The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has announced more than $1 million in grants for its Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) program to six studies across metro Atlanta. The goal is to help communities become more walkable, bikeable, live-work-play environments. These studies are designed to lead to federal transportation funding to bring the study results to life. With some uncertainty around federal grant programs, the study results may take a little longer than usual for implementation but in the 26th year of the LCI program, many of the new revitalized downtowns around metro Atlanta have seen some of the benefits.
“ARC is also wrapping up a comprehensive assessment of the LCI program, which will inform scoping and execution of this year’s projects,” said Samyukth Shenbaga, Managing Director of Community Development at ARC. “More substantial changes will be shared and implemented for the 2026 cycle and beyond. We look forward to sharing these improvements with our communities this year.”
The grants were either $200,000 or $160,000, with Atlanta and DeKalb County both receiving $200,000 for transit area improvements. The cities of Avondale Estates, Kennesaw, Conyers and Tucker have all received $160,000. The study in Kennesaw will build off the tremendous development around the Cobb Parkway commercial corridor, with three entry points to the city’s downtown. Vacant and poorly maintained structures have negatively impacted some of the development and the study will identify ways Cobb Parkway can connect to downtown Kennesaw through trails, with standards for how Cobb Parkway should look or feel in the area. Additionally, a market analysis will identify sites and concepts that could boost existing business and usage in downtown Kennesaw. Stormwater management is also part of the project, with green infrastructure plans under consideration that could help support future development.
Over in Conyers, Rockdale County is in the process of constructing a new Justice and Administrative Complex in downtown Conyers. The huge county facility will generate new activity and the study aims to identify transit options in the area, as well business opportunities to create a vibrant community for workers, residents and visitors.
Similarly, the Tucker plan looks to identify transit options for people to move through the area, developing a plan to link to the eventual bus express lanes on I-285, as well as multi-use trails, bikeshare stations, new sidewalks, MARTA routes and a possible Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station. The plan would aim to secure funding for these projects but also to pitch the area to developers and align their work with these goals.
Since 2000, the LCI program has invested more than $300 million in more than 130 communities across Atlanta. These investments have paid for planning studies and the construction of numerous transportation projects. An additional $600 million has been allocated by the ARC for transportation projects through 2050, with plans developed from LCI studies.
