The Atlanta Regional Commission is taking public comment on a major update to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), which allocates $168 billion in federal, state, and local funding through 2050 to improve mobility and safety across metro Atlanta.

The plan, developed in close collaboration with local governments and transportation agencies, includes projects and programs designed to improve roads and highways, enhance transit options, expand the region’s network of multi-use trails, encourage alternative commuting options such as carpooling and teleworking, and provide ongoing maintenance and operations.

The public comment period is open through Dec. 8. The ARC Board is expected to adopt the MTP in January 2024.

The MTP is designed to accommodate the region’s growth. ARC forecasts the 21-county Atlanta region will add 1.8 million people by 2050, reaching a population of 7.9 million.

“As our region continues to grow, it’s critically important that we make the investments needed to ensure that we have a competitive economy and great quality of life in the years to come,” said ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach.

The full list of projects, including an interactive map, as well as instructions for providing comment, can be found at atlantaregional.org/mtp-update. Here are some highlights:

Improved Transit Options:

• MARTA is planning light rail service on portions of the Atlanta BeltLine.

• Bus Rapid Transit service is planned on major thoroughfares, including Campbellton Road, the Clifton Corridor, and to Southlake Mall in Clayton County.

• Bus Rapid Transit service is also planned on major highways, including the top end of I-285, the I-75 corridor in Cobb County, and the I-85 corridor in Gwinnett County.

Major Road and Highway Projects

• SR 81 in Henry County will be widened, with improved pedestrian access.

• A new interchange at I-85 North/McGinnis Ferry Road in Gwinnett County will help create an important new freight corridor.

• Improvements to the I-85/N. Druid Hills interchange in DeKalb County to improve safety and access to the new Children’s Hospital of Atlanta campus.

Mobility alternatives

The plan includes funding for projects and programs that reduce congestion by leveraging the existing transportation network to change how and when people get to work. This includes:

• Expansion of the region’s bike-ped trails to provide new ways of getting around without driving.

• Funding for the region’s Livable Centers Initiative, which helps communities transform into more vibrant places where it’s possible to walk from home to work to the store or restaurant.

• Funding for Transportation Demand Management programs and other initiatives that help people change their travel behavior, whether that means carpooling, using transit, traveling at off-peak hours, or teleworking.