The Atlanta Regional Commission has announced its twenty-first year of grants for the Liveable Centers Initiative (LCI) across metro Atlanta. The more than $1 million in grants will towards 11 different communities to help them become “more vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide improved access to jobs and services.”
The studies and funding provided will help to unlock additional funding for projects such as sidewalks, multi-use trails, and smart corridor improvements.
“As the LCI program moves into its 21st year of fostering improved quality of life for metro Atlanta’s residents, it’s critically important that we renew our attention in our planning work to addressing the systemic barriers that have prevented many communities from sharing in our region’ s success over the years,” said Sam Shenbaga, Managing Director of the Community Development group at ARC. “The LCI program is dedicated to creating vibrant and inclusive communities that are geared to serve the needs of all our region’s residents.”
The LCI program and its grants are specifically geared towards city centers and employment centers and how federal transportation dollars can improve these areas. The LCI was created with the goal of reducing vehicle miles traveled – notable for the metro Atlanta region and its renowned traffic – and to improve air quality. It encourages local communities to re-envision their downtowns as vibrant, pedestrian-friendly places, increasing mobility options – such as transit, sidewalks and biking, and encouraging healthy lifestyles. The LCI program also encourages mixed-income residential neighborhoods, employment and shopping areas.
Since the program began in 2000, more than $253 million has been spread across more than 120 communities throughout the region and the ARC has allocated $343 million in the next 30 years for transportation projects that began as LCI studies.
This year’s studies include:
- City of Alpharetta: $160,000 for a safe walking and biking plan from the downtown, City Hall area, south to the Roswell city limits. The plan also aims to develop transit opportunities and redevelopment along that South Main Street corridor.
- City of Douglasville: $160,000 to update the existing Douglasville LCI and to bring together existing projects that are spread out across the city. The plan will also include ideas for a town green and a housing strategy.
- City of Grantville: $100,000 to develop a transit connection to the Xpress commuter bus system and a downtown revitalization plan.
- Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID): $220,000 for a new development plan for Gwinnett Place Mall, exploring a bus route and other options to expand the Gwinnett Place Transit Center.
- Sugarloaf Community Improvement District (CID): $100,000 to study a planned bus rapid transit station at Sugarloaf Mall and connections to the Infinite Energy Center.
- Midtown Alliance: $80,000 for a study of pedestrian safety and creative placemaking along West Peachtree and Spring Streets.
To see all of this year’s grant winners and learn more about the Livable Centers Initiative:
