The City of Atlanta announced that Mayor Kasim Reed participated in a panel as part the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI. The panel, “The City of Tomorrow – The Mayor’s Perspective,” was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company and The New York Times and focused on innovative strategies to build cities of the future with a special emphasis on transportation. New York Times President and CEO Mark Thompson moderated the discussion.

Mayor Reed was joined by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to discuss how mobility and connectivity aligns with the future of each mayor’s vision to how important transportation infrastructure and investment is to the future of cities. The panelists also explored approaches to ensure equity and affordability while planning for the future of a city.

“The City of Atlanta is growing at a rapid pace and it’s important to utilize innovation and technology to ensure connectivity and mobility for residents and visitors. We have made significant investment in transportation infrastructure to ensure the viability of our city’s future,” said Mayor Reed. “I am proud to contribute to this vital discussion at the North American International Auto Show and showcase how our city is leading the nation in planning for the future, as well as our efforts to ensure a greater quality of life for our pedestrians, bikers and motorists.”

Under the Reed Administration, the City of Atlanta has made transportation infrastructure planning a key revitalization and development component. In November 2016, residents approved two historic proposals, the TSPLOST and MARTA, which authorizes the City of Atlanta and the MARTA to modernize, expand and enhance Atlanta’s transportation system.

Over the next five years, the City of Atlanta will build miles of Complete Streets projects. The City of Atlanta will also synchronize traffic signals, invest in sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure, build new bike paths and complete the 22-mile Atlanta BeltLine now known nationwide as a unique transit network linking neighborhoods throughout the city. In addition, MARTA will invest in making the system easier, faster and more convenient throughout the city.

The $2.5 billion TSPLOST and $2.5 billion MARTA expansion plans will help leverage the work already being completed under the $250 million Renew Atlanta infrastructure bond program. As part of the program, the City of Atlanta began synchronizing traffic signals, adding new bike lanes, repaving roads, repairing bridges and establishing public-private partnerships to enhance the local transportation system starting in 2015. With all of these investments combined, the City’s infrastructure maintenance backlog will be cut in half.

Through the Renew Atlanta program, the City of Atlanta is currently initiating the North Avenue Smart Corridor project. A collaborative project with AT&T Smart Cities program, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Department of Transportation, involves a self-driving vehicle demonstration to monitor and evaluate driving conditions on one of the city’s busiest corridors.

Last year, the City of Atlanta established a city-wide affordable housing ordinance that requires any multi-family residential property for lease that receives a subsidy, grant or incentive from a development authority or public entity doing work in the City of Atlanta to set aside affordable units.