
Grant Amount: $200,000
The Ralph David Abernathy Great Streets Study will develop a multimodal transportation plan for the Ralph David Abernathy corridor to connect the West End MARTA Station, West End Mall, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
DeKalb County
Staff Assistance
The Stone Mountain Trail Land Use Visioning Plan will include ARC, DeKalb County, and cities working together to evaluate the Stone Mountain Trail area and determine next steps for scoping a future study.